Panorama Cotton Review

Game: Panorama Cotton
Genre: Action, Arcade
System: Nintendo Switch (Also on PS4)
Developer|Publisher: Ratalaika Games, Success | ININ Games
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone
Price: US $14.99 | UK £12.99 | EU € 12,99
Release Date: October 29th, 2021

Review code provided with many thanks to PR Hound

Cottons Third Game

Panorama Cotton was originally released in 1994 for the Mega Drive and was exclusive in Japan for several years. That is until 2021 when the Cotton renaissance would occur and 5 games in the Cotton series would see Western releases in a single year. If you have been following my reviews of this series, this would be the third release. Panorama was a title quite different from the usual 2D shooter feel the series is known for. A bold step that pays off or just a relic from the past? 

Cotton Likes Willows 

Cotton is a young witch with quite the craving for the sweeties called Willows. Since all the games cutscenes are in Japanese subtitles only, I could only assume the story of this game is pretty much the same as the rest of the series. Cotton is hungry for willows and will fly through multiple levels and take down any boss silly enough to get in her way.

It’s quite a shame the developers didn’t go the extra mile to translate the cutscenes in this game as compared to other entries in the series there does seem to be more layers to the story. It may be a simple retro arcade game but some folk do like to be invested in the plot. 

A New Perspective

Panorama still retains the broomstick shooting and magic spells the series is known for. Only this time the gameplay perspective is in pseudo-3D. The design is very similar to Sega’s infamous Space Harrier series. Levels now scroll into the screen and Cotton is able to fly around avoiding hazards and shooting baddies. You are able to adjust Cotton’s speed which can really assist in avoiding incoming hazards. Just like other games in the series, you can also gain powerful magical spells by collecting crystals. By performing well you can also level up up your standard shooting spell and gain health back. It gives the game a satisfying arcade feel.

At times during levels, you can also choose an alternate route giving more incentive to replay. Then you have the big boss battle at the end of the level, some of which actually require a little thought about where you need to shoot to solve, remember rock, paper scissors? As you improve your playing skills by replaying the game over and over you will be able to literally fly through the levels and take out the bosses with ease. It’s a great design that seems kinda lacking in games these days. 

Niggles

For all my praise of Panoramas unique design, it doesn’t compare well to the rest of the Cotton series. The trouble with the pseudo-3D perspective is it’s very hard to follow what’s going on on-screen and what you’re shooting at. The games cute as heck graphics are present and accounted for but it feels like the screen is just filled with graphical noise making it hard to follow, what is a hazard and what isn’t? The game in general is not as pick up and play as other titles in the series. However, if you give it time it is a design that starts to grow on you. With that in mind, this might not be the best game in the series to start with if you’re new.

For the price of entry, you’re getting the complete Mega Drive game with some optional quality of life improvements. The game features save states, rewind features graphical adjustments and even some cheats you can unlock by completing the game. It seems a little bare-bones compared to other game re-releases like the masters of the remaster M2. Still, you are able to enjoy the game in its raw and original state for the retro purists which is always welcome. 

Conclusion – The Experimental Entry

Cotton Panorama may be remembered as the experimental entry of the Cotton series. For its time it was a worthy attempt at something new but by switching into the new perspective the game lost a lot of the simple pick up and play charm the other games are known for. It would have served better as an additional game in a Cotton collection but as a standalone release, this entry is really only for the most dedicated Cotton fans. I’m still grateful I got to experience this entry in a wonderful series of games. But if this game was chocolate in one of the variety tubs it would be the one I would eat last… after gorging on all my favourites. 

Final Verdict: I Like it