If you ever dreamed of flying through space while dodging an explosion of neon muscles and spouting ridiculous one-liners, Chō Aniki: Kyūkyoku Muteki Ginga Saikyō Otoko is the game that turns those dreams into surreal nightmares. It’s a game where the line between hilarity and obscenity is as thin as a protein shake. Yes, this is exactly what you think it is: A homoerotic, campy shoot 'em up that takes the idea of pushing boundaries to a whole new galaxy.
In this side-scrolling shooter, players take control of the delightfully overtly muscled characters Idaten and Benten, in a battle against disembodied heads, space monsters, and whatever bizarre creation your imagination conjures after a long night of consuming questionable snacks. You’ll navigate your way through 7 stages brimming with insane challenges (How do you even define sanity in a game like this?) and a control scheme that should require a Ph.D. in button-mashing. Pro-Tip: Your keyboard might join in on the fun, so don't be surprised if your keyboard refuses to cooperate mid-battle. Each character brings their unique power-ups, though 'power-ups' could be better defined as 'excessively flamboyant enhancements' that suddenly make it an even more ridiculous affair. Dying multiple times serves both the purpose of acquiring experience and providing a comedy show of muscle-bound gents flopping around, all while some energetic techno soundtrack thrums in the background like your uncle trying to dance at a wedding.
We need to talk about the art style. Specifically, the digitized sprites—think 80s neon dreams colliding into each other after a protein binge. The graphics are like that one art class you had where everything made zero sense but somehow those avant-garde pieces ended up hanging in the Louvre. It’s a kaleidoscopic trip through what can only be described as campy chaos. The characters radiate a vibrant glow that would make even the most experienced rave-goers squint in disbelief. Each enemy design is unique and memorable—you won't see anything like this in Call of Duty; I mean, who wouldn't want to dodge a giant, floating, sweaty face that shoots missiles like it’s a 90s action movie?
Chō Aniki: Kyūkyoku Muteki Ginga Saikyō Otoko encapsulates pure, chaotic energy wrapped in an absurdist package. It's not just for the faint-hearted or those who take their shooters too seriously. It takes the essence of 'bad gaming' and transforms it into art—so much art that even a modern gallery could showcase its pixelated splendor. Offering laughs, frustrations, and sincere moments of joy wrapped in the absurd, it’s an experience worth having, if only for the sheer spectacle. Take a seat, hold on tight, and remember: in the universe of Chō Aniki, it often seems that the only thing that really matters is how much protein you can pack in and how fabulously you can dodge offbeat bullets while looking good doing it. So, gather your buddies (or significant others) and prepare for a ride through the galaxy that'll leave them questioning your sanity. Overall, it’s a delightful romp through quirkiness that earns a solid 7 out of 10 for its unique approach to gaming and sheer audacity. Just remember, what happens in space, stays in space—preferably far away from any judgmental relatives.