Last year we got the Cotton Reboot and reviewed it positively. The game was a remake of the first game in the series with updated graphics and added enhancements. As an extra, they offered the ability to play the original too. It must’ve sold well enough to continue the reboot with Cotton 100% and Panorama Cotton.
Double feature
Cotton 100% and Panorama Cotton are the 2nd and 3rd games in the series both released back in 1994. Cotton 100% got released on the super Famicom while Panorama Cotton was available on Megadrive/Genesis. Both games expand the Cotton universe. Cotton 100% stays true to the original and looks pretty similar to the original. Panorama Cotton goes a different route and goes for a 3D version instead. Knowing the game got released in 1994 on a system not known for doing particularly well in 3D you might not be surprised this is not the kind of 3D you are used to. Back in the day, they used all sorts of tricks (and even added extra chips in the games) to be able to offer a sort of 3D vibe. Probably because the games are so different they get released as two separate games instead of bundling them. I get it but a double feature release (or even adding some of the other games in the series) would’ve been better in my opinion.
An emulator in a cartridge
Cotton Reboot got a nice treatment with the updated graphics. The ability to play the original game came as an extra. The price tag was a bit hefty but fans of the cute ’em up could finally play the game on a modern console. All seemed to be well and maybe sequels would follow. The sequels are here but it feels so rushed. This time around they just added the original game without any updates. So basically you only get the “extra”. Adding savestates, a rewind feature, and cheats to the original “ROM” isn’t what I’d call good enough and is blatantly a disrespect for the fans. This is just an expensive emulator in a cartridge. Adding the ability to add scanlines isn’t exciting enough for me.
Nothing new
Don’t get me wrong. Both games have their place in cute ’em up / shoot ’em up history and should be preserved. The Cotton series helped lay the ground for the cute ’em up genre. The witch theme and RPG elements added something new in the mix that inspired countless other shoot ’em ups. Cotton 100% is still a great game although with the same flaws it had back in 1994. The vibrant colors look awesome but mixed with the busy backgrounds and frantic on-screen action don’t warrant a constant smooth playing experience. That’s where the updated graphics from the Cotton Reboot helped but these are unforgivably missing from this release.
Panorama Cotton is an acquired taste altogether. I like my shoot ’em ups to be in 2D. Games like Starfox/Starwing have proven there is a big market for 3D on-rail shooters but I prefer them a bit more old school. I couldn’t quite get into Panorama Cotton the way I could in the original (or Cotton 100% for that matter). The “fake” 3D aspect doesn’t help in 2021. If it was back in 1994 and there was nothing better I might’ve enjoyed it much more but in 2021 this feels odd to play games that look the way this one looks.
Conclusion
If you’re a die-hard fan I would get it if you get out your wallet and pay for these “ROMs on a cartridge”. Don’t be disappointed because I’ve warned you.
