Target Acquired: Ultracore

Ultracore is a eurostyle shooter created by Digital Illusions (now known as DICE) that was originally intended for release on the Amiga, Sega Genesis, and Sega CD back in 1994 under the name of Hardcore, but it got cancelled in a nearly-finished state and sat on a disused hard drive until it gained new life in 2019 thanks to ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games. Using a Genesis dev kit and collaborating with some of the original developers, the game was finally released as a pack-in ROM for the Analogue Mega SG before finally receiving a physical Sega Genesis release from Strictly Limited Games. And now the game is also available for other modern platforms with some control tweaks to allow for dual analogue shooting action. You must blast your way through five huge levels filled with robotic baddies and bosses, turning them into exploding sprays of particles as you try to find Captain Vance's secret hideout and stop him from destroying your homeworld. Along the way, you'll encounter numerous upgradeable weapons to help you deliver maximum firepower while you hunt through branching levels for secrets.

The game was originally released for Sega Genesis and is now available for PS4 via PSN and Switch via eShop, and a Vita version is in development as well. Check our coverage here.