Shockman 3 ultimately feels like a classic run-and-gun game where the hero has forgotten to pack their pistol. Though hacking and slashing through hordes of foes is always fun, and it certainly has that high-octane arcade charm that most PC Engine games have even to this day. It’s hard to recommend to all but PC Engine enthusiasts and genre die-hards due to its punishing platforming and brutal boss fights.

Cyber Citizen Shockman 3 is fun at times, mainly thanks to its goofy sense of humor and fun cutscenes and characters, though the basic hack and slash combat paired with inconsistent and often brutal difficulty grows stale quickly. Still, the levels are varied, ranging from city skylines and industrial buildings to demonic underground lairs, and the ever-changing enemies help keep the player’s attention throughout its seven short levels. Cheats and bonuses help provide a bit more bang for the buck, but for only $6, there’s enough here to justify picking this game up and killing an hour or two.

I really was hoping Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: The Princess From Another World would continue the positive trend of the last game’s success, but sadly in some ways this felt like a small step backwards, at least in terms of gameplay. That said, this is a very ambitious and visually striking entry in the series, and even though the balance isn’t great, you can always use the cheats to make life easier. If you’re curious about the series, I’d still say it’s worth checking out.