The once ubiquitous shmup game has become a niche genre, to the detriment of people who enjoy challenging games. Nobody is going to argue that Dark Souls is easy, but it doesn’t quite have the same level of intense challenge that a good reflex based shooter can bring. Chara-Ani has managed to pump some real life into the genre with their release of DariusBurst: Chronicle Saviors, attaching bionic limbs to give the title some real legs. In addition to the PS4 and Steam versions of the game, a Vita release was also brought forth. Considering the lowered amount of hardware power available compared to the other two, it’s reasonable to wonder if this version of the robo-aquatic shooter is worthy. The short answer is yes.

As covered in James Cunningham’s excellent review, this release is essentially two games. There is Another Chronicle (AC), which is a perfect port of the arcade game, and Chronicle Saviors (CS), an adventure mode designed to suck the hours away. Now, AC is a very well put together arcade port. There are zero frame rate issues and the swarms of enemies are exactly what can be found with the larger releases. Really, this tale of the hunt of the proper ingredients for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sushi is a 1:1 recreation of the arcade and home versions. There in lies the problem with this mode. While the aspect ratio of “Ridiculous:Really?” can be troublesome when playing on a large sized monitor or television, playing on the Vita’s tiny screen becomes a literal headache. Squinting at the screen to make out your ship’s location, this version of Deadliest Catch: Terminator Edition can actually bring physical pain. This would obviously be mitigated by playing this on the Playstation TV, but at that point it would be recommended to just pick up one of the versions designed specifically for home consumption. Besides, even this Vita superfan couldn’t be bothered to pick up a Playstation TV. That solution would be a non-starter for most.

Tossing out the AC mode might seem drastic and a solid reason to avoid the portable port, but the CS mode more than makes up for it. This mode is designed to act as more of a long form story mode, covering aspects of the entire Darius series. The aspect ratio makes use of the screen space provided, which is the first spot of great news. Being able to clearly see the incredible enemy designs on the OLED screen is not only a plus, it’s breathtaking. While “relaxing” with my zoo keeper wife on the couch, she would look on and make frequent comments about how cool the various designs looked. If it does not exist, there needs to be a blind box Darius series so that my home can be littered with these guys. (Aquarium decorations is another overlooked licensing option that should be explored.)

What is truly great about this mode is the slowly rising challenge. This manages to be a veritable “Shooters 101” for people without the experience to survive a true shmup. Anyone who has looked upon the hypnotic bullet patterns of one of these titles and wished that they could tackle the insanity would be well advised to start here. It begins easily enough, with simple patterns and enemy waves. After awhile, though, players will find themselves effortlessly weaving through the onscreen noise, laying down a stream of onscreen death. Whenever a skill can be taught without the student realizing that they are being educated, the teacher should be lauded. That is the case here.

That isn’t to say that there are not roadblocks. Sometimes, a challenge will prove too great to surmount on the first attempt. Should a player become too frustrated, there is a way around it: the points system. Instead of taking the default ship into a challenge mission, the player can spend points earned in previous levels to take in a powered up ship with as many free hits as they can slap on. This work around keeps the frustration to a minimum and the fun to a maximum. It is also possible to grind out points in earlier stages if there simply isn’t enough. Do this long enough, and the skills needed might be honed to the point where cheesing the way through might not even be needed.

Where the power of the Vita comes into play is the elegant design of these missions. Each one is bite sized, taking no longer than ten minutes. Being able to hop in, experience a healthy dose of shooter fun, and duck out takes the joylessness out of bus rides, the doldrums from laundromat visits, and can serve as a decompression tool during a lunch break. Chara-Ani has managed to craft the perfect portable game with the Chronicle Saviors mode in this title. As there are more than two hundred missions to conquer, it’s also a long lasting one.

Despite the the Another Chronicle mode having issues due to its slavish devotion to rendering the same exact experience found in the arcade cabinet, DariusBurst: Chronicle Saviors manages to be the best shmup in years. Indeed, a strong argument could be made that it is the best one ever, though that is a debate for another day. It will be near the top of my personal list of best games of the year. No matter the platform, it is an absolute must buy. With the lack of quality shooters on the Vita, however, it stands to be exactly what fans of the genre need there. It’s easy to pick up and play for short bursts, but deep enough to withstand marathon sessions. Anyone with a Vita is doing themselves a disservice if they ignore this.