Air Hares

Do not buy this game, it feels like a scam. There is one enemy in the game. One! A crow that flys at you, you mash parry to bop them, rinse repeat. For the entire game. Over. and over. and over. The 'Story" mode has no story that I could find. Literally nothing. No pictures, no text, no cut scenes. In fact, selecting story will let you play a level. Then at the end of the level you're presented with a Replay button and an exit button. How do you play the next level? Simple, select exit, pick story again, then select continue. How convenient /sarcasm. On the positives there is an arcade mode that lets you select what I can only assume are all the levels from the get go, so you can go experience each of the game's bosses, which all feel like simple reskins of the enemy you've been fighting for the most part. The third boss does a wild lightning attack that I'm not even sure you can survive (I died so fast from it and I literally don't care to find out.) Seriously can't believe this game is being sold on Steam, let alone Fanatical or whatever bundle site I had the misfortune to buy it from.

Air Hares, developed by Wondoro LLC and published by indie.io, is an inventive twist on the classic shoot ’em up formula that shifts the focus from destruction to restoration. Instead of placing players in a purely offensive role, the game casts them as a pilot tasked with healing a damaged world after a catastrophic event known as the Black Blaze. This narrative framing immediately sets it apart from traditional arcade shooters, giving purpose to each mission beyond simply defeating enemies and surviving waves of attacks. The gameplay retains the familiar structure of vertical shooters, with players navigating through scrolling stages while avoiding projectiles and managing positioning. However, the central objective revolves around revitalizing barren land by dispersing seeds and nurturing the environment. This mechanic transforms the typical gameplay loop into something more thoughtful, requiring players to balance movement, resource management, and timing rather than focusing solely on eliminating threats. Enemy encounters still exist and provide moments of intensity, but they serve more as obstacles to overcome while completing the broader goal of environmental restoration. …

Had the chance to play this game and beat it in one sitting! There's a bit of a learning curve in getting used to the controls and mechanics, but I was glad I got to eventually beat the Story mode and see it through the end. Visually, the game is stunning with amazing artwork and the soundtrack is fantastic with some wonderful tracks in it. Overall, a definite must-buy!

This game reminds me of the CRT era, like Suikoden, with a great Star Wars rebel vibe in the storyline. It’s perfect to play with friends in co-op! The music is catchy and full of energy, making the gameplay even more addictive. Overall, it is gorgeous, crafted with love, and very fun to play. The artwork is well-crafted highly recommended!

Meh

https://youtu.be/jz1EjjbYMx0 Delightful visuals and setup, but the pacifist farming elements are tough to aim and split player attention a bit too much.