COTTON REBOOT!

The Cotton series is often placed as one of the most iconic shoot em' up series as part of the sub-genre of cute 'em ups, but I've not really found a game in the series that I found elevated itself above the standard fair of shooters of its era. And the Cotton Reboot is not much different. I like the tale of whimsy between stages, but that and the music is pretty much where my enjoyment of Cotton ends. I find the actual game rather unimpressive and almost counter intuitive given the greedy protagonist. Most of the my deaths are from getting greedy at collecting the power ups. The power ups not even being particularly necessary beyond speeding up game play. However, as much as I want to hold the mostly unnecessary bloat of the power up system against Cotton, it was pretty standard for the time. Just like the overly memorization based game play of peer shmups of the era. Yet, while many of the 1990s STGs are some of my favorites in the genre, Cotton just doesn't have anything to grab my interest. The cute 'em up genre is a negative for me. But even disregarding that, the actual mechanics don't thrill me. As for the port itself of Cotton Reboot, it is serviceable. If bare bones. …

Very good cute-em-up. Can get blinded by all the ♥♥♥♥ on screen but I think that's intended. かわいいSTGが大好き。そんなに難しいじゃない。

the overstimulation final boss

This is the best Cotton game available on Steam until the sequel, Cotton Reboot High Tension, gets released. It easily surpasses the Cotton Rock'n Roll arcade port and is far better than the rail shooter provided by Rainbow Cotton. It's really fun to play, difficulty is well dosed and the mechanics for scoring and managing magic crystals are second to none - all available on the Arrange mode. The game is a revamp of the original X68000 reimagination of the first arcade game, which is also included in the package. It's nice to be able to play it, but it's very limited and not as polished as the arrange mode. The game also includes a Caravan mode, with 2 and 5 minutes options. It's fast paced and explores well the game scoring mechanics. The production value is impressive, with 720p 2D visuals, fully voice acted retro cinematics and music that goes along really well - both in arranged new versions and the original X68000 score. The game also features unlockable characters and sound tracks styles for the arrange mode, making a well rounded package in terms of content. It's a very fun game to play, with balanced difficulty, and a joy to look at.

Absolutely awesome. Two versions. Amazing soundtracks.

COTTON REBOOT! is a vibrant and affectionate revival of a classic “cute ’em up” that successfully bridges decades of arcade history with modern expectations. Developed by Rocket-Engine Co., Ltd. and published by BEEP, the game is a full remake of the original Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams, a title long remembered for blending whimsical anime aesthetics with challenging horizontal shooter gameplay. Rather than simply polishing the old visuals, COTTON REBOOT! reimagines the experience from the ground up, aiming to respect its roots while making the game approachable and engaging for contemporary players. At its core, the gameplay remains faithful to classic arcade shooting fundamentals. Players guide the candy-obsessed witch Cotton across horizontally scrolling stages filled with airborne enemies, environmental hazards, and screen-filling bosses. Shooting, positioning, and quick reflexes are still essential, but the remake introduces refinements that subtly modernize the flow of combat. Enemy patterns are clearer, movement feels smoother, and visual readability has been greatly improved, which is crucial in a genre where split-second decisions define success or failure. The overall…