I should clarify something before I make the bold, sweeping statement that I'm about to make: I really, really like Rocketbirds 2. In fact, I'd go as far as to call it shockingly underrated. I get why the first Rocketbirds isn't to everyone's liking; it's clearly a homage to much older genre efforts that can feel impenetrable to a modern audience. But Rocketbirds 2 is a joy to play from the moment it starts. Each of the weapons feels unique and awesome to use, and although platforming is never too much of a challenge, the movement feels buttery smooth. As a sequel, Rocketbirds 2 manages to improve on its predecessor in almost every conceivable way. As a twin-stick shooter with platforming mechanics, it's one of the best of its kind alright, I guess (I have an issue with hyperbole; I am aware). Put simply, Rocketbirds 2 has never been shown the love it rightfully deserves.
And as much as it bums me out to say this, I get why.
So, a little trivia about myself: I adore the PlayStation Vita almost as much as I adore this game. To cut a long story short, unfortunately, the only reason the Vita had an extended lifetime at all is that it was a better platform for indies than the 3DS was. Sure, 3DS developers tried, but who in their right mind was going to buy a Circle Pad Pro to play Hotline Miami? This meant the Vita was the platform of choice for those seeking out new, independent titles for a time. Now that other, better options have presented themselves and Sony is eyeing the "shut down PSN servers" button like a pin-up model, there's a chunk of the Vita's history that will soon be lost to time.
Enter Limited Run Games. There's a lot that could be said about them. Shoddy customer service, damaged packages, and extended shipping times that will test even the most patient of gaming enthusiasts is only the tip of a much larger iceberg that puts their company name into question. But when they're the only ones who have a consistent selection of Vita titles that vendors are reselling on eBay after the purchase window ends, where else are you going to turn to when you want to start collecting? Although all of the reports I've listed are legitimate and should be taken into consideration before making any purchases with this company, I can tell you a different story. Eight out of the nine LRG products I own are pretty decent, and although I don't go near them nearly as much as I should, I don't regret buying them.
The ninth game is a different story.
Imagine this hypothetical scenario: you're a Limited Run Games consumer. You buy a copy of Rocketbirds 2 for the PlayStation Vita, wait months if not a year to get it in your hands, and by the time you've finally had the opportunity to play it, something is off. The ID on your cartridge doesn't match the ID the digital storefront has for the game, which only seems to confirm any speculation on your part. By the time you've received your package, you're stuck with a cartridge of the 1.0 version of the game and can't download any of the more recent updates the game's been getting. The LRG copy you purchased doesn't come with a key for a digital copy. The version you paid far too much money for, waited far too long for, and could barely wait to try is inferior in every way.
The original version of Rocketbirds 2 is mostly the same as the game I know now, but it's different. Its crosshair doesn't have the same distinctive look and blends into some backgrounds, making shooting—the bread and butter of this game—feel cumbersome in certain areas. AIm assist isn't even an option. Considering how precise this game wants your shooting to be at times, this is an inconvenience at best if you're not on the Vita. If you are on the Vita, the small thumbsticks make aim assist downright necessary in certain situations, and not having it makes the game unnecessarily difficult to work with. Using the inventory menu doesn't pause the action, and using said inventory menu is a hassle beyond words due to functionality that simply wasn't polished enough for a full release. It feels clunkier to move down and pick up items, and worst of all, the already bad performance that updated versions of the port suffer from is horrendous. And as a cherry on top, a neat little garnish, Co-Op is locked to this version of the game. AdHoc doesn't work; I have more than one hacked Vita, I tried. Rocketbirds 2, as it was released in 2016, lives up to its tepid critical reception.
So what does this say about how it's going to be preserved? Well, if I'm being completely honest with it, it's looking pretty fucking bleak. At least the PlayStation 4 version that they also released has local Co-Op. Performance is probably better and, as somebody who's obsessed over this game to the point where I've played it on all three platforms with the aid of PlayStation Plus, I can say that this is a game that controls the best with a DualShock 4/DualSense in your hands. But if it's anything like the downgraded version I was handed in the mail, don't get your hopes up. I'm not going to say that I was totally fleeced, because as far as I can tell, the LRG Vita copy of Rocketbirds 2 is the only way you can play the 1.0 release without too many compromises. Preserving different versions of games is an entirely different conversation, and it helps me to appreciate what I have elsewhere. But when I won't have the best versions of this game in 20 years, it's only going to leave a sour taste in my mouth.
In short: Rocketbirds 2 is fucking fantastic, but don't waste your money by chasing a physical copy of it as I did. Like piss in the wind, my money is...
And as much as it bums me out to say this, I get why.
So, a little trivia about myself: I adore the PlayStation Vita almost as much as I adore this game. To cut a long story short, unfortunately, the only reason the Vita had an extended lifetime at all is that it was a better platform for indies than the 3DS was. Sure, 3DS developers tried, but who in their right mind was going to buy a Circle Pad Pro to play Hotline Miami? This meant the Vita was the platform of choice for those seeking out new, independent titles for a time. Now that other, better options have presented themselves and Sony is eyeing the "shut down PSN servers" button like a pin-up model, there's a chunk of the Vita's history that will soon be lost to time.
Enter Limited Run Games. There's a lot that could be said about them. Shoddy customer service, damaged packages, and extended shipping times that will test even the most patient of gaming enthusiasts is only the tip of a much larger iceberg that puts their company name into question. But when they're the only ones who have a consistent selection of Vita titles that vendors are reselling on eBay after the purchase window ends, where else are you going to turn to when you want to start collecting? Although all of the reports I've listed are legitimate and should be taken into consideration before making any purchases with this company, I can tell you a different story. Eight out of the nine LRG products I own are pretty decent, and although I don't go near them nearly as much as I should, I don't regret buying them.
The ninth game is a different story.
Imagine this hypothetical scenario: you're a Limited Run Games consumer. You buy a copy of Rocketbirds 2 for the PlayStation Vita, wait months if not a year to get it in your hands, and by the time you've finally had the opportunity to play it, something is off. The ID on your cartridge doesn't match the ID the digital storefront has for the game, which only seems to confirm any speculation on your part. By the time you've received your package, you're stuck with a cartridge of the 1.0 version of the game and can't download any of the more recent updates the game's been getting. The LRG copy you purchased doesn't come with a key for a digital copy. The version you paid far too much money for, waited far too long for, and could barely wait to try is inferior in every way.
The original version of Rocketbirds 2 is mostly the same as the game I know now, but it's different. Its crosshair doesn't have the same distinctive look and blends into some backgrounds, making shooting—the bread and butter of this game—feel cumbersome in certain areas. AIm assist isn't even an option. Considering how precise this game wants your shooting to be at times, this is an inconvenience at best if you're not on the Vita. If you are on the Vita, the small thumbsticks make aim assist downright necessary in certain situations, and not having it makes the game unnecessarily difficult to work with. Using the inventory menu doesn't pause the action, and using said inventory menu is a hassle beyond words due to functionality that simply wasn't polished enough for a full release. It feels clunkier to move down and pick up items, and worst of all, the already bad performance that updated versions of the port suffer from is horrendous. And as a cherry on top, a neat little garnish, Co-Op is locked to this version of the game. AdHoc doesn't work; I have more than one hacked Vita, I tried. Rocketbirds 2, as it was released in 2016, lives up to its tepid critical reception.
So what does this say about how it's going to be preserved? Well, if I'm being completely honest with it, it's looking pretty fucking bleak. At least the PlayStation 4 version that they also released has local Co-Op. Performance is probably better and, as somebody who's obsessed over this game to the point where I've played it on all three platforms with the aid of PlayStation Plus, I can say that this is a game that controls the best with a DualShock 4/DualSense in your hands. But if it's anything like the downgraded version I was handed in the mail, don't get your hopes up. I'm not going to say that I was totally fleeced, because as far as I can tell, the LRG Vita copy of Rocketbirds 2 is the only way you can play the 1.0 release without too many compromises. Preserving different versions of games is an entirely different conversation, and it helps me to appreciate what I have elsewhere. But when I won't have the best versions of this game in 20 years, it's only going to leave a sour taste in my mouth.
In short: Rocketbirds 2 is fucking fantastic, but don't waste your money by chasing a physical copy of it as I did. Like piss in the wind, my money is...