Revolgear Zero (PC) [Demo out]

[kid aphex]

Demo left a great impression on me.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3941 ... gear_Zero/


Enjoy

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I checked on the USA region Nintendo Switch eShop portal today, 1/15/2026 and lo behold, it was the famous Revolgear Zero demo available to d/l on your Switch gaming console -- looks "drop-dead gorgeous" with the lovely hand-drawn sprite artwork/vibe going on & plays awesome on an OLED Switch setup. It's a mere 96.6mb d/l at best.

It'll be available to buy at the MSRP of $14.99 usd on 2/19/2026 as a 200mb digital game d/l on the USA region Switch eShop as a full version with a grand total of seven stages to test your mettle at. It's a highly anticipated upcoming Switch STG title worthy of your time.

The Switch demo of Revolgear Zero is a two-stage demo sampler and runs at the obligatory arcade-spec silky-smooth 60fps framerate presentation (as originally intended to be played). Very nice STG demo as it is, indeed. You and a pal/frenemy can play co-op (which is quite rare to see on a Switch STG demo as it is, especially nowadays).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[SavagePencil]

I checked on the USA region Nintendo Switch eShop portal today, 1/15/2026 and lo behold, it was the famous Revolgear Zero demo available to d/l on your Switch gaming console -- looks "drop-dead gorgeous" with the lovely hand-drawn sprite artwork/vibe going on & plays awesome on an OLED Switch setup. It's a mere 96.6mb d/l at best.

It'll be available to buy at the MSRP of $14.99 usd on 2/19/2026 as a 200mb digital game d/l on the USA region Switch eShop as a full version with a grand total of seven stages to test your mettle at. It's a highly anticipated upcoming Switch STG title worthy of your time.

The Switch demo of Revolgear Zero is a two-stage demo sampler and runs at the obligatory arcade-spec silky-smooth 60fps framerate presentation (as originally intended to be played). Very nice STG demo as it is, indeed. You and a pal/frenemy can play co-op (which is quite rare to see on a Switch STG demo as it is, especially nowadays).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

What’re the game systems? Is it good?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The Switch Revolgear Zero demo has an 8-way digital control scheme (or you can use the Left analog stick as well) with a four button layout that's comprised of the following (buttons can be re-mapped to your liking if you don't like the default button layout):

Button A -- Attack (your primary weapon, hold the button to attack continuously)

Button B -- Burst (consumes the "Energy Gauge" to unleash a special "Burst Attack")

Button Y -- Bit Control (Primary) changes the Bit configuration. Hold down to charge a Bit Shot that pierces enemies

Button R -- Bit Control (Secondary) changes the Bit configuration. Hold down to charge a Bit Shot that pierces enemies

Upon booting up Revolgear Zero for the very first time, it'll ask you to input your name or call-sign and use that for the rest of the game including the scoreboards. You are treated to a slick opening "Attract Screen" sequence that harkens back to the classic arcade-based stg titles of the early 1990s and into the early 2000s era. Next up is a demo run explaining the basics of what the four action buttons do, then it's on to the demo stage cycle run (alternates between Stage 1 and Stage 2).

You can select either Fightercraft Type 1 -- Revolgear Pheasant or Fightercraft Type 2 -- Revolgear Dove (there are slight differences between the two fightercrafts during a gaming session -- try 'em both out and see how they play out).

With developer Bikkuri Software at the helm and released by Sanuk Inc., Revolgear Zero feels like a "long lost" arcade-based stg title that's been re-discovered hiding in a decrepit and aging HDD all these years and finally re-surfaces in the modern-day era -- it would've graced a typical Japanese candy cab at the local game center asking you to try it out at the usual 100 yen asking price fee. Yes, it's that good!

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Lethe]

What’re the game systems? Is it good?

Think Thunder Force + Force pod + DDP2.

You can switch between pod mode and bits mode and they each have their own weapons. The burst (laser bomb) meter fills in the same ways as Dose, and fills fast, especially on contact. Unblockable bullets and lasers fill it too, the collision is a little relaxed so it's more like grazing them. The meter is also a one-hit safety net shield while it's full.

You can throw the bits with a charge attack, turning them into an aimable boomerang projectile which charges the burst meter super fast and collects items. Crucially it can be recalled early, so using it doesn't mean committing to giving up your shot/defenses for several seconds. (I admit to only trying the demo out because it had a free-aim reticule in the trailer, which is one of these.) Stage 2 demonstrates some of the potential - getting at the enemies and items on both branches of a maze simultaneously, enemies that can only be reasonably damaged with pierce, etc.

Bombing, losing your shield and fully charging the burst meter all give iframes, which enables some funny stuff like setting the charge attack on top of the boss before intentionally getting hit to "dodge" and then having the meter refill instantly after. Spamming the laser bomb seems like pretty much the best thing you can do at any time so I imagine strategy revolves around how to most aggressively fill the meter without getting killed.

The highest difficulty is a bit different to the next lower - enemy attacks are double density or more, everything produces suicide bullets, double midboss on stage 2. It's way easier to get meter from bullet eating but harder to switch away from pod mode and find space to use the charge attack. Changes the dynamics a little.

[SavagePencil]

What’re the game systems? Is it good?

free-aim reticule

Is this a right-analog stick free-aim or a Thunder Force V/Sokyugurentai-style free-aim? Would like to play this with an arcade stick, so hoping it's the latter.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

What’re the game systems? Is it good?

free-aim reticule

Is this a right-analog stick free-aim or a Thunder Force V/Sokyugurentai-style free-aim? Would like to play this with an arcade stick, so hoping it's the latter.

For SavagePencil,

Some key observations about the newfangled released Switch Revolgear Zero demo include the following as listed below if you play it numerous times -- here's what I've discovered/gleaned from it (and learned more in greater detail) about it:

The aiming reticule is utilized by using the action buttons used for Bit Controls 1 and 2 with whatever buttons the end-user assigns to them to be implemented as.

So yes, go ahead and use an arcade stick with the Switch demo of Revolgear Zero as it's the preferred ideal method of playing it properly to give it's unmistakable arcade-like vibe/control-scheme going on throughout the entire stg itself.

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In the upcoming full-version release of RZ, get enough coins per stage for "credits" to buy better weaponry upgrades in the shop (however much they might cost altogether/in totality is anyone's best guess as the demo doesn't let the end-user gain access to the shop upgrades functionality whatsoever but is presented as a "subtle and very obvious clue" that it really is so) -- isn't that awesome?
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On the second stage's mid-boss with the the jumping four legged creature, if destroyed in time, it'll give you a "3up" (instead of the usual "1up") if the difficulty setting is set to "Novice" mode at the start of a brand-new gaming session -- it's a given alrighty.

After the destruction of the second stage end-boss, a crystal endowed dragon, the resulting exploding crystalline shards of shrapnel that are hurled at your fightercraft can kill you if they aren't avoided in time -- you've been warned ahead of time with this well-known fact that it is so.

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Should you manage to beat and eclipse your previous highest score, that older score will be overwritten and the newest high score will be saved to NVRAM for posterity with the Switch RZ demo -- how cool is that? Your newest highest score will then be displayed during the "Game Stage Demo" run cycle as usual. It's never mentioned nor disclosed that the Switch RZ demo saves your highest score for posterity/safe-keeping (but still slick nevertheless as it is).
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Up to eight characters maximum can be entered for your name (or "call sign" for that matter) when asked to do so at the first time booting up the Switch RZ demo -- the CPU will then save it for use next time when a new gaming session begins/is started.

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Playing the Switch RZ demo on a larger OLED-based gaming monitor setup really "punches up" it's overall visual flair/vibe being presented but at the expense of not having a proper "scanline" filter being made available to apply "in-game" as it is -- a temporary solution/remedy to this pressing issue/problem would be to use an external hdmi-based SLG (scanline generator) placed between the docked Switch's hdmi cable and the gaming monitor's hdmi cable -- scanline issue resolved instantly. Easy as pie. I use this one listed here: https://www.amazon.com/Gam3Gear-Scanlin ... 290&sr=8-3
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I'm using a dedicated 3rd-party Switch-based Hori manufactured "Real Arcade Pro V Hayabusa" arcade stick with my OLED Switch setup docked and it perfectly lives up to the arcade-spec pedigree of RZ as it was meant to originally be played on. Playing the Switch demo of RZ with a pair of Joycons doesn't "cut it/do it proper justice" as with a dedicated arcade stick setup does. Quite ace as it is with that particular Switch-based arcade stick setup indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[birb]

Wow this thread popped up while surfing shmup chats. I actually tried this a while back and its super fun! Here is my score run on the toughest difficulty: https://youtu.be/Fu9DTnilF9g

[SavagePencil]

Wow, finally got a chance to play this.

Above Average:

• Clarity of visuals. Nice crisp pixel artwork, strong colors, good contrast for foreground/background. Bullets stand out, and have clear iconography for blockable/not-blockable.
• Good UI. On-screen meters are in the right places, although I might ask if the item meter be at screen bottom vs. top dead center. Pleasant menu navigation that doesn't overstay its welcome. Lots of customization options, including bullet & item presentation (color, iconography).
• Great tutorials. Don't sleep on the Mission mode to get a handle on the mechanics. Don't sleep on the Easy mode to get a feel for the level layout, either.
• Controls. 8-way, 4 buttons, maps to an arcade stick perfectly.
• Difficult choices! Ship setup requires some healthy thought. There are obvious opportunities for each of the weapon loadouts (I was kicking myself for the first boss for not taking the vertical options shot). When do I burst shot? When do I options throw? Plenty of room for scoring growth after foundational mastery.
• Pacing. Smooth level progression introducing environmental changes and then increasingly challenging zako and mid-boss waves.
• Restraint. There's R-Type and Gradius aplenty here, but these are nods, not slavishly aping.
• Music. It's dope.

Wish it was Better:

• Options throw. Maybe it's just me, but I wish launching the option could go in the OPPOSITE direction of where I'm pushing.

Definite day one purchase.

[nogden]

Im liking this one a lot. Looking forward to the full release

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Developer interview

https://www.tech-gaming.com/qa-bikkuri_software/

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Fascinating article about what makes the dev team of Bukkuri Software being a 4-person joint effort and developed on the side in addition to having full-time jobs -- not easy these days. Makes me wonder how long to it took to get Revolgear Zero made (from initial prototype concept to final game release)?

I'm sure with bit more "polish," Revolgear Zero as a dedicated Exa-Arcadia release would be feasible/possible.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[To Far Away Times]

Bukkuri Software is the team behind the rather excellent Graze Counter, and it's rather mid remake that lost the game design focus, Graze Counter GM.

Let's hope this one is more like the former and less like the latter.

[SavagePencil]

Bukkuri Software is the team behind the rather excellent Graze Counter, and it's rather mid remake that lost the game design focus, Graze Counter GM.

Let's hope this one is more like the former and less like the latter.

Based on the demo, it definitely has the right trajectory.

[SavagePencil]

And now having played the demo for Graze, Revolgear is definitely a refinement of that title.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Interesting to see the "Revolgear" name pop up in the Graze Counter GM (Game Maker) variant remake (circa 2023) as shown on Stage 3-A.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[birb]

https://x.com/i/status/2023720903184679144

New footage of stage 3 with 2 player mode.

Also the game is close to releasing!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Just got an e-mail from Steam today, 2/18/2026, saying that the Steam port of Revolgear Zero is now available to buy with an auto-applied 20% off discount making it a mere $11.99 usd purchase. Wow, the wait for it is finally over -- it's about damn time! You can also buy a bundled set of Revolgear Zero + OST with a 20% discount applied for $18.88 usd as well if so desired. Link here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3941 ... gear_Zero/

Here's a review of the PC/Steam port of Revolgear Zero courtesy of Hardcore Gamer site that was originally posted yesterday, 2/17/2026: https://hardcoregamer.com/review-revolgear-zero/

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Been playing for less than 3 hours and I already 1CCed hardest difficulty. You will sail through this with any combination of homing weapons. The homing bit and the drop bit you can park on top of bosses will completely demolish them. Lots of other weapons and modes to experiment with though. You can play with an AI partner but she doesn't know how to avoid walls.

[-Fish-]

Been playing for less than 3 hours and I already 1CCed hardest difficulty. You will sail through this with any combination of homing weapons. The homing bit and the drop bit you can park on top of bosses will completely demolish them. Lots of other weapons and modes to experiment with though. You can play with an AI partner but she doesn't know how to avoid walls.

Sounds like a case of Drainus. Cool shmup but far too easy.

[Faith]

You can play with an AI partner but she doesn't know how to avoid walls.

lolllll!!! So, I assume then... this game is perfect for players like me who are super maximum useless at hori shmups >.<?!~

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Revolgear Zero finally appeared on the USA region Nintendo eShop portal today 2/19/2026 at 9:00am PST this morning with a 20% discount making it a $11.99 purchase instead of it's usual MSRP of $14.99 usd. It's a 184mb digital d/l at best. It's recommended to use a dedicated Switch compatible arcade stick setup for best usage of it's traditional digital 8-way joystick + a four button layout scheme for best results.

Upon entering your user name at the start of a brand new booting up of RZ, you are given a default Credit of 2,500,000 which can be used in the "Unlock Shop" section allowing you to buy/combine weapons to your personal tastes/liking. You can even buy the option to unlock a Sound Test & Omake mode which unlocks a bonus mini game as well for 2,560,000 Credits.

There's no online leaderboard support for the Switch port of RZ to be found whatsoever -- there is however, a Scoreboard section listed in the Archive Mode submenu selection that shows your scores in both "Standard Mode" and "Boost Mode" for the following difficulty settings: Novice, Advanced, Expert and Master (thus making it a possible 16 different scores altogether to be saved for posterity via NVRAM). How cool is that?

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The Steam port of RZ has the option to buy the RZ Original Soundtrack for $8.99 usd here in both MP3 and high quality FLAC formats: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4282 ... oundtrack/
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PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[kid aphex]

Great looking game, fun to play, a little easy.
Good soundtrack.
Lots of extras.

Well worth supporting.

[Steven]

Saw this game the other day by chance and it looked interesting. Too bad everyone here is saying that it's super easy. That is very disappointing. Maybe it might be worth checking out anyway?

Bukkuri Software is the team behind the rather excellent Graze Counter, and it's rather mid remake that lost the game design focus, Graze Counter GM.

Let's hope this one is more like the former and less like the latter.

What's wrong with GM? I have both original and GM but I don't remember if I actually played GM. Original version's pretty cool, and something that I want to play more if I ever get time to do so, so it's too bad if GM is fucked.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Enter your name as EUGENE to unlock some visuals for your ship. Use up and down on the ship select to cycle through some different colour schemes. You can even fly as a loli if thats your thing.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Enter your name as EUGENE to unlock some visuals for your ship. Use up and down on the ship select to cycle through some different colour schemes. You can even fly as a loli if thats your thing.

For Sly Cherry Chunks,

Upon entering the specified name of "Eugene" within the Name Entry sub-menu category, an orange-colored hair endowed character appears -- who is she?

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At the Ship Selection Screen, there's no color change that you mention of nor is the Loli character selectable either. I'm using the Switch port of Revolgear Zero which is listed at Version 1.0.2 as usual.
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PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Here’s the tweet:

https://x.com/bikkurisoftware/status/20 ... 29426?s=46

I followed the instructions and now have all this extra stuff. Maybe there are other conditions for this unlock, I 100%ed everything already.

According to google, Eugene is a character from Neko Navy and NekoNingen Eugene.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Here’s the tweet:

https://x.com/bikkurisoftware/status/20 ... 29426?s=46

I followed the instructions and now have all this extra stuff. Maybe there are other conditions for this unlock, I 100%ed everything already.

According to google, Eugene is a character from Neko Navy and NekoNingen Eugene.

If you go to the Shop, you'll see 10 different "Omake Skins" priced at 1,280,000 credits each -- dang!

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

I don't know how I unlocked the other stuff but it seems like you can only play as Eugene on 2P side if you use the code. 2 full runs through master mode will gain you enough credits to unlock everything in the store.

[Hail Sadako]

I've been having a blast playing this game. I agree with the sentiment that the game is way too easy, even on the hardest difficulty. I have only ever played shmups for survival, but this game made me play for score since survival is not much of a challenge.

The type-1 ship turret bit is hilariously broken. The homing bit shot is insane and the turret melts bosses if placed properly .