Taito is a name that carries a certain weight in the arcade world. They are the architects of Space Invaders and Bubble Bobble, yet they also have a vault full of curiosities that never quite made the leap to the West. Spica Adventure is one such oddity. Originally a 2003 mobile title that somehow clawed its way into Japanese arcades, it has finally landed on modern consoles as part of the Parasol Superstars bundle.
This review serves as a sister piece to the review of Parasol Stars over at Dying Art Media.
We love what ININ games are doing with these Taito games. Granted, they’re not strictly independent, but their support for independent studios and retro releases feels like they fit comfortably. Shining the light on those smaller publishers and developers.
Spica Adventure
Spica Adventure stars Nico, a girl in a pink dress who navigates a series of LEGO-like planetary stages using a multi-functional yellow umbrella.
If that sounds like a spiritual successor to Parasol Stars, that is because it absolutely is. However, Spica Adventure feels like it was born in a strange transitional era where arcade design was beginning to flirt with the more forgiving nature of home consoles.
The core of the experience is the parasol. It is not just a weapon; it’s a movement system. You can use it to glide, parry projectiles in eight directions, and even turn it into a boat when you hit water.
There’s a specific rhythm to the gameplay that feels distinct from the frantic twitch-shooting of Taito’s earlier hits.
Spica Adventure is more about momentum and utilizing the environment. Walking across flat ground even causes Nico to plant flowers, a really nice touch that encourages you to touch every inch of the stage for bonus points.
Despite the modern wrapper, this is still an arcade game at heart.
You have a branching path system across 28 stages, meaning a single run-through only shows you a fraction of what is on offer.
The difficulty curve is a bit of a zigzag; most of the game is a breezy, colourful walk in the park, but the final bosses ramp up the frustration in a way that feels like it was designed to eat coins in an arcade, for sure.
A fresh coat of paint
The remastering work here is solid but respectful. You get the choice between the original 4:3 arcade ratio and a modern widescreen presentation.
The 2D art style has aged remarkably well, looking like a piece of early 2000s pop art that popped out of a toy box. It is bright, loud, and unapologetically cute.
It works as well today as it did in 2003. Spica Adventure particularly pops on the Nintendo Switch 2’s LED screen. I imagine it would be even better had they released an OLED screen.
The inclusion of the Zuntata soundtrack is the real winner here. The funky, upbeat tunes keep the energy high even when the level design feels a little repetitive.
Spica Adventure doesn’t not have the depth of a modern platformer or the legendary status of its Bubble Bobble cousins, it is a fascinating piece of gaming history. It arguably came out too late to be looked at in the same light. Or perhaps too early? One thing is for sure, we’re all the better for having it re-released now to play on home consoles.
It isn’t the best game in the world, and it’s certainly not my favourite part of the Parasol Superstars bundle. But Spica Adventure can’t help not having my nostalgia for it like Parasol Stars does.
Overall thoughts on Spica Adventure
Spica Adventure is a competent, cheerful platformer that is being given its moment in the sun.
It is a niche pick, certainly, but for anyone who appreciates Taito’s specific brand of arcade magic, it is a journey worth taking. It is not going to change your life, but it will definitely brighten up your afternoon.
This is a bright, breezy trip down a memory lane most of us never actually walked. It is short, sweet, and serves as a perfect reminder of a time when games just wanted you to have a bit of colourful fun.
I already highly recommend picking up the Parasol Superstars bundle, just for the co-op fun of Parasol Stars. Having Spica Adventure as a bonus extra is a wonderful place to be. If you get the bundle, make sure to give Spica Adventure some time. It’s worth it, and just good old-fashioned fun.
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