The “Tokyo Game Show 2026” was held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba from September 17 to September 21 (the in-person event on the 21st was canceled due to a typhoon). Here’s our hands-on report on *Gley Lancer: Overdrive*, which was available to play at the Nalua Studio booth in the Indie Games section.
A remake featuring significantly revamped graphics while retaining the original enemy spawn patterns
This title is a remake of the game originally released for the Mega Drive in 1992; as part of its reimagining for the Neo Geo, the animations and enemy craft graphics have been redrawn in higher resolution.
At the start of the game, you first set the formation for the two gunners that follow your ship. There are five formation types: “Normal,” where the gunners face the direction of your ship; “Search,” where they automatically target enemies; “Multi,” which fires 3-way shots; “Shadow,” where they trace your ship’s flight path; and “Roll,” where the gunners rotate.This time, I played using the “Normal” formation.
Right after Stage 1 begins, noticeable differences from the original version become apparent—such as watching the giant spaceship in the background get destroyed as the stage starts. These differences from the original are particularly evident in the background artwork. Not only are Jupiter’s rings depicted in their entirety, but the story elements are also strongly emphasized—for example, a space station in the background explodes just before a boss battle begins.The difficulty of Stage 1 is relatively low, and by carefully observing enemy movements and making use of the new “Overdrive” system, I was able to clear it without much trouble.
In terms of controls, the game retains the original’s control scheme while adding “Overdrive” as a new action. The A button controls speed, the B button fires shots, the C button controls the gunner, and the D button activates Overdrive—a new ability that functions similarly to a bomb.
When you activate Overdrive, an energy field forms around your ship, allowing you to block enemy attacks. Furthermore, you can launch this field in the direction you’re moving to use it as an attack.Although it’s a system that combines defense and offense, using it effectively requires carefully judging the direction of fire, and the sense of satisfaction when you successfully weather a fierce enemy onslaught is quite something. It’s a new feature that makes you want to use it aggressively.
You can also see the changes brought by the remake in the graphics. The attack animations for your ship and the hit and explosion animations for enemy ships are rendered in great detail, making them look even richer than they appear. These changes in animation are also reflected in the sensation you get when defeating minor enemies.
In the original version, enemies vanished with only a brief animation upon being destroyed, creating a high-speed, exhilarating sensation as you mowed down enemies one after another.In contrast, the remake features detailed destruction animations, which emphasize the sensation of taking down enemies one by one.
As a result, rather than the actual game speed having changed, it feels as though the sense of satisfaction upon defeating an enemy has gained more weight. Personally, that sensation reminded me somewhat of *R-TYPE III*.
That said, I didn’t feel the pace was sluggish while actually playing. The rate at which enemies appear and attack remains brisk, and I felt the game successfully balances rich visual presentation with the exhilaration of a shooter.
In Stage 2, you battle your way across the ocean surface of the planet Neredy. From here on, enemy attacks gradually intensify, and the enemy spawn patterns feel challenging and satisfying.The difficulty is also somewhat high, and I was shot down several times myself. However, the respawn time is short, and the BGM doesn’t cut out, so even though it’s a respawn-based system, the retry pacing remains smooth. I was impressed that even after failing, the momentum isn’t broken, and you can try again right away.
Stage 3 takes place on the planet Enora. It’s an interesting twist that the red and blue veins running along the walls and background are interpreted as resembling the cell stages from *Gradius*. Since this is a significant departure from the original version’s aesthetic, opinions may vary, but I personally felt it was a bold and welcome change.
During this hands-on session, I was able to play up to Stage 3. Since the version on display was an alpha build, there were still some areas that felt a bit unpolished. On the other hand, the richness of the graphics and animations showcased the unique appeal of a remake, and the hands-on experience left me eagerly anticipating the final release. While it remains to be seen how the story segments will be presented, it’s certainly a title that shoot ‘em up fans can look forward to.
“Gley Lancer: Overdrive” is scheduled for release in 2027 on Neo Geo AES (console), Neo Geo MVS (arcade), PC (Steam), PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
