Rainbow Cotton HD Remaster Review: Does It Hold Up?

Hey, Dreamcast fans! Remember the contentious yet charming on-rails shmup Rainbow Cotton from 2000? Well, it's back with an HD remaster nearly 25 years later. Let's dive into whether this remake casts a better spell than the original.

Originally hitting the Dreamcast in 2000, Rainbow Cotton was part of the beloved Cotton series, which debuted in arcades in 1991. Despite its potential, the Dreamcast entry was bogged down by poor execution, mainly due to its awkward camera and aiming system.

Camera Chaos

One of the biggest gripes with the original game was its baffling camera placement. Positioned mostly behind Cotton, our broomstick-riding witch, it made dodging obstacles a nightmare. Plus, controlling the aiming reticle independently of Cotton’s movement was like trying to pat your head and rub your belly at the same time—not fun.

HD Remaster: Faithful but Flawed

You'd think a remaster would fix these issues, right? Unfortunately, much like the Panzer Dragoon remake, Rainbow Cotton remains true to its flawed roots. The frustrating camera and aiming mechanics are back, making gameplay just as challenging and, frankly, frustrating as ever.

What’s New?

On the brighter side, the remaster brings beautifully subtitled cutscenes and retains the whimsical charm of the original. The visual updates are solid, but without fixing the core gameplay issues, it feels like a missed opportunity. For DIE HARD fans of Rainbow cotton you can FINALLY get all the goodies we wished we had on the Dreamcast in this INCREDIBLE Collectors edition!

Collectors edition comes with:

  • Premium Collector’s Edition box with magnetic clasp

  • Colorful game manual

  • Numbered certificate of authenticity

  • Wagashi-inspired Candy Mold, traditionally used for Japanese sweets.

  • Yunomi ceramic Japanese tea cup (230ml) (Bundled separately)

  • Cotton-branded wooden Bento Box (Bundled separately)

  • Large, 2-sided poster (A2)

  • Window Sticker

  • Original soundtrack on CD

Final Verdict

Unless you're a diehard Cotton series fan, this one might be worth skipping. The HD remaster stays true to the original, for better or worse, but those same old issues make it tough to recommend for modern gamers.

For more Dreamcast goodness and updates, keep it locked to Dreamcast Hub!