Overly difficult gameplay for an arcade game. A solid title that the majority of people will simply find too hard.

Following Super Stardust HD, Nucleus gives a good attempt at revolutionizing the standard space-faring shooter by scaling it down to more impractical terms: on the cellular level. Using semi-scientific terms that sound more like an explicitly rated video, Nucleus proves to be a terribly difficult journey through a very disease ridden individual.

Nucleus refuses to keep it simple, and is perhaps one of the most demanding arcade games out on the market. With full use of the SIXAXIS controller (save for tilt), players will have their hands full keeping their scores high and, more than likely, completing missions.

Using the premise that scientists created a cell drone that is in fact controlled by the player, the drone “squirts” as a boost, shoots some sort of anti-bacteria soap to destroy cells and, of course, bacteria, and fires protein bombs for the larger, more vicious viruses. A Star Trek-like tractor beam is also available (no science explains this one) which can move cells around. The face buttons control where the beam pulls them.

Some 40 levels give the pretentious feeling of actually going through a campaign, but with the lack of storyline it remains superfluous. Three levels of difficulty do not separate missions, but rather are part of the mission grouping. That means one third of the levels are easy (or training as stated in-game), one third is intermediate and the last is advanced.

What really makes it difficult isn’t the lack of good control or the incredible AI system. It is basically Metal Slug, but as a space shooter. So yes, it makes for a possible cult classic that people would play at an actual arcade, then own 20 years later, but those kinds of games are rare these days.

When another player gets thrown into the mix, things are a bit better. Gameplay is much less difficult and actually enjoyable, so long as player two isn’t an awful player. For some missions, it only prolongs the suffering, like one that requires the drones to stay inside a protective cell barrier while destroying viruses. Four players would still have trouble with that, regardless of their skill level.

As an arcade game, Nucleus is the opposite of casual. You don’t sit back into the couch for this one. This is the type of game that’ll make you throw that $50 controller at the floor, make you wish there was a disc so you could break it, and that sort of thing. Masochistic players from the late 80’s will enjoy countless hours of Nucleus, but the standard gamer looking for a fun arcade game will have a nice look, then move along.