Although Sine Mora feels like a classic shoot'em up there is definitely a modern touch. The gameplay may just use two dimensions but the 3D visuals really add to the immersion. A key feature you wouldn't normal see in the arcade is the story-line. Featuring a cast of animals who look and behave like humans is definitely a unique idea. Add to that a reality where it is possible to travel through time and then you really do have a lot going on. The question is does all this extra flare really add to the experience?
As in most shoot'em-ups you must dodge an array of missiles and bullets while trying to fight back. However, instead of having a health meter it is time you must worry about. You can raise the time meter by simply defeating more enemies. Frequently, as you destroy enemy ships, power-ups and bonuses will appear. Some of these include time extensions, shot power upgrades, and extra special attacks. The special attacks can be quite powerful and vary based on which character you're playing as. Every time you get hit the time will go down and you'll have to recollect all your attack upgrades. Use your slow-mo meter to help avoid attacks because if the timer reaches zero you'll lose one of a limited number of credits.
The standout feature of the game is the gorgeous visuals. The epic 3D backgrounds are so stunning they make you want to forget fighting and just explore instead. The gigantic bosses are also quite varied and a treat to look at. The anthropomorphic characters that make up the cast of the game also feature a very unique style that seems perfectly suited for a graphic novel. Thankfully even with everything happening on screen it still fairly easy to keep track of your ship and the mass of bullets being hurled at you.
Although this feels like a classic arcade it does feature a rather intricate story-line. From what I could understand Ronotra the bison lost his son in a war and came up with this elaborate revenge scheme. You also have a group of oppressed people called Enkies trying to resist the empire and liberate their people. In this universe time travel is possible and all the characters try to use this to their advantage. All the dialog is voiced over but even that was not enough to get me adsorbed in this overly complicated plot.
Story aside there is quite a bit of fun to be had with this shoot'em up. It is a treat to fly around these beautiful vistas, war or otherwise. Playing on normal settings the game is a reasonable challenge without being overwhelming. The boss battles are the highlight as they offer the most interesting fights and they are so grand you feel like they could pop right out of the screen. There is even a co-op mode where one player controls the ship and the other playing acts as a gunner able to shoot in every direction. You really have to enjoy side-scrolling shooters to get much replay out of this title. Sine Mora Ex was a one time play-through for me but I enjoyed it none the less.