I remember the first time I booted up Jili Golden Empire, expecting just another retro-style shooter to kill a couple of hours. What I discovered instead was a surprisingly deep character system that completely transformed how I approached the game. Let me walk you through what makes this game's unlockable characters so special, and why choosing between them becomes more about personal connection than pure stats.
When you start playing, you're immediately thrown into the action as one of the basic Contra soldiers. But as you progress through the game's eight main missions, you'll encounter various allies fighting alongside you against the alien threat. Here's where it gets interesting - about 75% of these characters eventually become playable, either through natural story progression or by spending the in-game currency you've been collecting. I still remember the excitement when Rico, this grizzled veteran I'd seen in cutscenes, suddenly became available after I completed mission three. It felt like the game was rewarding my progress with new ways to experience the action.
The shop system is where character customization really shines. Each of the 12 unlockable characters has one specialized ability you can purchase, and these aren't just cosmetic changes. Bill's short dash gives you about half a second of invulnerability - perfect for those moments when you're cornered by enemy fire. Lance's enhanced double jump literally adds three extra feet to his vertical reach, which completely changes how you navigate certain platforming sections. Then there's characters like Maria, whose rapid-fire ability increases her shooting speed by approximately 15%. These differences might sound small on paper, but in practice, they make each character feel distinct.
What's fascinating is how these special abilities create just enough variation without making any character objectively better than others. I've spent probably 200 hours with this game, and I can tell you that there's no "best" character from a strategic standpoint. The differences are subtle enough that your personal preference ends up being the deciding factor. I found myself gravitating toward Kaito, not because his slide maneuver was particularly game-changing, but because I liked his character design - that classic cyber-ninja aesthetic just clicked with me. Meanwhile, my gaming buddy swears by Boris, whose ground pound ability helps him navigate tricky sections, even though statistically it's not any more effective than other abilities.
The beauty of this system is that it encourages experimentation without punishing you for your choices. I remember trying out each character for at least two full missions before settling on my favorites. There was this one intense boss fight against the mechanized scorpion where I must have died eight times with my usual character. On a whim, I switched to Anya, whose shield ability blocks exactly three projectiles before needing to recharge. That slight defensive advantage was exactly what I needed to finally beat that frustrating boss. It wasn't that Anya was fundamentally better - she just fit my play style for that particular challenge.
What surprised me most was how attached I became to certain characters. There's something about finding that one character whose ability just feels right that transforms the gaming experience. For me, it was Chen, whose extended melee range made close-quarters combat feel incredibly satisfying. Was he objectively better than other characters? Definitely not - his ability only increases his melee range by about 20%. But subjectively, he became my go-to character for most of the game's content because his play style matched how I like to approach combat situations.
The developers have struck this delicate balance where character choice matters just enough to be meaningful without creating must-pick meta characters. I've seen players complete the entire game with every single character, which speaks to how well-balanced the roster is. If you're the type who enjoys min-maxing, you might be disappointed that there aren't more significant statistical differences. But if you're like me and appreciate when games let you play with characters you genuinely like rather than who the numbers say you should use, you'll find Jili Golden Empire's approach refreshing.
After playing through the game multiple times with different characters, I've come to appreciate how these subtle differences actually enhance replay value. My first complete playthrough took about 12 hours with my main character, but I've probably sunk another 30 hours into experimenting with different character combinations. Each character's unique ability encourages you to approach challenges slightly differently, which keeps the gameplay feeling fresh even when you're replaying familiar levels.
At the end of the day, Jili Golden Empire understands that connection to a character often goes beyond raw statistics. The game gives you just enough mechanical reason to care about who you're playing while acknowledging that sometimes, you just want to watch your favorite character model running and gunning through alien hordes. It's this understanding of what makes character selection meaningful that elevates the game from being just another shooter to an experience that stays with you long after you've put down the controller.