Aclassic RPG mixed with a top-down shooter, Minishoot’ Adventures is the latest and greatest from SoulGame Studio, with IndieArk on publishing duties, and it’s available on Steam (Steam Deck enabled) now.
I understand fewer people want to read a review, but there are still some of you out there. Is it the actual reading, or simply skipping to the results and looking for a score/summary: should I get it or not? That’s always your decision, but if you’re one of those skimmers, let me give you the bottom line: Minishoot’ Adventures is a must-have.
What do you think of when you see RPG? There are as many interpretations of the genre as what defines an indie. The meaning can get lost, or our opinions are skewed. I typically think of Final Fantasy VII or The Legend of Zelda. Consider the latter, swap out Link for a spaceship, add twin-stick shooter controls and boom—you have a mash-up.
Minishoot’ Adventures Review – RPG Shootin’
The story can mean everything, though, in Minishoot’ Adventures, it’s a simple one. You play a non-verbal spaceship whose friends (other spaceships) have been mysteriously imprisoned by dark crystals. It’s your job to free them and remove the corruption from the land by eliminating the trash.
This is a no-brainer if you’re a fan of old-school RPGs
From a top-down perspective, you’ll control your ship like any other twin-stick shooter: the left stick for movement and the right for shooting. I played this on the Steam Deck, and it worked perfectly. I’m unsure whether you can play with the mouse and keyboard, but I’d recommend a gamepad.
Minishoot’ Adventures can be demanding depending on the difficulty level you choose. Hardcore players can opt for a challenge, while more casual explorers are accommodated with an easy mode and even easier control systems. There’s nothing to be concerned with regarding a learning curve, though. Like any good RPG, there will be new abilities and a skill tree to invest in.
Free-For-All
What’s great about Minishoot’ Adventures is the freedom you have from the get-go. Exploration is much like an open world where you can go wherever you please, though the well-known secret with this type of game is how new areas unlock with new abilities. What might have been considered a dead-end now leads to a new location.
What’s great about Minishoot’ Adventures is the freedom you have from the get-go
Map fragments can be found on your adventure, and when returning to your hub, one of the ships will highlight points of interests when you speak to them. Additionally, new prisoners released may be able to increase your gun damage, a talisman for fast travel, plus much, much more. Even without a map, exploration is encouraged.
Each enemy defeat fills a pool of crystals that level up your ship. From the skill tree, points can be invested in damage, bullet range, fire rate, and boosts, plus you can view what skills have been unlocked. For example, one of the first things to equip is a boost that allows you to jump over ramps to new areas. Later, this will be a dash that leaps over small chasms or a weapon that blasts through rocks.
Damn You, Gravity
Though you control a spaceship in Minishoot’ Adventures, it’s not a classic ship in that you can fly. Gravity-defying tricks come with the boost and a ramp or the twisting dash to reach new places. However, if you fall off the edge or dive into the water, you’ll respawn. Fortunately, this does not do any damage, but there are limited health points, and upon loss, you’ll head back to your base.
Like Zelda, you can increase core stats such as the number of hearts you have and energy levels (for boosting and power shots). Also, like Zelda, you will find yourself getting a bit lost at times, not knowing where to go or backtracking down a route you’ve been before, but not having the specific equipment will prevent you from progressing.
On the map, the area’s main boss will be highlighted. When you buy certain items, legends will indicate where your friends are located and whether you have completed an area. These are a godsend in times of wandering; just be prepared to invest a bit of time in Minishoot’ Adventures to unlock them.
Minishoot’ Adventures Review Summary
Minishoot’ Adventures is incredibly accessible to all abilities. Sometimes, there’ll be bullet hell; other times, exploring the areas is pretty serene, especially if overpowered. This is a no-brainer if you’re a fan of old-school RPGs that can link a more than capable twin-stick shooter in for good measure. Highly recommended!
