shoot 'em up

A collection of 47 posts

Review

Hyper-5 For The PS5? Here's A Review!

The superb Hyper-5 is now available on console, courtesy of Eastasiasoft. Here's a review of the PS5 version!

Review

Z-Warp Is Bullet Hell!

Retrieve a black box from the bowls of an alien mothership in indie shmup Z-Warp - a short, yet effective bullet hell experience. Out now on PS4/5 (also for Switch and Xbox).

Beat Invaders

Beat Invaders Sends Me Hyper

Is Beat Invaders the perfect game? I don’t know, you tell me. I will tell you this: it’s fantastic. Developer Raffaele Picca reached out to me with a code (there’s your disclosure), and within minutes of installing, I was balls deep in gameplay. I absolutely love this

Hyper Productions

Hyper-5 PC Review: Hype It Up!

In all honesty, Hyper-5 has been one of the most engaging shmups I’ve played in the last couple of years. I’m not just saying that because Hyper Productions are sitting here with a wave cannon aimed at my kintama, but because it’s one of those games you

Ethan Goldreyer

Something Fishy In Super Ick

If you’re one of those that think they’ve seen it all, have a look-see at Super Ick, out today on PC. Fusing peaceful fishing with chaotic bullet hell, this is one hell of a shmup. From Ethan Goldreyer, you’ll get to explore the galaxy, collecting all the

Review

Crisis Wing Review For PS5

With the choice of vertical or a horizontal setup, Crisis Wing is an old school shmup catered to many (just don't look for the difficulty settings).

Crisis Wing

Looking For A Nostalgic Shmup? Crisis Wing Is Out This Week

To make a good shmup cocktail, you need pure visceral action, and if going for a retro vibe, it must feature CRT effects. Well, that’s my simple requirements, and Crisis Wing is flaunting them. * A Q&A With imaginarylab, Creators Of Whirlight – No Time To Trip * The Best

Review

Have A Blast On Switch In This Party Shooter

Haul in three friends (or bots) for a party shooter with an old school arcade flavour similar to Asteroids - Have A Blast Switch is out now.

indie

Weapon Of Choice DX - What's Yours, Fellow 'Older Gamer'?

Weapon Of Choice DX has a tag line of ‘wild run and gun for older gamers’, and while shmup is the type of thing I grew up on while eating Wheetos and watching Mask, it won’t be a game I’ll be covering, but maybe a look-see for yourself.

indie

Super Destronaut DX 2 Breaks Out On Consoles This Week

The definitive shoot ’em up for yours truly is Taito’s Space Invaders. So it’s with great pleasure to see that Ratalaika Games’ title launching this week is Super Destronaut DX 2. Far from a clone, but it has that retro vibe to it. * A Q&A With

Astro Aqua Kitty

Astro Aqua Kitty Surfaces On The PS4 This Week

AAK! Another cat game, but that ‘AAK’ is a clever (pfft) nudge to introduce Astro Aqua Kitty, from Tikipod, available now on the Nintendo Switch, with PS4 and PSVita coming out in a couple of days. * A Q&A With imaginarylab, Creators Of Whirlight – No Time To Trip * The

Review

Why More Ships Are Better Than One In Shoot 1UP DX - PS5 Review

If you're short on time and want to show off with more than one ship at a time, Shoot 1UP DX on the PS4 might be for you.

Review

Natsuki Chronicles PS4 Review: Gingas Welcome!

A side-scrolling shmup that grants levelling up with progression? Yes, please! Natsuki Chronicles on PS4/5.

Electric Monkeys

Gravity Heroes Out On Steam - Newton Was Right!

First, there was a deluge of horror games coming out each week, then cyberpunk, and now it would appear that it is the age of the shmup as PQube, Studica Solution, and Electric Monkeys have released Gravity Heroes on Steam. With a pixel art aesthetic, the game takes place in

arcade

Natsuki Chronicles Is A Slick Bullet Hell Shmup In The Ginga Force Universe

In my best Samuel L. Jackson impression: “Mmm-mmm a new shmup”. Sure, he’s not said that in a film, and as you can’t hear me, that performance was stellar. Here’s some news about Natsuki Chronicles. If you’ve flown a ship or two, you will have come

Honour Runs

Honour Runs Review: No Time For A Victory Lap

Honour Runs is the type of game that doesn’t get the hooha from all outlets, but will resonate with gamers, should they have the fortune of picking it up. It reminds me of Terror Squid, even though it’s a different sort of shmup, due to the addictive, yet

indie

Honour Runs Is A Visceral Shooter Catering For Your Eyeballs And Earholes

Shoot ’em ups have leapfrogged the deluge of titles I’ve been playing of late – Bezier comes to mind as the most recent one. It’s a great genre, especially the retro ones and Honour Runs should be on your radar. Initially for the Xbox 360 titled Smatter: Honour Runs,

DLC

One Shell Straight To Hell Review: To Hell And Back

With One Shell Straight To Hell, I thought that I missed the memo, didn’t get around to binging on the Netflix series or saw the videos on TikTok. Padre Alexander feels like an established character that appeared from nowhere. However, with very little research skill, he made an appearance

arcade

Astrokicker Kicks It Old School And New In This Early Access Shmup

Never judge a book on its cover, but you can by a title, right? Astrokicker is neither a book nor have I seen the cover, but as for titles? Already love it. A mash-up of modern and classic shoot ’em ups, Astrokicker is a throwback to classic 80s and 90s

Review

Bezier: Second Edition Switch Review: Easter Eggs

A classic shooter with a self-aware presence, here's a Bezier Second Edition Switch Review - out now.

Assemble Entertainment

Squadron 51 Taps Into 50s Sci-Fi Nostalgia To Save The World

Yep, Assemble Entertainment really are smashing it again. This time around, we have a 1950s sci-fi inspired shoot ’em up; Squadron 51 and has me drooling at the chance to play this 2D/3D action title. From WhisperGames, 2021 doesn’t sound so far away now we’re in it,

34BigThings

Redout Space Assault Coming To A System Near You

Let’s catch up with the news by going to something from today rather than a couple of days ago: Redout Space Assault, heading to PC and consoles in January 2021. Redout is an award-winning futuristic racer from 34BigThings and Saber Interactive, and this follow up, to coin a phrase,

arcade

Sky Mercenaries Redux Switch Review: Drones For Hire

Ever hear of Sky Mercenaries Redux? Me neither, but Polarity Flow got in touch to let me know that it’s available on the Nintendo Switch, and kindly gave me a review code too so that I could give my opinion. What is Sky Mercenaries Redux? I’m glad you

1993 Shenandoah

1993 Space Machine PC Review: No Hot Tub In Sight

I’m quite confused. The game that landed on my desk last week was 1993 Space Machine for Steam, but having seen the release calendar, this came out many years ago. 1993 Shenandoah is the title that was released on the Switch this year, but the review is done now:

Aircraft Evolution

The Best Shoot 'em Ups On The Nintendo Switch

We all have our favourites, but this is my current list for some of the best shoot ’em ups on the Nintendo Switch. That’s right, one of those features/lists as I’ve accumulated a fair amount of games on the Switch now, so thought I’d list some