Switch
Here we have all the games in the Switch Section.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Irem does have a sublime line of arcade shoot ’em up heritage to raid and this third instalment proves there is plenty still to come with the PC Engine fave Mr Heli, coin-op exclusive Mystic Riders which utilises a broomstick for close up blast encounters and finally Dragon Breed which utilises the shield element of the dragon’s tail in its blasting escapades. Really bring the flavour of the arcade era home to savour.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Much-cherished Milestone shoot ’em up gets a Switch reboot and there are Hitchcock overtones for this crow related shooter. Utilises power ups for the shot, sword and shield giving it a strategic element. Known as also ‘Crows’ and ‘Karous’.
🥇Game of the Week
Game of the Week Switch
Shoot Em Up
Much-cherished Milestone shoot ’em up gets a Switch reboot and there are Hitchcock overtones for this crow related shooter. Utilises power ups for the shot, sword and shield giving it a strategic element. Known as also ‘Crows’ and ‘Karous’.
Brilliant Switch
Shooter
Few will forget their first blast on Kikikaikai. The initial barrier was to be able to pronounce it to the local importer in the pre-internet days. And despite being just the early nineties, few gamers were sufficiently cross-pollinated with games of its ilk to understand the ensuing cultural chaos. Not that it requires understanding with fast paced shooting fury the order of the day. Yet a randy raccoon tanuki friend that can deflect shots with his tail did raise a few eyebrows. The Shinto inspired Japanese blaster draws on mythology as necks extend inexplicably and one-eyed umbrella ghosts hop past. Cultural references aplenty all in a luscious sprite-based world driving gamers on to see more. Unrelenting pace as you the priestess battle against all the evil of underworld armed with nothing more than a purification branch. A Super Famicom classic well-worthy of this fine update and hopefully new and old audience with new playable characters. Known in the West as Pocky and Rocky Reshrined.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Horizontal and vertically scrolling shooting action besides a bit of free style 360 blasting courtesy of the mecha suit levels. Looking just as lush as you would expect from one of the biggest licenses in gaming, the attention to graphical detail and avatar input is astounding and squeezes so much out of the system and Macross license.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Mamoru Kun has a dedicated following from its Xbox 360 days and its easy to see why with appealing artwork, colourful characters and pick up and play shooting gameplay that hides devilish edge. Well worthy of reviving for the Switch – a haven for shoot ’em up fans.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Mamoru Kun has a dedicated following from its Xbox 360 days and its easy to see why with appealing artwork, colourful characters and pick up and play shooting gameplay that hides devilish edge. Well worthy of reviving for the Switch – a haven for shoot ’em up fans.
Switch
One on One Beat Em Up
A veritable dojo of martial artists and super heroes with the full roster being made of: X-Men, Marvel Super Heroes, X-Men vs Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter, Marvel vs Capcom, Marvel vs Capcom 2 and The Punisher. Only The Punisher hasn’t featured on Genki in previous format releases being a coin-op, but the Final Fight format will feel very much at home to Capcom connoisseurs and cognoscenti.
Switch
Action
Attaining new levels with its all out action gameplay as the player’s mech is often dwarfed by the ginormous bosses that need to be taken down. The sense of destruction and the all out pyrotechnic action make for an adrenalin filled, explosion-a-minute thrill.
Switch
Platform
The beautiful, timeless anime look of Valis is revived to celebrate her thirty-fifth anniversary and the gameplay is just as wholesome and rewarding now as it has been on many a retro platform over the decades. Valis parts one to three show the bishojo is definitely back.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Mushihimesama was developed by the hardcore’s most coveted Cave and welcomed to the Switch with open arms. Yet the love of the developer by it hardened crew is rarely reciprocated as cruel patterns of projectiles spray across the screen – a hard love that’s for sure. The title translates as Insect Princess and a genetically enhanced horde of creepy crawlies await the pretty princess. As you’d expect multiplier mayhem awaits those prepared to go easy on the smart bombs with the seasoned vet soon clocking up massive scores.
Switch
Action
Six Ninja Ja Ja Maru games from 1985-91 well worth investigating and not just for the superfluous number of ninjas. Our wee ninja leaps around the platform levels dispatching shurikens to clear a path to rescue his beloved. Smashing though platforms to get a shortcut and grabbing the ghosts that rise from bosched opponents are all part of the fun.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shooter
Four fabulous shooters from the coin-ops of old whose charm would no doubt lure you in through the tobacco smoke and neon. Operation Wolf needs no introduction and its sequel Operation Thunderbolt is also included which is like Wolf but as driven along in a 4×4 wheel drive. Space Gun is also a light gun game, but with self-explanatory out of this universe setting. Night Striker is a real gem cherished by many of the Playstation and Saturn as what looks like Michael Knight’s KITT car takes on the role of drive and gun blaster.
🏆Brilliant!
Switch
Shooter
Four fabulous shooters from the coin-ops of old whose charm would no doubt lure you in through the tobacco smoke and neon. Operation Wolf needs no introduction and its sequel Operation Thunderbolt is also included which is like Wolf but as driven along in a 4×4 wheel drive. Space Gun is also a light gun game, but with self-explanatory out of this universe setting. Night Striker is a real gem cherished by many of the Playstation and Saturn as what looks like Michael Knight’s KITT car takes on the role of drive and gun blaster.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Platform
Tomba is full of mischievous spirits and tumbles around on screen belly laughing, riding around on unsuspecting creatures, balancing on ledges whilst peeking round the corner in fine, early 2.5D platform fashion. Full of innovation and sheer gaming joy that makes the series a really treasured retro romp now revived from the Playstation original to make the Switch.
Switch
Action
Plays like a souped up King of Monsters with giant kaijyu tossing opponents into skyscrapers that they dwarf. As with all gaming, its great to be able to enjoy a bit of improper action in tossing around the various items in the city arenas.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Strikers 1945, Strikers 1945 II, Strikers 1999, Zero Gunner 2, Sol Divide and Dragon Blaze will have shooter veterans in raptures. Strikers 1999 and Dragon Blaze are certainly worth further investigation from fans of the old school blaster.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Gunbird, Gunbird 2, Gunbarich, Sengoku Ace, Sengoku Cannon and Sengoku Blade on show like a yakuza’s tattoos as Psikyo whips its shirt off and flexes its back-catalogue muscles. Genki loves the Sengoku series varied locales and ships that combine the future and past of Japan in one crazy melee.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
R Type tread boldly into the unknown world of 3D in its Playstation incarnation and delivered superb graphical gee whizz to go with luscious lighting effects. The weapons system uses auto targeting which can be a real blessing when things are starting to get a bit hairy. The revamping of the game shows what a seminal release it was.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
R Type tread boldly into the unknown world of 3D in its Playstation incarnation and delivered superb graphical gee whizz to go with luscious lighting effects. The weapons system uses auto targeting which can be a real blessing when things are starting to get a bit hairy. The revamping of the game shows what a seminal release it was.
Switch
Simulation
The tactical battle simulation based on the PSP incarnations of the games and looking amazing on the souped up hardware. The source material has clearly inspired the developers to attain new heights in its sumptuous appearance with a devilishly cunning gameplay engine underneath the bonnet.
Brilliant Switch
Simulation
The tactical battle simulation based on the PSP incarnations of the games and looking amazing on the souped up hardware. The source material has clearly inspired the developers to attain new heights in its sumptuous appearance with a devilishly cunning gameplay engine underneath the bonnet.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
What more could we possibly add? Once the Saturn was the only system on which it was possible to sample this masterpiece of programming, unless you managed to track down the ST-V Titan motherboard. And Treasure got the Saturn performing veritable cartwheels in terms of graphical boundaries which are pushed into the outer stratosphere. But just as much time has been spent on the play mechanics with a highly original weapons system. Sheer class on the Switch for all to savour.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
What more could we possibly add? Once the Saturn was the only system on which it was possible to sample this masterpiece of programming, unless you managed to track down the ST-V Titan motherboard. And Treasure got the Saturn performing veritable cartwheels in terms of graphical boundaries which are pushed into the outer stratosphere. But just as much time has been spent on the play mechanics with a highly original weapons system. Sheer class on the Switch for all to savour.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Cult developer Beep is appropriately drawn to this distinctive looking shooter that harks back to the cel-shaded original for its inspiration. The look really makes it stand out from the crowd and will no-doubt be fondly recalled with those familiar with its predecessors. Sometimes spelt Radilgy.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Cult developer Beep is appropriately drawn to this distinctive looking shooter that harks back to the cel-shaded original for its inspiration. The look really makes it stand out from the crowd and will no-doubt be fondly recalled with those familiar with its predecessors. Sometimes spelt Radilgy.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
There is a beauty in two players shooting the daylights out of all and sundry in tandem as the background gives a near 3D perception of depth with giant turrets and lunar landscapes. The soundtrack truly rocks: a very important factor in shoot em ups to keep the adrenalin pumping and the eyelids from blinking.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
There is a beauty in two players shooting the daylights out of all and sundry in tandem as the background gives a near 3D perception of depth with giant turrets and lunar landscapes. The soundtrack truly rocks: a very important factor in shoot em ups to keep the adrenalin pumping and the eyelids from blinking.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Raiden Fighters, Raiden Fighters 2 and Raiden Fighters Jet make up the trio of this compilation that goes in all guns blazing and takes no prisoners. The soundtrack is relentless, the in game characters given a millennial make over, yet veteran gamers may fear not as the action remains true to its pure adrenalin roots. Some may even be tempted to take advantage of the different play modes to flip back through a particularly turbulent section. A fine tribute to a much-loved series.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Raiden has always had a Top Gun battalion of dedicated followers and the love is reciprocated to its core crew by Moss in this fest for the retinas to try and absorb. The multi-directional scrolling adds an extra element for gamers to get to grips with, as if they didn’t have enough on their plate with the projectile hell. Yet there are plenty of nods to the series rich heritage, including the ships. So let the upbeat tunes keep your adrenalin pumping and trigger finger firing.