Tag: Shmups
Feature "I Think Studio Saizensen And I Will Make A Second Cotton Rock 'N' Roll”
Cotton Fantasy devs on building a new entry for the iconic cute-’em-up series
Over the decades Success Corporation has crafted a great many shmups that are distinct and captivating in equal measure. Games like the sublime Psyvariar, with its remarkable bullet grazing system and adaptive difficulty, or the curious, vibrant-yet-gritty...
Review Eschatos (Switch) - A Boldly Unique And Historical Shmup Package
Here comes the judgement
M-KAI began his game development life on the MSX with RPG Izumic Ballade, before moving into the shoot-em-up arena with Kanzen Kouryaku Kyokugen and Pleasure Hearts. The distinct design hallmarks of these early works — leaning toward lightweight, unpretentious fun — have remained present throughout his commitment to the...
Review Radirgy Swag (Switch) - Legwork Needed To Enjoy This Quirky Shmup
Radio for help
Merriam-Webster defines ‘Swag’, in urban slang terms, as referring to "stylish confidence”, although the origin of the word actually comes from the Scandinavian ‘svagga’, meaning to “rock unsteadily or to lurch”. Radirgy Swag, with its unusual direction and somewhat confusing properties, probably has more in common with...
Feature Treasure Games That Need Switch Ports Or Sequels
We’re going on a Treasure hunt
The aptly-named Japanese studio Treasure — in spite of its fondness for focusing on less popular formats and its infrequent and occasionally Japan-only releases — has long been a developer famed throughout all of game-dom for the consistent originality and sheer quality that runs through its work. Formed in 1992...
PSA You Can Use Switch OLED's Kickstand To Play In TATE Mode, Just Be Very Careful
We like to TATE, we like, we like to TATE
DISCLAIMER: Nintendo Life is not liable for any damage — light or otherwise — caused to your lovely Switch OLED's screen through orientating your shiny new console all vertical-like. Old school arcade and shmup fans have been having a wail of a time with Switch over the past few years, with the system...
Review Espgaluda II (Switch) - Localisation Issues Can't Spoil This Superb Shmup
There’s a fly in the full extent of the jam
Espgaluda II’s originally a 2005 arcade game by legendary developer Cave, responsible for the already-released Switch ports of Mushihimesama and Progear (via Capcom Arcade Stadium), the upcoming Deathsmiles I & II collection, and before that a string of high-quality arcade shmups stretching all the...
News A Duel Hand Disaster: Trackher Works Both Sides Of Your Brain On Switch
Brain training with a shmup four years in the making
Nearly two years on after its initial announcement for Switch, A Duel Hand Disaster: Trackher is finally available on Nintendo Switch eShop. Self-described as a 'Split Screen Single Player Twin Stick Risk 'Em Up', Ask an Enemy Studios has spent over four years developing the game which has you...
News If You Like Switch Shmups, You'll Want This Vertical Grip
TATE mode engaged
There are loads of amazing shmups available on the Switch eShop, and the fact that you can remove the Joy-Con and turn the console sideways means that vertical shooters are playable in all their TATE glory. However, one annoying element of this setup is that you have to rest the Switch on a surface or place it in some kind...
Community Strap In Pilots, We're Looking For Shmup Top Guns
Are you the top NL shooter head? Time to prove it
You might have noticed that besides many other things, the Nintendo Switch is becoming quite a treasure trove for shmups both old and new. Thankfully it seems we're not likely to run out of aliens or evil dictators to shoot down any time soon on Nintendo's current console, so to spice things...
News Megadriver's Latest Album Is All About Shmups
And Great Justice For All
Nintendo Life shmup heads rejoice as Brazilian metal band and inventors of the game metal genre Megadriver have just released their latest album. For Great Justice is a twenty track metal cover album with some very iconic tunes from several classic shmups, including songs from Thunder Force IV,