There is no shortage of shoot ’em ups on the Switch, and most of them fit into one of three categories. There are the cute ’em-ups like the Cotton franchise. There are the anime games that typically run vertically, and then there are the typical space shooters like R-Type or Andro Dunos. Still, every now and again, a visually unique shooter hits the genre. It’s happening again, this time with NeverAwake.
NeverAwake is an interesting spin on the genre because it is both beautiful and haunting. There are seven different worlds for players to explore, and each one is visually distinct. Players will explore the nightmares of the protagonist throughout the game, and while this isn’t explicitly a horror game, it’s thematic and full of atmosphere.
Gameplay-wise, there isn’t too much unique about NeverAwake, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t fun. The weapon arsenal is varied and the animations are dazzling. Using the weapons is nothing short of fun, but there is enough depth to them to make strategy a thing worth considering. The controls feel excellent, and the level design has some of the best moments in recent history for the genre. It’s genuinely a blast to play as a well-crafted love letter to the genre that subverts a few tropes.
The difficulty scales quite a bit to how the player approaches the game. There are items throughout the influence bullets, health, and even the health of the bosses. Not only does this customize the player to a preferred playstyle, but it also makes the game more accessible than most in the genre.
Of course, there are leaderboards for veterans of the genre that love to chase high scores. The gameplay is consistent throughout and rewards players for memorizing the levels and enemy patterns. The leaderboards stand out here since resource management is an essential element of the game in addition to the typical journey full of great positioning and reflexes.
NeverAwake is the best shoot ’em to hit the Switch since Andro Dunos 2 last year. It’s creative, beautiful, and has a satisfying gameplay loop worth diving into.
NeverAwake
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