Video Game Review: Super UFO Fighter

Developer: VV-LABO

Publisher: Phoenixx Inc.

Genre: Arcade

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PC

Opening Super UFO Fighter for the first time will likely astound players with its cheery music and bright visuals. There is an obnoxious noise when players make a selection, but that’s okay. Players will choose between a few selectable UFO fighters and get to work.

The first game will be a lot of fun. 2 players will compete, beginning with the ability to break large gachapon-looking capsules. Inside the capsules are a bunch of random objects, and eventually the game’s objective object will appear. Players will then use tractor beams to drop the object into their goals to score a point. Non-objective items can be swooped up by the tractor beam to make an opponent’s goal more difficult to access. Players can also knock each other around to gain an advantage, but that’s otherwise it.

This fun will certainly last for a few games, but eventually Super UFO Fighter‘s lack of depth will show. There isn’t much more to this game outside of what was just described. There are a few ships available, including one that is considered an all-rounder, and one that hits opponents hard. Still, these don’t significantly alter gameplay much, and Super UFO Fighter will likely get stale quickly for most players.

There is a story mode, but it is mostly the same gameplay loop with a few characters and cutscenes. Fortunately players can take Super UFO Fighter online, and it works rather well. Whether playing locally or online, there aren’t any performance issues to speak of. Still, without some variation in gameplay, Super UFO Fighter won’t last long in anyone’s Switch rotation. There simply isn’t enough content to justify even the cheap price of admission.

It’s a shame, because there is a cute little game here. It would do quite well in an arcade, but is in severe need of more content to be a worthwhile addition to the Switch’s already expansive multiplayer catalog.