Aces of the Luftwaffe - Squadron for Nintendo Switch - Review. Review: Aces of the Luftwaffe is a shmup that takes the familiar and brings in some unique ideas to give the genre a twist, such as having you fighting UFO-flying Nazis and commanding not one, but four unique ships at once. In single-player mode, players take on the role of the.
Modern shoot 'em ups either feel like long-lost classics or interesting new experiences. As a follow-up to their mobile shooter from a few years back, Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron takes the series in a fresh direction but is it a war worth enlisting to?
It seems like post World War II alternative realities where the Nazis continue their silly shenanigans are all the rage. Just yesterday, we discussed Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and a few months ago, I reviewed Strikers 1945 which is more fittingly a classic shoot 'em up. Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron tells a similar story where a secret German commando unit rises from the ashes and threatens the world. So, it's your job to put an end to them. Thankfully, you have a group of allies that fly alongside you who help in the war effort. Although the core gameplay isn't far removed from what you'd expect, you're controlling four planes simultaneously (if you decide to play solo) so ensuring that no one takes any hits can be a rather tricky endeavor. That being said, if one of your allies gets shot down then they'll rejoin you again shortly after so it's not that big of a deal. In the end, it's simple but fun.
One aspect of Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron that brings a lot of life into the campaign is the cast of characters. You'll regularly hear dialogue between your teammates which enhances the gameplay and ushers in a lot of personality to the story. Along the same lines, the boss fights are very memorable as they consist of a collection of goofballs with oversized machines that are fun to take down. Whether it's a UFO-like craft or a runaway airborne train, blowing up these bosses is surprisingly satisfying.
That being said, the campaign outside these bosses is rather flat and generic. The stages don't offer any memorable moments and all you do besides survive to the end is try and master optional side missions. These add some variety but seeing as they're optional, it still makes me feel as if something's missing. The campaign is pretty short, too, with only 25 brief stages. On the plus side, you'll amass a wealth of upgrade points as you progress and perform well that grant boosts to your team of pilots. Also, you can invite a few chums to join you via local multiplayer which is implemented fantastically. It's great to see this in play because it's uncommon in the shmup realm.
Finally, the gameplay as a whole is very slow-paced and it becomes tiresome quickly as a result. This definitely isn't the sort of shoot 'em up that'll bring you back to a time when reflexes and skill were all you needed to succeed. Instead, it comes across like a solid attempt at appealing to those who are new to the genre. A huge contributing factor to this is that it's a vertical shoot 'em up yet the playfield is as wide as the screen. Whereas shmups like Raiden, Battle Garegga, and Ghost Blade provide a focused and action-intense dynamic, Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron ends up being far less exciting merely because of its wide playfield and slow pace.
Although it's not up there with the best shoot 'em ups, Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron provides decent enough gameplay that can be enjoyed with up to four simultaneous players. If that sounds like fun then you surely won't regret giving it a download.
- + Basic and enjoyable shoot 'em up gameplay
- + Great boss fights and allies add a layer of personality to the shooting
- + Cool squad mechanics and multiplayer
- - Gameplay is slow-paced and quite generic
- - Wide playfield makes the action less exciting
- - Fairly short and unvaried campaign
Hi, I'm a former game journalist, but even though I don't do that professionally anymore, I still have, you know, opinions.One of those opinions is that while I thoroughly enjoy games on Nintendo platforms, there are a lot of them that you have to wade through to get to the good stuff. So many, in fact, that there aren't too many reviews of some of them.With this in mind, I'll be contributing my own reviews and mini-reviews of these games to this subreddit so anyone who's curious can have something more to judge the quality of these games and try to weed out the diamonds from the rough.And just to be clear, I'm not paid by anyone, I'm not making any money off of this. I'm just doing this because I wanna'. Here's the games I have reviewed so far on the Nintendo Switch in each genre, from best to worst. Note: If multiple games have the same score, they will be sorted alphabetically. Shmup GameGenre# of PlayersScoretl;drBullet Hell Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local)Ikaruga is a Bullet Hell Shmup that's at its best on the Switch, which not only plays smoothly while docked, but even has features to make the best use of the Switch in portable mode.
If you like this genre, you need this game.Bullet Hell Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local)Dimension Drive is a Bullet Hell Shmup with the unique hook of having players hopping back and forth between two screens. It's a great mechanic that's used very well here, though some players may have difficulty adjusting to it. Also, the game keeps interrupting things with its story. However, if you can learn how to deal with the unique gameplay, you'll find this to be a superb entry in the genre.Shmup1Graceful Explosion Machine is a Shmup where players must cycle through four weapons to fend off different types of enemies. This weapon-managing element makes the game delightfully strategic for a Shmup, and the core gameplay here is really good as a result.
I just wish it was properly implemented in an endless mode, and I wish the game's otherwise-excellent presentation wasn't marred by muffled sound. This is still a fantastic game, but a few small changes could have made this a must-have game on the Switch.Arcade / Shmup1Horizon Shift '81 is an Arcade-Style game with Shmup elements that incorporates elements of multiple early-80s retro arcade games while still bringing its own unique horizontal-swapping twist on the genre. This is a fantastic game and a wonderful love letter to an era of gaming, although like the games of that era it can be repetitive in places. Overall, this is a superb game well worth playing.Compilation / Bullet Hell Shmup / Roguelike / 2-Stick Shooter / Match-3 Puzzle1-4 Co-Op (Local), Online LeaderboardsIndie Gems Bundle: Explosions Edition is a Compilation of three Action-packed games, each of them ranging from good to great.
If you're a fan of Shmups and 2-Stick shooters, you're bound to find something to love in this package, even if the savings over purchasing these games individually is minimal.Bullet Hell Shmup / Music-Rhythm1-4 Co-Op (Local)Just Shapes & Beats is a Bullet Hell Shmup where you can't shoot, you can only dodge as the screen throws all manner of obstacles at you to the beat of some amazing music. It's a difficult, punishing game, but if you fancy a challenge, this game is well worth a look.Bullet Hell Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local)Sky Force Reloaded combines quality bullet hell Shmup-style gameplay with RPG-style upgrades in a way that encourages players to keep coming back, along with a good presentation. Fans of the genre should definitely give this one a try.Bullet Hell Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local)Super Hydorah is a Bullet Hell Shmup that is very clearly imitating the classic Gradius games, and for the most part, it succeeds at this brilliantly. The music is forgettable, and the power-up system is a bit more limited than the Gradius games, but the gameplay here is still superb, and the game does some really inventive stuff with Co-Op, especially with the surprisingly good Robot Chase minigame. Definitely worth a look for fans of the genre.Bullet Hell Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local)Q-YO Blaster is a Bullet Hell Shmup.
It's a decent game that plays well, but the most memorable thing about it are its absurd heroes and oddball bug-themed enemies. Definitely a solid pick for fans of the genre.Shmup1, Online LeaderboardsLightening Force, also known as Thunder Force IV, is a Shmup originally released on the Sega Genesis in 1992, and this version marks its only other US release since then. This is a game that has aged noticeably, with issues both in its graphics and gameplay. However, despite this, the gameplay is on the whole pretty good, and this is a solid port with a good amount of extra features.
Fans of Shmups should definitely give this a look.Bullet Hell Shmup / Roguelike1-2 Co-Op (Local), Online LeaderboardsSteredenn is a Bullet Hell Shmup that incorporates elements of Roguelikes into its game progression. The presentation here is phenomenal, with fantastic pixel art graphics and a great soundtrack, however, the randomized elements and some questionable design choices make for a game that's even more difficult than the usual Shmup, making this a game mostly only the biggest fans of the genre will have the patience for.2-Stick Shooter / Bullet Hell Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local)Startide combines 2-Stick shooter and Shmup genre conventions and adds in some novel ideas of its own, with some excellent, fast-paced, quality gameplay.
That's unfortunately marred by a slew of design flaws and annoyances. It's still very good, but it could have been so much better.Compilation / Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local)Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection is a collection of mostly Shmups that includes eight games that are mostly pretty good (and also mostly punishingly difficult). This collection gives players a wealth of options and bonus content, and on the whole this is a solid collection of games for Shmup fansBullet Hell Shmup / Arcade1Don't Die, Mr Robot! DX is an Arcade-Style Shmup where you're dodging enemies and collecting pickups to set off explosions in your wake. Think Geometry Wars' Pacifism mode. The presentation is horrendous, but the gameplay is strangely compelling and there are enough features here to keep fans of Shmups coming back.Arcade / Shmup1-4 Competitive (Local/Online)Inversus Deluxe is an Arcade-style game with Shmup elements where the shots you and opponents fire also limit the area you can move freely in. It's an interesting concept, but a limited number of shots players can fire before reload really mucks with the otherwise fast-paced battles.Action-Platformer / Shmup1Velocity 2X is a game that jumps back and forth between Action-Platformer and Shmup gameplay styles, with a focus on speed and being able to teleport around the levels as you zip through them.
It's fun gameplay, but it's somewhat marred by a frustrating control scheme that you can't change.Shmup1Black Bird is a Shmup that doesn't do anything truly unique in terms of gameplay, but its presentation is so bizarre that it compels you to see more. Not a game for everyone, but worth a look if you want to see something really different.Bullet Hell Shmup / Roguelike1-2 Co-Op (Local)Black Paradox is a Bullet Hell Shmup that has you flying a ship designed to look like a Delorean. The game has good gameplay, but the high difficulty and slow upgrade progression makes this a game only fans of the genre are likely to thoroughly enjoy.Action-Platformer1, Online LeaderboardsFantasy Zone is a Shmup originally released to arcades in 1986, and some parts of it have aged pretty well, like its presentation. Other parts of the game, like its promising but frustrating upgrade system. While this is a solid port with a good amount of bonus features, it's ultimately still a game most will want to pass on.Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local), Online LeaderboardsAlien Cruise is a Shmup with a cartoony art style that looks like it's been drawn by a child.
This is a decent but unspectacular and forgettable Shmup that doesn't really stand out.2D Space Shooter / Roguelike1Cycle 28 is a 2D Space Shooter that controls like Asteroids, but with a Roguelike game structure. There are some good ideas here and some classic arcade-style gameplay, but those good ideas aren't well-utilized, and overall the game is too repetitive.Bullet Hell Shmup / Arcade1-4 Competitive (Local)Hyperlight Ultimate is an Arcade-style Shmup where players bash into enemies with a charge attack instead of shooting them. It's a good take on the formula, but unfortunately some design issues makes this more tedious and frustrating than it needs to be.Shmup1Pacific Wings is a Shmup that imitates classic games in the genre like 1942. This game does a great job capturing that nostalgia, but the lack of auto-fire makes this game tedious to play, and the underwhelming sound and lack of multiplayer limit how long you'll bother to stick with the game.Bullet Hell Shmup1-4 Co-Op (Local)Aces of the Luftwaffe is a bullet hell shmup that has you controlling a squadron of four wingmen with unique abilities and personalities. This game has some really great and unique ideas, but it's also plagued with design issues and control issues that keep it from delivering on the game's potential.Shmup1Escape From the Universe is a Shmup with a simple look and gameplay that makes the screen scroll more quickly depending on where you move onscreen. Unfortunately, both the visuals and gameplay get repetitive and boring pretty quickly, making for a dull experience.Shmup1, Online LeaderboardsHyper Sentinel is a Shmup that aims to be the spiritual sequel to the classic game Uridium, and while fans of that original title may enjoy it, I honestly found it to be a bit of a confusing mess, and there are plenty of other games in this genre on the Switch I'd rather be playing.Bullet Hell Shmup1-4 Co-Op (Local)Overdriven Reloaded is a Bullet Hell Shmup that uses a color-switching mechanic like Ikaruga.
However, unlike Ikaruga, this game doesn't seem to know how to use it, and otherwise the game is just a crowded mess - and not in a good way. 2-Stick Shooter GameGenre# of PlayersScoretl;drTower Defense/Two-Stick Shooter1X-Morph: Defense mixes the Tower Defense genre with the Two-Stick Shooter to create something even better, with impressively detailed environments and some really inventive gameplay. This game is a blast to play, and while the Switch version is sadly missing some features, it's still an absolutely wonderful game.Compilation/Top-Down Action/2-Stick Shooter1Hotline Miami Collection is a pair of solid Top-Down Action games with a colorful 80s-inspired presentation and intense action that makes players consider their plan of attack. It's a solid experience, although the first Hotline Miami game is clearly the better of the two, thanks to the more cohesive story and better level design.Action-Platformer/2-Stick Shooter1My Friend Pedro is an Action-Platformer with Two-Stick Shooter controls that has players involved in acrobatic gunfights at the command of a talking banana. This game's intense, ridiculous action is a blast to play, and while there's a bit of repetition here and there, for the most part this game does an amazing job keeping things fresh and entertaining.
A must-have for action game fans.2-Stick Shooter / Roguelike1-4 Co-Op (Local), Online LeaderboardsNeuroVoider is a combination of Two-Stick Shooter and Roguelike that has you fighting an army of robots, stealing their parts, and then using them to upgrade your own capabilities. It's an incredibly fun game with great co-op, a fantastic presentation, and tons of variety and customization.
The randomized level design and enemy AI could have used a bit of work, but on the whole this is an absolutely fantastic game that should be owned by anyone who enjoys a good Action game.2-Stick Shooter / Roguelike1-4 Co-Op (Local)The Binding of Isaac is a Two-Stick Shooter Roguelike that places you in the role of a young child fighting grotesque monsters with his tears. It's a lot of fun, but the roguelike elements can make any given playthrough very hit-and-miss, which can be frustrating.
It's still well worth playing, though.Top-Down Action/2-Stick Shooter/Arcade1Akane is an Arcade-y top-down Action game that has players as a lone woman fighting off the entire Yakuza using only a gun and a sword. It's a game that channels Kill Bill and John Wick extremely well, with some really fun action. Unfortunately, the game is lacking in variety and progression, but the core gameplay here is phenomenal and well worth playing for fans of Action games.Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter1-2 Co-Op (Local)Bleed 2 is an Action-Platformer and 2-Stick Shooter with a simple, cartoony presentation and a silly story about a girl fending off an invasion. This game improves on the first one in almost every way, with even better action, better visuals, a great soundtrack, and the same wonderful variety, great level design, and excellent co-op.
However, where it doesn't improve on the first game is value - the main campaign can still be finished in an hour or so, and the extra game modes don't stretch things out much more than that. For $20, I simply cannot recommend this game, but definitely get it if you see it on sale.Compilation / Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter1-2 Co-Op (Local)Bleed Complete Bundle includes Bleed and Bleed 2, both excellent Action-Platformers with 2-Stick Shooter gunplay, and both also extremely short and extremely overpriced games.
Much as with the individual games, if you can get this collection at a discount, absolutely do so because the games are immensely fun. However, even with the savings this bundle provides, it's still horribly overpriced at its normal price.2-Stick Shooter1-2 Co-Op/Competitive (Local), Online LeaderboardsDebris Infinity is a Two-Stick Shooter that's like a mash-up of Geometry Wars and Asteroids.
It looks good, plays well, and the Slow-Mo feature actually brings something interesting to the table. The game is a bit short on features, but what's here is top-notch.2-Stick Shooter/Roguelike1-2 Co-Op (Local)Enter the Gungeon is a two-stick shooter with roguelike elements that packs a lot of fun gameplay and a high difficulty level.
An excellent game for fans of the genre looking for a challenge.Action-Platformer/2-Stick Shooter1-4 Co-Op (Local, Online)Guns, Gore, and Cannoli 2 is an Action-Platformer that takes the basic idea of the first game and greatly improves on it, adding in 2-stick aiming, fixing the controls, and making the gameplay much more fast-paced. It's still repetitive at times, but overall this is a pretty good game.Compilation / Bullet Hell Shmup / Roguelike / 2-Stick Shooter / Match-3 Puzzle1-4 Co-Op (Local), Online LeaderboardsIndie Gems Bundle: Explosions Edition is a Compilation of three Action-packed games, each of them ranging from good to great.
If you're a fan of Shmups and 2-Stick shooters, you're bound to find something to love in this package, even if the savings over purchasing these games individually is minimal.2-Stick Shooter1-2 Co-Op (Local)Inferno 2 is a straightforward 2-Stick Shooter that has solid gameplay, a slick presentation, and good Co-Op. It's a bit on the easy side, but fans of the genre will find it to be an excellent choice, especially for its low price tag.2-Stick Shooter/Action-Platformer1-2 Co-Op (Local)Rive is a combination of 2-Stick Shooter and Action-Platformer that does a great job pushing intense action and a good amount of variety of enemies and combat situations. I wish the game's upgrade system was more fleshed-out, but what's here is solid.2-Stick Shooter/Match-3 Puzzle1Transcripted is a game that combines Two-Stick Shooter gameplay with match-3 Puzzle gameplay similar to Zuma. While the two gameplay styles don't always get along well with each other, for the most part this is a pretty cohesive gameplay experience that's satisfying, unique, and features a superb presentation.Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter1-2 Co-Op (Local)Bleed is an Action-Platformer and 2-Stick Shooter with a simple, cartoony presentation and a silly story about a young woman hunting down heroes to prove she's a better hero.
The gameplay here is absolutely fantastic, with some really inventive level design, great controls, a lot of variety, and excellent co-op. Unfortunately, this game is painfully short and insultingly overpriced, and as good as it is, I cannot recommend spending $15 for what amounts to about an hour of gameplay. If you can get it on sale at a good price, definitely do, but otherwise it isn't worth the cost.2-Stick Shooter/Arcade1-4 Co-Op (Local)Iron Crypticle is an Arcade-style 2-Stick Shooter that plays like Smash TV with a Ghosts 'N Goblins aesthetic. It's a game with good, arcadey action that works well in co-op, though it's not without its issues here and there.2-Stick Shooter1Rock Boshers is a 2-Stick Shooter styled to look like old ZX Spectrum games. Beyond its aesthetic, it doesn't do anything especially noteworthy, but it's still pretty fun.
Worth a look.2-Stick Shooter/Bullet Hell Shmup1-2 Co-Op (Local)Startide combines 2-Stick shooter and Shmup genre conventions and adds in some novel ideas of its own, with some excellent, fast-paced, quality gameplay. That's unfortunately marred by a slew of design flaws and annoyances. It's still very good, but it could have been so much better.Top-Down Action / 2-Stick Shooter112 is Better Than 6 is a Top-Down Action/2-Stich Shooter game where one shot kills, much like the Hotline Miami games. Unfortunately, graphical choices result in a game that's filled with a lot of frustration that makes this far less fun than the Hotline Miami games.2-Stick Shooter/Roguelike1-4 Co-Op/Competitive (Local)Blazing Beaks is a 2-Stick Shooter with Roguelike elements with a cartoony pixel art presentation featuring anthropomorphic birds with guns.
Unfortunately, the game's high difficulty doesn't really fall in line with the cartoony presentation, and the nice unique features the game has only add to that difficulty. Action fans looking for a challenge might enjoy this, but I did not.Metroidvania / 2-Stick Shooter1The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human is a Metroidvania with 2-Stick Shooter gameplay where players command a submarine searching the ruins of humanity to see what went wrong. This game absolutely nails the atmosphere, but the challenge level on the bosses is so steep that most players will probably lost interest after dying a dozen times or so.2-Stick Shooter/Roguelike1-2 Co-Op (Local)Utopia 9 - A Volatile Vacation is a 2-Stick Shooter/Roguelike that has a lot of inventive ideas for a different spin on the genre, but its dreadfully slow pacing saps much of the fun out of the experience.2-Stick Shooter/Roguelike1Blacksea Odyssey is a Two-Stick Shooter with Roguelike elements that is basically Captain Ahab In Space. That sounds really cool, but the terribly slow combat and sluggish movement make it hard to get into, and players will likely find the game too tedious to want to play for very long.Arcade Brick Breaker/2-Stick Shooter1Energy Invasion is a cross between a 2-Stick Shooter and an Arcade-style brick breaker game like Arkanoid.
Unfortunately, the game feels unpolished and not especially welcoming to players getting used to its odd concept.Tower Defense / Two-Stick Shooter1Planetary Defense Force mixes the Tower Defense genre with the 2-Stick Shooter, having players defend a spherical planet from an alien invasion. Unfortunately, the spherical map makes it difficult to keep track of what's going on, the game doesn't do a good job of indicating important information the player needs, and the individual elements themselves are not very satisfying. The result is a frustrating game that's not worth playing.2-Stick Shooter1-4 Co-Op (Local, Local Wireless, Online)Contra: Rogue Corps is a 3D Action game with 2-Stick Shooter mechanics that doesn't really play much like the other games in the Contra series, and has some severe, glaring flaws. That said, it's not completely unenjoyable, and it doesn't really earn its reputation as one of the worst games of 2019. But it's not a good game, by any stretch. When it comes to Shmups, I'm a filthy casual.
So I'm coming at it from the perspective of, 'Is the basic gameplay fun? Does it feel good?
Is there a good variety in the enemies? Is there good map design? Does the challenge level feel fair?' I give Ikaruga an A- largely because, like most games in the genre, the challenge level is too high for most to appreciate it, and also like most games in the genre, the game is very short once you do get good at it.Given that I do think Ikaruga is possibly the greatest game the genre has produced, A- is more of a recognition of the limitations of the genre (as it is of this writing) than it is of any failing on the game's part within that genre.
Simply put, it's not for everyone, and while I do give a game credit for doing a great job within its niche, if that niche is narrow enough to cut out a sizeable part of the audience, I feel that needs to be reflected in a game's score too.