Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews

Old-school gaming fans will find a lot to love about Horizon Shift '81 as it feels like a long-lost static shooting arcade treasure.

Horizon Shift '81 is simple, stellar fun. The arcade shooter inspired gameplay puts a fun twist on the classic genre that provides hours of pure, flashy entertainment. Boss fights bring a fun, modern twist to the game, but could have used some sound effects in order to make them even stronger. Overall, if you've got a Switch and have the itch for some old-school arcade blast-em-up fun, Horizon Shift '81 is a great way to feed that craving.

Although Horizon Shift '81 deliberately models itself after the shoot 'em ups of yore, it never once lets itself get lost in its own homage. Almost immediately, the game design makes it perfectly clear that this is merely borrowing an aesthetic as a base. In taking such a familiar concept, hardcore fans of the genre will be able to appreciate the simple brilliance of shooting at enemies from both sides of the screen. With enemies invading from both top and bottom, the core gameplay loop takes on an even more frantic energy than is typical for the genre. This is one of the most charming takes on the shmup genre yet.

Horizon Shift '81 is a proper tribute to the 1980s-style space shooters, featuring most of the style's conventions and an assortment of contemporary add-ons that make it a very appealing game for hardcore enthusiasts. With its simple and intuitive gameplay, visual art style and customization options, it only lacks a multiplayer and an online component to tick all the boxes in the checklist.