Galacide

The fusion of shooter and match-3 mechanics does work, and while it’s hard to keep on top of the situation, practice certainly helps. What doesn’t work so well is the amount of fun on offer as Galacide quickly becomes frustrating.

Galacide is definitely a great and unique entry in the intense shmup genre as it mixes the typical formula and adding a layer of puzzle to add a layer of strategy. Fans of the genre will definitely revel in this unique game, while puzzle fans might be turned off by the shmup mechanic of it. More companies should take chances like this. Fans of shump or puzzle games should definitely give this game a try.

Either a shoot 'em up with bubble popper elements or a match-four game with shmup tendences, Galacide is an interesting, visually appealing mash-up. It's something you're likely not used to seeing, but whether you find it successful will depend mostly upon what you like and dislike about each genre.

Galacide is an intriguing and unique take on the side-scrolling shooter genre. The addition of match-3 tile puzzle mechanics keeps you engaged and forces you to be mindful of your position onscreen. The expert difficulty proved too much while playing alone, but I had a blast with four of us frantically trying to survive amongst the chaos.

When it comes to genre-blenders, few games do as good of a job as Galacide with its clever combination of shooting and puzzles.

Daring to blend genres that typically haven't been mashed together can be a risky business, but the upside is that when it is done right there can be a substantial reward for your effort...