Horizon Shift '81

Overall, Horizon Shift ’81 is a great time. A fast-paced shooter that oozes enthusiasm and passion, in addition to the appropriate level of respect for the games of years gone by. Oh, and the soundtrack is just banging. Some proper techno goodness that’ll get your blood pumping for those boss fights.

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.

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.

Horizon Shift '81 is certain to appeal to enthusiasts of 1980s-style space shooters: everything in this game is a tribute to that style and era, with plenty of hallmarks duly following the genre's conventions. While not very friendly to the beginner crowd, Horizon Shift 81 could only improve if it had a multiplayer component and an online option, as it is it will set to captivate the more niche crowd of arcade-based retro shooters.

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.

A very unique, must-have Shoot-em-up that's intense and addictive.

Trying to describe everything that happens in the game gets to be quite a laundry list but here’s an attempt at a summary...