Sky Racket | Nintendo Switch Review
Yes, we have sandwich cats.
I’ve played loads of shoot-em-ups over the years, and I am a huge fan of the genre. Something about dodging and darting about really fills me with adrenaline. There’s always some sort of difficulty involved with these games, and even though I feel I am improving as a player, I never feel like they are getting stale. When I heard about Sky Racket, I was absolutely thrilled to see a game that had also incorporated other genres within. Let’s hit it!
What’s with all that racket?
Sky Racket is both published and developed by Double Dash Studios, a small independent game studio located in Brazil. Aside from developing games, they also offer a variety of design services. Most notable is their close work with Cartoon Network on their Summer Camp – Summer Xmas project.
While most shoot-em-ups don’t offer much in the story department, they often make up for it in gameplay. Sky Racket does not have an in-depth narrative. It does, however, do a good job informing the player about what is going on in the different levels through the vivid graphical design, which we will discuss momentarily.
If all else fails, just hit stuff.
The player takes control of one of two playable characters, with the objective to return volleys of projectiles from all sorts of enemies and obstacles. What differentiates Sky Racket from other games of this type is the inclusion of a block-breaker platform. This fresh idea is such a treat to experience, and the game flows well between the different playstyles. It is both new and exciting, and it was very well done. I absolutely love this style, and I want more.
The controls are crisp and precise. Each time you hit a projectile, the return is verified by haptic feedback. The button layout is very easy to learn, and wasn’t overcomplicated. Your actions feel justified, and the fast-paced gameplay had me gripping my controller. I didn’t encounter any gameplay issues, and the game difficulty seems well-balanced.
Are you familiar with chaos theory?
The pixelated level-design and sprites are absolutely beautiful! The use of vibrant colors and soft edges make for a graphically exciting experience. You’ll encounter everything from sandwich cats, to giant controllable mechs, to bananas. It’s bright, it’s fun, and it really draws the player in. The use of pop-ups is non-intrusive and does a great job letting the player know when something important is about to happen.
The soundtrack is upbeat and fast-tempo, and feels very suitable for a shoot-em-up. It is groovy, it is fast, and accurately represents the chaos you feel on screen. The connection between both the visual style and sound effects is amazing. I can tell the developers spent a lot of time trying to deliver a polished product, and boy do they deliver. It feels nostalgic and new all at the same time.
The numbers are in!
What an absolute gem of a game. It’s flashy, but not overdone. It’s got great bosses and characters that are both menacing and comical. The gameplay has a fantastic flow, and won’t be frustrating for new players. I am absolutely thrilled with Sky Racket, and want to play it over and over again. This is not only a great game in it’s own right, but it now has a place in my top 10 favorite shoot-em-ups of all time. It’s a must play, and I highly recommend it!
To hear me talk more about Sky Racket, be sure to listen to Episode 287 of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 2:12:12 time stamp.
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of Sky Racket provided by Double Dash Studios for coverage purposes. It is also available on PC.
Sky Racket
$14.99
Pros
- Beautiful Art Style
- Vibrant Level/Sprite Design
- Solid, Yet Easy Controls
- Well-Balanced Difficulty
- Something Fresh! What a Cool Game
Cons
- Could Be a Bit Longer, I Want More!
I love the art style!
It seriously is a very bright and pretty game, I love it!