Shoot 1UP DX | Xbox One Review

Zoom 1-UP Deluxe, brought to you by Mommy’s Best Games, is a top down shooter that involves an armada of ships controlled by the player against an endless swarm of aliens. The game has a classic feel with graphics that match the arcade but sound that matches consoles of the early 80’s. Changing perspectives will keep the player engaged to change strategy as the view changes. The game is a quick trip down memory lane but has the fix that’ll give fans of the genre a pleasant blast from the past.

A Story…Yeah, Right!

The story is…well there isn’t one. Pull the story straight from almost any other top down, space-based shooter. Group of alien renegades descend upon and destroy a space colony. The remaining rebels band together to fight the horde and avenge their brethren. The End.

Plays Like a Classic Gem

The lack of story is immediately forgotten with the gameplay. The game immediately demonstrates the mechanics with system checks the ship systems put the pilots (players) through. Blasts from the player are carried out in all four directions and can be strengthened with power ups and pickups. The unique feature in the game is that you are controlling a whole armada of ships. The number of ships in your armada depends on the ships, or what look like lives, the player has. The armada can expand or contract the formation to accommodate the environment the player finds themselves in.

An expanded armada provides the player with much more firepower and higher scores at the end of each level whereas a contracted layout provides more defense against a relentless onslaught of enemy ships and bullets. 1-ups are plentiful as progress is made, but each and every one of them are going to be needed. It isn’t long before the level layouts and bullet waves become very difficult to maneuver through.

Looks Like a Classic Gem

Graphically the game holds up in current gen expectations. Not a bit of the look defers that of the classic arcade cabinets. The layout transition, based on player choice during levels, combines top down and side scrolling shooters. Smooth transitions between the styles will give players on the R-Type and 1943 sides of the fence something to enjoy. Backgrounds get a little odd including things like dead, seemingly disemboweled whales, and very nearly nude cyborg women. Enemies vary in size and look as do the end bosses that gives good ascension in difficulty as the player goes along.

Doesn’t Sound Like a Classic Gem

One glaring problem with the game is the sound. Action graphically, as mentioned before, holds up in the current era but the sounds don’t hold up to the action. Ship destruction is accompanied by a short, whimpered hiss while large enemy approaches and attacks come close to sounding like static snow sounds from CRT tv’s back in the “old days” approaching that of uncomfortable audibles.

 

Short, Sweet, But Satisfying

The game is very short but will give old school fans a reminder of what gameplay was like way back when. Players unfamiliar with this game type will enjoy the challenge always presented throughout the history of the genre. The end story is just as brief and dry as the beginning but in a game like this, that matters very little. For as inexpensive the game is, it’ll be worth it for the quick fix it provides.

This review is based on an Xbox One copy of Shoot 1UP DX provided by Super Indie Games for coverage purposes. It is also available on Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows.