Arcade shooters date back to the literal beginning of video games. Psyvariar Delta is quite historic in video games, dating back to the G-NET days. With various editions of its signature gameplay popping up on consoles over the years, fans can now add the Nintendo Switch version to the list.

Psyvariar Delta is your standard arcade space shooter. Other than simply spamming the shoot button, you have heavy attacks, as well as two key moves at your disposal. The first is a simple rolling move, allows you to roll quickly out of the way of danger. The rolling shot, on the other hand, increases your speed, while also firing at oncoming enemies. Both of these moves need to be used strategically to be successful in this game.

The room for error in Psyvariar Delta is slim. Your fighter has a hit box of 1×1 pixel at the center of its ship. That means you’ll need some help via various ship special moves, such as turning invisible when things get too out of hand, or gaining special points faster. The ships look great, and are about as visibly pleasing for an arcade shooter as they come. While we’re on the subject of graphics, this game is astounding. The colors are so much fun to immerse yourself in, and I found myself always wanting to play just one more round.

There are quite a few ways to play. In Normal Mode, you can play with up to 2 players, change the difficulty, as well as set the parameters to defeat each level. You also have the option to have unlimited continues. In Practice Mode, you can set up options such as areas, planes, and EXP levels. You can also change the settings during gameplay, saving you the stress of having to exit to the main menu. Lastly, you can also go straight to the boss levels for, well, practice.

Score Attack mode is all about high scores, where as Replay Mode allows you to take on specific spots where you can battle for a high score. Both modes allow for online leaderboard support. All game modes can be played in vertical mode, making it feel even more like an arcade game. It’s a bit hard to hold this way in handheld, so many turn to flip grips. On TV, you have to stay in vertical mode.

With an arcade shooter like this, the question to me as a video game fan is whether or not it’s worth replaying over and over. Many arcade games feel repetitive, which is by nature of their design. Psyvariar Delta is certainly the type of game worth playing for a bit of time. It’s visuals and sounds are a ton of fun, and Psyvariar Delta feels great on the Switch.

If you’re a fan of side scrolling arcade shooters, you won’t be disappointed in Psyvariar Delta. Its’ flashy colors, insane soundtrack, and fun game modes keep you wanting just one more go at this space shooting epic.

A Nintendo Switch review code for Psyvariar Delta was provided by Success Corporation for this review.

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Psyvariar Delta

$29.99 USD

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Great arcade shooter experience
• Amazing visuals and music
• Makes you want to play more every time

Cons

• Replay-ability questionable for some
• Limited tactics at your disposal for defeating enemies