Shmups Skill Test
Gameplay 8
Graphics 5
Sound 7

Shmups Skill Test is a collection of mini-games that are designed to test how good you are at playing arcade and bullet hell shooters. While this means it doesn’t have as much depth as other titles in the genre, it still provides a nice diversion and a way to hone your skills. Since it is based on a rather old arcade game the visuals are far from cutting edge, but the gameplay and low price tag make up for this. If you think you have mastered the genre, then try out this game to see for sure.

Gameplay: Lots of fun in short bursts, but obviously doesn’t have as much depth as full-fledged shooters.

Graphics: The visuals are definitely showing their age.

Sound: Not your typical shooter soundtrack

Summary 6.7 Good
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

Shmups Skill Test

Developer: TRIANGLE SERVICE | Publisher: Degica | Release Date: 2016 | Genre: Action / Shoot ‘Em Up | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

My bullet dodge ability and building dodge skills could use some work, but at least my judging ability is sound and my coolness very high. At least that’s what Shmups Skill Test, from Triangle Service and Degica tells me. It also informed me that my “Gamer Age” is 33 years, which I guess isn’t too bad, at least not compared to what I’ve been told by the Brain Training games and Wii Fit. Shmups Skill Test arrived at this conclusion after, as the name suggests, it threw a bunch of quick mini-games at me to test my proficiency. It is a title that can, depending on your skill level with the genre, provide a nice ego boost or a reality check.

If Shmups Skill Test sounds familiar it is because it was originally part of the Japanese arcade game, Shooting Love 2007. The compilation eventually made its way to Xbox 360 in North America and Europe as Shooting Love 200X, and now PC gamers can join in on the fun. Don’t worry as the other games in the collection, MINUS ZERO, TRIZEAL Remix and EXZEAL will also see PC releases as individual titles. Given its age and relative simplicity Shmups Skill Test is probably not the most impressive title out of the lot, but it does allow players to get in some practice ahead of the other incoming shooters.

Visually the game is very basic and it has no widescreen support. This is to be expected as the playing field is vertical, but it definitely contributes to the dated feel of the game. The position and scaling of the playing field can be adjusted, but neither of these help much to improve the visuals. The playing field can be rotated, which is great for those with adjustable monitors and there is a choice between “point” and linear” for the interpolation method. The mini-games are quite varied, but once again the visuals are Playstation One era quality at best. A spruced up and enhanced version of the game, at least as far as the graphics are concerned would have been nice, but at least Shmups Skill Test comes with a bargain bin price tag. The audio fares a bit better, but some of the tunes are definitely a little on the strange side. There is even a version of The Skater’s Waltz by Émile Waldteufel to give you an idea just how unconventional the soundtrack is.

However, it is the gameplay that really counts and this is where Shmups Skill Test still holds up well. The game features a myriad of challenges that are thrown at you in rapid succession, giving it an almost Wariorware style feel. The game doesn’t waste a lot of time on explaining exactly what you have to do either, but thankfully most of the tasks are relatively straightforward. Whether it is protecting the earth from incoming meteors, trying to shoot spinning cans into a trash bin, blasting tanks, dodging buildings, or trying to grab the correct power-ups, the games are all quick, challenging, and entertaining. The mini-games are also over quite quickly, but you are given a random selection each time you play.

All of the mini-games focus on skills that you really need to do well in the shmup genre, so with a young “gamer age” in this game you should be able to do well in most

All the mini-games focus on skills that are important in the shmup genre, such as shooting, dodging and timing. This means if you get a young “gamer age” in this game you definitely have the right skills to do well in other shooters. In addition to taking the Solo Test, you are also able to practice any of the previously encountered mini-games. The game also features 2 Players Versus and 4 Player Versus modes, along with score attack and challenges. Replays can be recorded for bragging rights and the game supports leaderboards as well as Steam achievements. The controls are very straightforward as for most of the games you are either dodging, shooting or a combination of the two, but a decent controller is still recommended for the best experience.

With its short, intense challenges, local multiplayer support and low price tag there is a lot to like about Shmups Skill Test. It is not the best looking or most in-depth example of the genre, but it offers a novel approach measuring your skills. It is also the type of game that you can return to time and again to make sure that your bullet hell shooter abilities stay sharp.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7/8/10
  • Processor: Intel Atom (Cherry Trail) or better
  • Memory: 512 MB RAM
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  • DirectX: Version 9.0c
  • Storage: 500 MB available space
  • Sound Card: DirectSound-compatible sound card
  • OS: Windows 7/8/10
  • Processor: Multicore CPU(Corei series or better)
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce 300 or better
  • DirectX: Version 9.0c
  • Storage: 1 GB available space
  • Sound Card: Direct Sound Compatible
  • Additional Notes: Xbox 360/One controller

Related posts

Beat Hazard

Beat Hazard

If you are tired of boring licensed tracks by bands you've never heard of and dull brown shooters then Beat Hazard is a revelation. The ability to play to your own music collection is nice and the visuals, while over the top, are certainly colorful. It's not something you are going to be constantly playing, but you will find yourself coming back to it. Gameplay: As long as you have music you'll have fun. Graphics: Retina searing bursts of color. Sound: Depending on your taste this is obviously the best part of the game.

Ellipsis

Ellipsis

Don’t be fooled by the beautiful minimalist visuals that Ellipses sports. It isn’t just another Geometry Wars clone, but a polished and very addictive title where your avoidance skills and puzzle solving abilities are needed instead of an itchy trigger finger. Ellipses features tons of great levels, spread across eight worlds and in addition to plenty of replay value it also ships with a level editor and Steam Workshop support. If you are looking for something fresh and unique this is definitely not a title you want to miss. Gameplay: Simple, but very polished and highly addictive. Graphics: Makes great use of minimalist, but striking visuals. Sound: Complements the on-screen action perfectly.

Faraday Protocol

Faraday Protocol

Faraday Protocol is a first-person puzzle game set in the unique testing chambers of an alien space station. The game features very striking visuals and gameplay that is simple to grasp but flexible enough to deliver lots of interesting puzzles. Using the Bia Tool to absorb and redistribute energy is a lot of fun, but the game veers a little too much into button-pushing territory towards the end. Nevertheless, despite some repetition, we really enjoyed Faraday Protocol and can heartily recommend it to fans of the genre. Gameplay: Easy to grasp but filled with lots of clever puzzles. Graphics: The overall aesthetics are very striking but a little lacking when it comes to variation. Sound: The audio is minimal but decent.

CARRION

CARRION

CARRION is a great, although brief game that gives players the chance to go wild in a research facility as a flesh-eating tentacle monster. The game is extremely bloody, but between all the mayhem there are also plenty of puzzles to solve. Your creature can unlock a ton of new abilities, which opens up new areas to explore, but the lack of a map could frustrate some players. Despite some repetition and a few small niggles we thoroughly enjoyed our time with CARRION and the game comes highly recommended. Gameplay: Plays like a very violent Metroidvania, except without the platforming elements. Graphics: The pixel art looks great and the animations are smooth, but more unique locations would have been a big plus. Sound: Atmospheric music and great sound effects.

The Wizard and The Slug

The Wizard and The Slug

The Wizard and The Slug is a whimsical 2D platformer with an enormously entertaining story and characters. The humor is by far the highlight of this game, but it does contain some challenging platform action as well. The inclusion of all kinds of strange encounters, goofy mini-games and laugh out loud jokes doesn't hurt it either. Even players who are not very good at platform games will be able to experience this one due to the inclusion of an "assist" menu, so don't miss out. Gameplay: Decent platforming action, but it's the small touches that make the game stand out. Graphics: Very basic, but also very charming. Sound: The music and sound effects are decent and very fitting.

Velocity®Ultra

Velocity®Ultra

Velocity Ultra doesn't exactly excel in the visual department, but it more than makes up for it with the addictive gameplay. At first glance it looks like a pure vertical shooter, but later levels introduce some nice puzzle elements. With fifty standard levels and plenty of unlockable challenges the game offers more than enough value for money. Gameplay: Blends classic shooting with some modern puzzle solving. Graphics: Functional but nothing outstanding. Sound: Some nice old school style tunes.

Leave a comment

6 + 11 =