Exile Squadron

About

In this sidescrolling shoot ‘em up, you are the top pilot of the Exile Squadron. Using a variety of weapons, you will have to stop the forces of the Colonies, who are hell-bent on destroying Earth. Upgrade your equipment, survive action-packed levels, and climb the online leaderboards.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

The game features a nostalgic art style and sound design that appeals to fans of classic shoot'em ups.
It has an interesting upgrade system that requires players to adapt their strategies for different levels and challenges.
The controls are tight and customizable, making the gameplay intuitive and enjoyable.

The upgrade system can be frustrating, as players may find themselves unable to progress if they haven't invested in the right weapons.
The game lacks an easy mode, which can make it overly challenging for some players, especially with only three lives.
Visual clarity can be an issue, as the background graphics and enemy bullets can be difficult to distinguish, leading to unfair deaths.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game's story is well-crafted and engaging, enhanced by thematic briefings between missions that showcase the developer's dedication. Players appreciate the ability to replay missions for credits, but the requirement for specific weapons can lead to frustration if not properly managed. Overall, the narrative adds depth to the gameplay, making it a standout feature despite some limitations in mission structure.
- “The theme and story are my favorite part of the game.”
- “Story screens between missions build the theme even more.”
- “I see the developer's dedication to crafting the story and I love it.”
- “But here comes the twist and the problem: to beat some missions you need to have some specific kind of weapon (ground, bomb, homing, etc.), so if you haven't invested in them, you screwed up your whole game and save file.”
- “And if you complete the level without doing the bonus mission, there's no way to go back to the level unless you a) complete the game and it loops back to the beginning and progress through each level, or b) overwrite your saved game and start a new one (there's only one save slot).”
- “So a lot of times I'd go into a level, realize what I have equipped won't work to fulfill the side missions' requirements, pause, exit back to the command center, and reequip.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's graphics are described as retro-styled pixel art that is crisp and decent, appealing to fans of the genre. While some background elements, like flying ships, add visual interest, they can be difficult to distinguish from the main action. Overall, the graphics contribute to a surprisingly enjoyable experience despite their simplicity.
- “The game is what it seems: a retro-styled shoot 'em up, with decent graphics and nice sound effects.”
- “Graphics are crisp and not disturbing.”
- “This game is surprisingly fun considering its cheap graphical style.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The gameplay is generally exciting, featuring engaging upgrade mechanics and unique ship attachment systems, though some players find the combat clunky and feel that bonus missions lack clear explanations.
- “I liked the gameplay; it is quite exciting, although the bonus missions should have been better explained.”
- “A confusing but cool mechanic is ship attachments.”
- “Combat is clunky, but there are some nice upgrade mechanics.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is well-received, with users praising its cool soundtrack that complements the pixel art style. Additionally, the audio enhances the overall experience, particularly during mission briefings.
- “A cool pixel 2D game with a fantastic soundtrack.”
- “The pixel art and music are great; the controls are smooth, and the briefings between each mission are all done nicely.”