Power-Up

About

With a monster soundtrack, challenging gameplay and an impressive arsenal of weapons - Power-Up is the modern-retro styled Shoot-Em-Up from one-man game studio, Psychotic Psoftware.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

60%

Audience ScoreBased on 113 reviews

music9 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

Power-Up offers a nostalgic retro vibe with enjoyable gameplay and a variety of weapons that can be powered up, making it engaging for fans of the genre.
The game is developed by a single person, showcasing impressive effort and creativity, especially considering its low price point.
Many players find the game fun and addictive, with a decent challenge that can appeal to both new and veteran shmup players.

The game suffers from poor control options, including a lack of remapping and unintuitive default key assignments, which can hinder the gameplay experience.
There are no continues or extra lives, leading to frustration as players must restart from the beginning upon losing all lives, which can make the game feel repetitive.
The graphics and sound design are considered subpar by some, with issues like loud music and flashing effects that can obscure gameplay, detracting from the overall experience.

music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
48%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its quality and fit within the game's retro aesthetic, while others criticize it for being too loud and lacking volume control options. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the gaming experience, though a few find it grating over time. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point for some, but its implementation leaves room for improvement.
- “Bullet hell space game with interesting bosses and a soundtrack that fits well with the game.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, fits in with the whole theme well.”
- “The retro atmosphere provided by the stylish visuals, detailed backgrounds, and heavy music are all the work of one man and obviously with a lot of love, making this an even more impressive endeavor.”
- “The soundtrack is pretty bad, switching weapons is clumsy and the forcefield should just have been on by default.”
- “The music is loud and grating, the resolutions are 'windowed' or that resolution stretched to full screen.”
- “This might be a good game, but it's a shame the author didn't include an option to turn off the music as it can get annoying after a bit, as I like to pump the volume up and enjoy the sound effects.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the nostalgic retro style and detailed backgrounds created by a single developer, while others criticize the overall quality as simplistic and lacking polish. Despite the limitations, the visuals contribute to the game's charm and atmosphere, appealing to fans of the genre. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent but could benefit from further refinement and additional options.
- “The story in Power-Up is simple sci-fi fare but is effective through its usage of snazzy dialogue and slick visuals that all give a nostalgic retro flair.”
- “The retro atmosphere provided by the stylish visuals, detailed backgrounds, and heavy music are all the work of one man and obviously with a lot of love, making this an even more impressive endeavor.”
- “A fully leveled up weapon gives you so much pleasure when fired; the graphical fidelity of this title is unique and perfect for this game.”
- “Graphics are very poor, and there are no options to speak of.”
- “Graphics could be more polished; it has a very indie look.”
- “No workshop (seriously, this game could use the workshop for new graphics).”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The gameplay features a variety of weapons and power-ups that enhance the experience, though some players find the mechanics and control mapping frustrating. While the side-scrolling shoot-em-up offers enjoyable and challenging gameplay reminiscent of classic titles, it suffers from issues like a lack of pause functionality and poorly assigned controls. Overall, the game is praised for its enemy variety and progression, but it may not meet the expectations set by its ambitious title.
- “You have a choice of weapons to use as you play, which is a nice addition and part of the gameplay as enemies attack from different vectors.”
- “I found the gameplay very enjoyable.”
- “Gameplay is very intelligent; I love the progression of power-ups and the variety and routines of the enemies.”
- “The quantity of 'power-ups' offered and their impact on the moment-to-moment gameplay of this side-scrolling shoot-em-up doesn't quite live up to the bolded name of the game.”
- “So, during gameplay you can't pause the game with the 'Esc' key...”
- “This was deeply disappointing, from the terribly mapped controls (who seriously assigns 'J' to 'fire', and 'space' to 'super bomb'? And while I'm at it, nobody ever used 'QAOP' for movement in the 'retro' days.) to the plodding gameplay.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The story in the game is a simple sci-fi narrative that is presented effectively through engaging dialogue and appealing visuals, evoking a sense of nostalgia. However, opinions are mixed, with some players finding the story boring or lacking depth. Overall, while the presentation is praised, the substance of the story may not resonate with all players.
- “Nice to see also with this sort of game a story that is shown nicely along the bottom of the screen between levels.”
- “The story in Power-Up is simple sci-fi fare but is effective through its usage of snazzy dialogue and slick visuals that all give a nostalgic retro flair.”
- “The story in Power-Up is simple sci-fi fare but is effective through its usage of snazzy dialogue and slick visuals that all give a nostalgic retro flair.”
- “The story is boring.”
- “The story is just kind of pathetic.”
- “I skipped all the dialogue, so I cannot comment on the storyline.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has minimal replayability, as it can be completed in just 10 minutes and quickly becomes repetitive, leading to a lack of incentive for players to revisit it.
- “It can be beaten in one 10-minute sitting and has zero replayability.”
- “Limited replay value as it feels samey quickly.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking powerful feelings of nostalgia and familial connection, as illustrated by a poignant moment where a character confronts the gravity of their choices in relation to their loved ones' futures.
- “I was about 10 years old when my mother said to him: 'If you ever want to see your grandchildren graduate, you have to stop immediately.' Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game's retro atmosphere is enhanced by stylish visuals, detailed backgrounds, and a heavy musical score, all crafted by a single developer, showcasing a deep passion for the genre. This impressive effort makes it a noteworthy addition to any shoot 'em up enthusiast's collection.
- “The retro atmosphere provided by the stylish visuals, detailed backgrounds, and heavy music is the work of one man, showcasing a lot of love and making this an impressive endeavor. It's a seriously solid entry into any shmup aficionado's library.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack that perfectly complements the gameplay.”
- “Every element of the atmosphere, from the ambient sounds to the intricate level design, creates a captivating experience that keeps you engaged and wanting to explore more.”
- “The retro atmosphere provided by the stylish visuals, detailed backgrounds, and heavy music is impressive, but it feels like it lacks depth and variety, making the experience somewhat monotonous.”
- “While the visuals are striking, the overall atmosphere feels empty and uninspired, failing to immerse players in the game world.”
- “The heavy music adds to the atmosphere, but it often overshadows the gameplay, creating a disjointed experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment.”