Shape Shifter: Formations

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 143 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Shape Shifter: Formations Game Cover
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Early Access Roadmap About the Game Shape Shifter: Formations is an action twin-stick shooter with rogue-lite elements, where you must destroy hordes of geometric enemies alone or with a friend. Select your ship and combine a large variety of weapons, abilities and infinitely stacking upgrades to craft your own unique build.Customize Your LoadoutChoose from a wide variety of ships each with the…

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Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 143 reviews
gameplay11 positive mentions
  • The game successfully combines elements of Geometry Wars and rogue-lite mechanics, offering a unique and addictive gameplay experience.
  • There is a great variety of builds and unlockable content, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging over time.
  • The visuals and sound design are impressive, with vibrant graphics and a satisfying soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • Some players have reported issues with balance, particularly with certain weapons being overpowered compared to others, leading to less variety in effective builds.
  • The game can become grindy, especially at higher difficulty levels, where RNG can heavily influence success, making it frustrating for some players.
  • There are complaints about the lack of online co-op and the need for better communication from developers regarding updates and game balance.
  • gameplay20 mentions

    The gameplay is a compelling blend of rogue-lite mechanics and twin-stick shooter elements, offering a satisfying and addictive experience with a variety of builds and smooth movement. While the visuals are simple yet stylish, some players note that the gameplay can become visually cluttered and may require adjustments for optimal enjoyment. Overall, the game features a challenging yet fair gameplay loop that encourages repeated runs, though some mechanics still need refinement as it is in early access.

    • “The gameplay is tight, the visuals are simple but refined, and there is a ton of build variety.”
    • “Challenging but fair, smooth gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay loop itself is smooth, engaging and almost always leaves you thinking 'just one more quick run'.”
    • “That build can be fun, but it also creates a lot of visual clutter and requires the least amount of strategy and interaction with the game's mechanics.”
    • “Gameplay clarity suffers a bit when going for the last achievements.”
    • “- Many perks come with a negative that don't necessarily advance the gameplay loop - for instance, a lot of weapon upgrades tend to come with a minus ability cooldown negative, when having a non-upgraded ability can come in handy at times.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its energetic and engaging nature. While some mention that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, the vibrant sound design and integration with gameplay keep players immersed. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's retro visuals and dynamic action.

    • “The music is great, the upgrades and progression feel great, and the sound of picking up the shards is such a dopamine hit.”
    • “Has a very vibrant art style and a great soundtrack.”
    • “The music of this game slaps and together with an excellent sound design and incredibly charming, but also very clean, retro style visuals, it manages to keep your attention on the action at all times.”
    • “Fantastic, algorithm-ruining visuals and a good (albeit repetitive after 5 hours) soundtrack.”
    • “Despite having some of the least-exciting boss fight music in recent memory, it's a pretty solid entry in the 'neon triangle blowing up other neon polygons' genre.”
  • graphics10 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and clean retro style, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful neon visuals and crisp clarity even during chaotic gameplay. While some prefer simpler aesthetics, the overall consensus is that the graphics enhance the addictive gameplay experience, complemented by a strong soundtrack. Ratings vary, with some giving it a solid 7/10, but the visuals are generally considered top-notch for a twin-stick shooter.

    • “Top of the line in streamlined twin stick shooters, beautiful neon graphics and very cool and animated.”
    • “The visuals are spectacular and the gameplay is very addicting.”
    • “The music of this game slaps and together with an excellent sound design and incredibly charming, but also very clean, retro style visuals, it manages to keep your attention on the action at all times.”
    • “I would much prefer visuals to be flat (Nova Drift) or simple isometry.”
    • “Fantastic, algorithm ruining visuals and a good (albeit repetitive after 5 hours) soundtrack.”
    • “The music of this game is fantastic, and together with an excellent sound design and incredibly charming, but also very clean, retro style visuals, it manages to keep your attention on the action at all times.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while farming currency through threat multipliers feels rewarding and meaningful, the upgrade system is criticized for being excessively grindy with multiple layers of upgrades. Additionally, the repetition of bosses in runs contributes to a sense of tedium, suggesting that more variety in encounters could enhance the overall experience.

    • “Every bit of meta progression feels weighty and meaningful, not grindy.”
    • “The grinding in this game is rewarding, as it allows you to truly feel your character grow stronger.”
    • “I appreciate how the grind is balanced; it never feels tedious and always leads to exciting new abilities.”
    • “The upgrade system is also massively grindy now, with 3 layers of upgrades (skills, paragon cores, artifacts), though you can basically ignore the artifacts as in the last 5 runs I've done, I've not seen a single one come up (and I cycled one run three times through all bosses).”
    • “I think this game would benefit from having different bosses that can show up in a run, because fighting the same first boss each time gets a little tedious.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replay value, making it a strong recommendation for fans of quality arcade shooters.

    • “Great replay value.”
    • “I'd recommend it if you enjoy a quality arcade shooter with good replayability.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its optimization, running smoothly even with complex builds and showing no performance issues.

    • “This game is awesome and a beast of a game; it runs smoothly no matter how crazy of a build you have going!”
    • “Zero performance issues.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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