PixelJunk SideScroller

Shoot 'em ups are burdened with the weight of the hardcore and while PixelJunk SideScroller obeys that command, its art, music, and basic gameplay are attractive enough to lure in anyone who might remember walking into an arcade. Simply put, SideScroller carries the sentiment of its genre predecessors without the standard prescription for rose tinted glasses.

At this point you should be playing SideScroller, because despite it walking a well-worn path down shmup lane, it's just as compelling as any of Q-Games' more experimental titles.

SideScroller is not a glorified minigame. It's shorter than the Shooter series the first time through, but that just means it's properly modeled after the old games that inspired it. In other words, it's a PixelJunk game, and that also means a well-executed visual style, smooth gameplay, and an impressive soundtrack.

Along with Deathsmiles and Gradius V, SideScroller is one of the few side-scrolling gems of the past decade.

PixelJunk SideScroller is a title that I could sit and play it for hours if wasn't for the need to sleep and other necessities. The simplicity of the game's design and the ease of use controls make it an easy game for anyone to pick up and play. Though it's totally up to the player if they have the determination to make it through 13 levels of enemy filled levels and creative bosses. If that's not enough then there are Leaderboards to top and trophies to earn for those looking for more of a challenge. IF you haven't already started downloading PixelJunk SideScroller you should be. Fun starts with the drop of a few coins.

Fast, furious and smothered in old-school cool. [Jan 2012, p.91]

PixelJunk SideScroller delivers and intense, exciting shoot'em-up experience. It's so stylish in everything it does and it's definitely a game fans of the genre can't miss.

A great game, which is very approachable at first, but then spikes in difficulty. It has a special charm that veteran players will love and appreaciate. Its gameplay is robust, modern and full of references to previous entries, but also includes some classic elements.

SideScroller's final stages are arguably among the best things Q-Games has ever done, but be warned: if you're used to the puzzley pace of Shooter, you won't find its playful nature here.

Accentuated by some splendid-looking, challenging boss fights, it's a steal for fans of the genre. [Holiday 2011, p.74]

A simple Scrolling Shooter, taking us back directly to the 80's.

Slipping into their finest retro attire, Q Games has once again proven their ability to step into any genre and own it.

We knew about "game design", but with PixelJunk SideScroller, we can now talk about Designer Games. The tasty neo-modern look of this Q-Games shoot'em up isn't everything there is to it: the game itself is a very good one, maybe a little light though, for shoot'em up pros or otherwise.

Overall this is a wonderful addition to the PixelJunk stable and the pick of the bunch in terms of executing a single minded approach.

It's not perfect, but it's shooter purity in an electric-glowing bottle that may not go down easy, but it sure tastes delicious with every gulp.

With the exception of the high production values, I feel like I've played a lot of games like PixelJunk SideScroller before. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does feel like a departure for a studio that I normally look to for unusual and exciting innovations. For anyone looking to enjoy an old school shooter with a few surprise twists, Q-Games delivers the goods.

Harder than a cage fighter on Viagra. [Issue#213, p.97]

Familiar boss battles and a few frustrations don't cloud this typically addictive and visually outstanding PixelJunk shooter.

This $10 package just feels a trifle light on content, that's all. Otherwise, PixelJunk SideScroller is nod to the golden age of gaming; for the most part, it moves right, the design and atmosphere is a big bonus, and the soundtrack continues to set the PixelJunk franchise apart. But with three stages, not a ton of gameplay options and variety, and a two-player option that seems too frustrating, I can't recommend this with as much conviction as I've done with other titles in the series.

PixelJunk has become a synonym for great PSN-games, but this time round it's better to check out the demo first. Visually this is a stunner, but when it comes to gameplay this is a lot simpler than we are used from previous PixelJunk-games. Just fly and shoot. [December 2011, p.101]

If you recognised the clever retro nods in the visuals without having them pointed out then this will appeal. If not, scroll on. [Issue#117, p.119]

PixelJunk SideScroller is definitely a gem in the arcade shooter genre's crown. A bold visual and space age soundtrack are definitely the games selling point but for PixelJunk lovers, the experience is simply too short.

A well-executed game. [Christmas 2011, p.98]

Pixeljunk Sidescroller flirts with the golden days of arcade gaming. Vector based visuals gives the game a unique look, and the challenging gameplay demands concentration and fast reflexes.

If you enjoy difficult bullet-hell games then you will probably enjoy SideScroller. On the other hand, if constantly dying and repeating the same sections of the level over and over again makes you want to quit, this game probably isn't for you.

The impulse to go back in time for inspiration serves this SideScroller well in creating an attractive visual identity. But failure to properly consider what makes shoot'em ups fun, past and present, holds this PixelJunk project back from greatness.

Based on an unlockable mini-game in PixelJunk Shooter 2, PixelJunk SideScroller is unfortunately not much more than a mini-game itself. While a perfectly competent arcade shooter, it nails the arcade experience perhaps too well.

Although PixelJunk Sidescroller is a decent, "retro" shoot'em up, the flawed checkpoint system and the "cheap deaths" have a significant negative impact on the overall experience.

A neon retro sheen doesn't mask the flaws in this short and basic shooter.

Despite the fact that PixelJunk Sidescroller isn't that bad, it isn't that good either. It's a mildly-entertaining-but-shallow offering from a studio that's usually at the pinnacle of PSN development.

The difficulty alone is enough to keep you busy for a long time, even despite there being three sectors. But if you're a glutton for punishment, you could give a go at topping the leaderboards. Aside from that and few cheats that let you change the visual filter, there's really not a lot of replay value here.