Horizon Shift 81 Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · Published July 10, 2024 · Updated July 9, 2024

Horizon Shift 81 Review, Horizon Shift ’81 is an explosive wave-based single-screen shooter (shmups) with a real Retro feel to it. You can even play the game in Tate screen mode! The player controls a ship in the center of the screen, enemies approach from the top and bottom and the player is able to switch up and down to deal with the encroaching hoard.

Horizon Shift 81 Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
289.94MB download size.
Full controller support.
Graphics settings – glow level, CRT effect (none/no scanlines/vertical/horizontal), screen mode including tate mode, backgrounds (retro Starfield/fancy/off), and sidebars (classic/arcade/off).
Shmup gameplay.
Proper arcade presentation.
Online leaderboards.
Six game modes – Arcade Classic, Arcade Arrange, Speed Up, Hyper Mode, Free Mode, and Boss Mode.
Game settings – starting level, gamepad type, difficulty, game speed, tutorial, and graphics mode.
Six controller layout choices.
Two difficulties – Easy and normal.
Graphics mode choices – retro clean, the works, arcade 81, modern, retro, extra glow, and clean.
Three types of power-ups can spawn – ship modifiers, weapon power-ups, and bonus points.
Excellent chiptune and a rock-style soundtrack.
The game plays out where you are on a line in the middle of the screen, at any time you can switch which side you are on and shoot enemies. Collect power-ups, rescue civilians and score big.
Tutorial pop-ups as you play if you have it turned on.
Big boss battles every five stages, these can move the line you play on.
Has many nods to the classic games with enemies like Centipede and Millepede, space Invaders to name a few, and uses mechanics seen in classics such as Tempest.
Earn smart bombs by playing and these clear the screen of enemies.
Many power-up types from shotguns to Shields, and tri shots.
Checkpoints can be hit and when you get a game over you have a choice to start from there.
You see boss health bars.
Bullet hell segments throughout.
The controls in terms of movement are really tight and responsive.
A true visual treat.
Has a lot of replay value with you needing to unlock new game modes and the score-chasing leaderboards.

Horizon Shift 81 Review Cons:

Cannot remap the controls.
No way to change the size of the game screen.
It takes a while to learn what all the power-up letters mean.
The gameplay is unique and with that, you have to factor in the learning of it all.
Doesn’t have an instruction manual or anything.
Only three border art choices.
The unlocks are unappealing.
The hitting of enemies doesn’t give any feedback and it just felt like I was never sure if I hit them.
The mouse cursor stays on the screen even when using the controller.