Jetboard Joust-Next Generation Retro Review (Steam)

Fast & fluid arcade-style SHMUP meets hardcore modern roguelike! Take flight on a lethal, pimped-up jetboard, darting through the skies and blasting alien invaders with an explosive arsenal of extreme weaponry. Face off against massive, multi-stage bosses. An arcade classic for the next generation!

Pros:

• Beautiful pixel art graphics.
• 146mb download size.
• Steam achievements.
• Controller support.
• A modern take on the classic game Defender.
• Two control schemes-old school and new fangled.
• Can rebind controls.
• Online leaderboards.
• Own in-game achievements.
• Instructions-how to play text and images.
• Five save slots.
• Collect coins and diamonds to use in between rounds to upgrade/ buy weapons or use cash as a way to continue after a game over.
• Treasure room-unlocks after you clear the level of enemies and triggers a randomized fight, beat it to get a key, and descend into the treasure room for rewards.
• Every run is randomized.
• Death-drop everything and game over but you can have your dropped cash show up next run.
• Activate warp gated to travel levels faster.
• Roguelike gameplay.
• Minimap shows at the top of the screen.
• A lot of cool pixellated flashes and bangs.
• On-screen notifications and icons to help find loot and people.
• Difficult.
• Gameplay-aliens will attempt to grab people and take them to the top of the screen that turns them into huge aliens, you need to stop them.
• Addictive.
• Very easy to get into.
• Combo counter.
• Route-every level you beat will pop up a map whereby you choose your next destination.
• Bullet hell elements.
• Weapons will deteriorate over time and disappear.
• Find pickups for ammo, shield replenish, and health.
• Clear easy to read Hud.
• Really good soundtrack.
• Fast frantic shooter.
• Feels really polished and solid.
• Satisfying combat.
• Boost-makes you invincible for a short time and can kill enemies by passing through them.

Cons:

• The slight learning curve with the controls as it’s quite sensitive.
• A lot to initially take in regards to pickups and gun types.
• Difficult.
• No graphics settings.
• Hard to see where you are when in the thick of it.
• RNG can be good or bad… No shit.