Shutshimi

Shutshimi makes the shoot-’em-up format feel deliberately odd, with quick stages and absurd presentation that keep the whole thing light on its feet. By our assessment, its charm comes from that unusual tone and the way it turns a standard shooter into something brisk and joke-driven. The downside is that the comedy and novelty do most of the heavy lifting, so once the surprise fades, the underlying arcade pattern has to carry the rest. In practice it is a game of short bursts, dodging, shooting, and taking in whatever nonsense the level throws next. Compared with serious or score-chasing shooters, Shutshimi is more about personality than precision. It works best for people who want a fast, strange arcade game, and it will not suit anyone who needs depth to keep a shooter alive.