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Minishoot’ Adventures Review

Casey ScheldApril 6, 2024

Official Score

Overall - 75%

75%

Taking inspiration from a little green elf, Minishoot' Adventures combines bullet hells and exploration to create something truly unique. This title might not be the toughest or most compex title on the market, but the feedback loop between combat and exploration kept us captivated.

User Rating: 4.3 ( 1 votes)

The Legend of Zelda series of top-down titles is pretty rad. So is the shoot-em-up genre and its endless stream of bullets.

SoulGame Studio’s Minishoot’ Adventure dares to imagine a world where these two genres come together in perfect harmony. Does this hybrid go together like peanut butter and chocolate, or should these two genres keep separated?

Minishoot’ Adventures Review

At first glance, Minishoot’ Adventures seems like your typical top-down shooter. You’re piloting a ship, can maneuver in 360 degrees of motion, can fire at will, and can even take down other ships through a stream of multicolored bullets.

However, things aren’t what they seem; this title features a fair amount of exploration. Players will collect heart pieces, trigger switches, collect keys, upgrade one’s abilities via a skill tree, and can even pinpoint where they want to go. There’s even breakable pots and boss rooms as players take on the Unchosen and his minions – sounds like the adventures of a little green elf, right?

These two concepts might seem at odds with each other, but Minishoot’ Adventures is wildly original. The idea of traveling across an overworld and discovering secrets might seem unorthodox, but exploring a world while putting our skills to the test was a thrilling feeling. Note that there are “Explorer,” “Original,” and “Advanced” modes with different firing modes to match, making Minishoot’ Adventures suitable for all styles of play.

Players can make a beeline for the main objective on the map, but players can also come across distress signals and ships that have lost power along the way. There’s also collectibles like Golden Scarabs, a leveling system with a skill tree, and other perks that can make your shipling is the best shipling to ever ship.

Just note that the puzzles in Minishoot’ Adventures do not require a ton of heavy lifting. Some segments require exploration while others require clearing out a set room, but don’t expect anything too complex. This is far from a dealbreaker considering its focus on the action, but those looking for the depth that comes from the Hero of Time’s adventures with multiple items and floors will need to adjust to this brass tacks approach.

That’s not to say Minishoot’ Adventures is an easy title; far from it. Between the sections where players need to carefully navigate a chasm while big ol’ bullets come from the top, racing a spirit to the finish, or even freeing an old friend, this is one title that will require players to get acquainted or crash and burn. Without a suite of items these battles can feel a bit limiting, but muscle reflexes serve as a suitable substitution.

Taking inspiration from a little green elf, Minishoot’ Adventures combines bullet hells and exploration to create something truly unique. This title might not be the toughest or most compex title on the market, but the feedback loop between combat and exploration kept us captivated.