Tech: Drainus

"Drainus" is a mélange of old school shoot-em-ups - the bullet-vacuum mechanics of Ikaruga, the configurable armament of Gradius, the claustrophobic levels of R-Type. Developed by Team Ladybug and WSS Playground, the game puts you into the cockpit of the Drainus, an energy-absorbing, time-travelling fighter ship:

Drainus nails the fundamentals of a good shmup - the controls are snappy and the pixelated graphics are legible (particularly non-absorbable bullets, which are highlighted in red). The configurable upgrade system also allows more flexibility than most shooters, without drowning the player in complexity. But while this is a fun game, it's a bit short and easy for shooter diehards, and the enemy and level designs don't stand out from the crowd.

Rating: 84/100