What makes a good shooter? As I was preparing to write this review, I thought about that very question a ton. Is it the excellent controls or the way you try to overcome levels? While these things do matter, what is important for me is the drive to do better on my next run. This is what Star Ghost nails down to such a high degree that it has become my most played game over the last couple of days.

What makes Star Ghost immediately stand out, is how the game is played. In most traditional sidescrolling shoot'em ups, you can freely move in any direction. Star Ghost not only limits you to up and down, but you will have to thrust yourself upwards by tapping the A-button. Considering that the environments are littered with obstacles and enemies, getting the hang of the set-up is rather tricky. The stakes are raised even more by the fact that your ship shoots automatically. Upgrades will quickly expire, so making the best use out of them is critical. Last but not least, you have a Traction Field, which will bring collectibles closer to your ship.

The first few runs, I struggled a lot more than I would like. I misjudged a lot of movements and shooting enemies properly seemed nothing more than a dream. Then I learned to control the tapping a lot better and I got to the point where I could even hit enemies with the most barebones weapon. I am saying that, because the game has a ton of neat upgrades to improve your experience for a little bit. You will able to upgrade the spread, fire rate, fix your shields and get additional protection to keep yourself in the game. This is needed to best increasingly harsh waves of enemies and improving your high score. Your movements will also need to be snappier as sharper turns and narrow spaces await you.

Sadly, you can only best yourself on a local leaderboard. There is no way to share your performances, which will make me ultimately stop playing at some point. The levels don't change up enough to keep going forever as there are algorithms in place to keep enemies in check. That is honestly the most annoying part of Star Ghost, because there is just the single mode. Luckily, the presentation keeps you engaged every time you start a new run. With a colorful and bright look and a soundtrack by David Wise, the developers found a great cocktail for the shoot ‘em up fan.

Star Ghost is a lot of fun, but outside of the singular mode and local leaderboards, don't go in expecting the deepest game. The weird control scheme may screw with your head for a bit, but ultimately, this is so brilliantly done. It walks the fine line of intensity and joy, which will make you scream for one more go. With tons of upgrades and rough challenges to endure, the classic shooter fanatic will be pleased with this surprise.