Habroxia 2
Image Credit: Lillymo Games
Not Your Grandpa's Shmup
Habroxia 2 takes elements from classic shoot ‘em up games (shmups) and combines them masterfully in a modern and approachable way. I haven’t delved deep into a game like this in over fifteen years and it's a genre that doesn’t usually attract me. This aversion to shmups has been challenged and permanently changed due to my refreshing experience with Habroxia 2. I might just be a shmup schmuck after this one. Most people have played or at least seen a shoot 'em up like Space Invaders, Galaga, or Gradius, but Habroxia 2 isn’t your grandpa’s shmup. It certainly pulls elements from retro space classics, but it injects modern features that elevate the gameplay.
In Habroxia 2 you are tasked with navigating an onslaught of alien ships while moving horizontally and vertically through space terrains. This is standard-fare for the shmup genre, but it does deviate slightly by changing up the left-to-right navigation for a bottom-to-top navigation occasionally, which is a welcomed feature. Navigation is complimented by rich combat and upgrade systems that highlight the diverse requirements of each stage. When approaching a new level I found myself running a scout mission on my first attempt to discover what obstacles and enemies await me. Once I had an understanding of the challenge in front of me, I then adjusted what load-out was best suited for that level. The player has both a forward and rear facing special that is selected at the beginning of each level. The special weapons are varied, ranging from concentrated linear shots, a sword, scatter shots, laser spread, heat seeking rockets (my personal favorite), and many more. The player can select any combination of special weapons for their forward and rear facing attack, which results in a sense of customization in a genre that typically lacks this.
Image Credit: Lillymo Games
Players also need to consider how their load-outs stack up against the final boss of each stage. These bosses range in design and function requiring players to strategically approach each encounter. In one case, you are fighting a boss that temporally cloaks themself where a scatter shot special is useful to reveal its location. Another boss forces you to follow it through a path it drills in the terrain to defeat it or you can create your own route using your boost. I could go on and on describing how these 20+ boss battles were both enjoyable and challenging, but I refuse to spoil anymore of these delightful skirmishes. It's worth noting that these 20+ bosses actually have a more difficult variant found in new game+ for those brave enough to embark on the harder game mode. You might even find a more expounded story ending if you complete the new game+ challenge.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don’t think most people reminisce and revel in the story of classic shmups. It's a genre where the focus is on gameplay and the story is there to prime the setting and context of your actions. Habroxia 2 keeps with that tradition and story elements are relegated to the beginning and end of the game. A lack of story may be a downside for some players, but it fits with the genre and isn't an expected element in shmups. I was not left wanting more story though I do think it’s an area that Habroxia 3 (not confirmed to be in development) could challenge the status quo and potentially evolve the genre.
Image Credit: Lillymo Games
In 2021, during a pandemic, whilst the stock market is as volatile and questionable as ever, your dollar likely means more to you than usual. It's clear by Habroxia's design and price that the developers understand this current state of the world. This game is priced at $10 which is a refreshing price point. Even more refreshing is a message from the developers found when you boot up the game: “You worked hard to earn your money. Your time is precious. Thank you for buying and playing our game.” This statement is not empty either. Habroxia 2 feels concise, but still presents options for players to play endlessly.
The base game is about 5-7 hours long. Upon completion you unlock three game modes: New Game+, Boost Rush, and Boss Rush. New Game+ allows you to replay a more difficult version of the game with the ship upgrades you acquired in your first playthrough. Boost Rush is an endless flight mode where combat is removed and the goal is to navigate obstacles for as long as possible without crashing. Boss Rush is an infinite combat mode where the player has to fight every boss in the game back to back for a high score. I did not care much for Boost Rush but I found myself putting multiple hours into Boss Rush. It's a great method to farm currency for upgrades, but it's also fun trying to set a new personal high score. I do wish that an online leader board was present for these modes. I could see myself sinking even more time into these endless game modes if I knew it could result in bragging rights amongst my friends.
Image Credit: Lillymo Games
When I think about scoring Habroxia 2 it reminds me of my experience scoring Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Both games cherry pick the best elements of their peers and combine them in a thoughtful way. Habroxia 2 has a robust upgrade system which has somewhat become an expectation for most modern games. The difficulty paired with incremental progress found through currency and upgrades is reminiscent of 2020's smash indie hit, Hades. There is a fantastic branching tree system for the various levels in the overworld (pictured above), which harkens back to one of my favorite 3D shmups, Star Fox 64. The homage found in Habroxia 2 goes deep, but it doesn't result in substantial innovation for the genre. That being said, this is a must play given the concise design and modest price point. Habroxia 2 is both a great entry point for novice shmup players and it's a worthy challenge for veteran fans of the genre. Busch League Gaming gives Habroxia 2 an 'Impressive' 8.5 out of 10.
Check out our full podcast review for a deeper dive into Habroxia 2.
Buy this game if you enjoy:
Geometry Wars
Gradius
Shmups
