Twin-stick shooters have been with us for decades. But as with many genres in the modern era, there’s still plenty of opportunities to innovate within the established template. Afil Games have set their sights on doing just that, by removing the shooting from the twin-stick shooter in Shield King.
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What is Shield King?
Shield King delivers a simple concept, but promises significant depth. The game sees you enter a number of rooms filled with enemies, with the task of dispatching them all. However, you’re not going to be doing so with the usual strafe-circling and shoot tactic the genre is famous for. Mostly, because you don’t have anything to shoot with.
Instead, Shield King arms you with only a shield. You can push enemies away if they get too close, but it’s a dash attack that will remove their health. You must be cautious of where you end the attack however, because being in the middle of a horde with only one angle of defence is not ideal. Thankfully, with roguelike mechanics, you can upgrade your shield as you progress through the game.
The twin-stick shooter has seen numerous titles redefining the genre in recent years. The likes of Enter the Gungeon, Slaycation Paradise and Hotline Miami have all offered their own unique takes. The difference here, is that all of these titles still included shooting!
Trailer
The official trailer for Shield King is short but informative. As stated above, this is a game with a familiar setting and a unique mechanic. Any fans of the twin-stick shooter genre will undoubtedly get it immediately.
Shield King Launch Plans
The game launched back in August 2023 on PC. It arrived on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 shortly after, in November last year. So why are we reporting on the game now? Well, Shield King has been confirmed for an Xbox release.
The game will arrive on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on 25th April, 2024. No price point has yet been confirmed, but considering both the PC and PlayStation versions are available for less than $5 USD, you’re probably right in thinking it’ll cost less than a morning coffee.
Are you interested in getting the game for Xbox? Have you already played it on PC or PlayStation? Let us know in the comments below!
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