Nex Machina review – a pure, brilliant shoot-'em-up

So the twin-stick shooter multiplies the risk to players by having enemies come in from all angles, but as good ludology dictates, the best titles in genre ensure the player is also empowered. Through the game there are multiple pick-ups which add to the power of your blaster; there are also secondary weapons including missiles and even a sword, which have limitless usability, letting you take out vast swarms of robot invaders. It sounds old-fashioned, it looks old-fashioned, but this is smart, gripping game design. After each level, the landscape swirls to reveal a new surface, like some monstrous Rubik's cube, and you're back blasting away. Taking out scenic objects reveals hidden items and routes – there are score multipliers everywhere; the world is utterly alive, fizzing with energy.