Note: The author of this review was supplied with a complimentary Nintendo Switch download code for Debris Infinity by the developer SVC Games.
Over the years we’ve seen many iterations of the twin-stick shooter genre, with games like Geometry Wars and The Binding of Isacc coming to mind. Debris Infinity is a fairly new twin-stick shooter developed by SVC Games. The game released last year (PC, 2017) on Steam and is now available for the Nintendo Switch.
Utilizing the classic formula, Debris Infinity uses one joystick to move the player ship around the stage while the player uses the other (twin-stick) to fire weapons in any 360 degree angle. This is standard in most twin-stick/top-down shooters and handles very well in Debris Infinity. To help the game standout from other games on the market the developer added a few new twists. Players can utilize a slow-motion move which makes taking out enemies easier (especially when surrounded) and a move called a “Quantic Explosion” which destroys all the enemies on the screen. Both the slow-motion and Quantic Explosion abilities give Debris Infinity a layer of strategy that makes replaying over-and-over again fun.
Arcade Action with Explosive Combo System
Debris Infinity has a unique combo system, which increases by destroying multiple enemies in consecutive order within a short amount of time. Debris Infinity has two energy bars on the screen (left & right) which represent the Combos (left) and Streaks (right). To increase the current combo the player must continue to destroy enemies before the Combo bar depletes. The higher your combo the more points each additional enemy will add to your score. Streaks are used to gauge the multiplier your score is adjusted by. The multiplier increases the number of points received by an enemy multiplied by the current Streaks value. If you get hit by an enemy the Streaks level decreases. Players also receive additional points for destroying enemies quickly (as soon as they appear) called a reflex bonus.
Debris Infinity offers 3 main modes of play: Time Attack, Normal mode and Power Wave. Normal mode and Power Wave offer the most replay value. Normal mode is everything you’d expect from a twin-stick survival game. Survive wave-after-wave of never ending enemies for as long as you can while racking up as many points possible. While holding true to the classic formula that make games like Debris Infinity fun the developers also included Power Wave mode which gives the game further replay value. Power Wave features waves of enemies, with each wave given a theme name right before the wave’s start. The wave’s name or title gives the player a slight clue on the pattern or type of enemies to expect. This can provide the player with just enough time to move out of the way of crisscrossing enemies. For example, one wave titled “Fatal Attraction” featured enemies that shot towards my ship as soon as they spawned on the map, like a computer guided missile. Another wave titled “Cornered” had four group of different enemies spawning from the four corners of the screen. Getting to know the different waves by their titles makes getting higher scores and advancement on the online leaderboards easier.
All three of the game modes in Debris Infinity feature online leaderboards for your top scores in each of the modes. You can also filter the leaderboard and compare your scores to other players for the current week along with all-time high scores. Debris Infinity supports all the different Switch control styles, including Switch Pro Controller and single Joy-Con support for 2 player modes.
Debris Infinity features bright-neon infused colors that glow nicely in contrast to the games space/galaxy theme. Special effects including the particle explosions and lighting effects are especially top notch. Most of the enemies are generic in their design with most of the enemies featuring geometric shapes similar to Geometry Wars. Overall the graphics are good even with some generic shapes – the entire package works and looks good!
Music in Debris Infinity sounds futuristic and techno-like. Overall the music’s speed and feel fits the game’s high paced action and effects.
The only complaints I have with Debris Infinity are the game’s rumble effect and the loud and slightly annoying announcer voice-over. The announcer can be fixed via the game’s option menu so this isn’t the biggest deal. The game’s rumble can get distracting at times, vibrating the controller when getting hit by an enemy or when leveling up or completing a wave. Sometimes with all the chaos on the screen (enemies & explosions) it can be hard to tell if the rumble is from getting hit or if you’ve achieved a new bonus-multiplier etc. Both the announcer voice-over and the rumble effect can be turned off in the game’s option menu.
Debris Infinity is a fun twin-stick shooter and one of the best on the Nintendo Switch. Factoring in the price ($4.99 on the Nintendo eShop) this is one of the best values in the genre. The simplistic controls and fast-paced game modes make Debris Infinity ideal for on the go gaming. The explosive graphics and tight player controls compliment the addictive gameplay. Debris Infinity’s several different modes along with a 2-player option provide a fair amount of replay value for the price. The online leaderboards also make coming back worth the time. If you’re into fast paced twin-stick action with some new twists check out Debris Infinity on the Nintendo Switch.
Review Score:
Gameplay: 8.5 / 10
Graphics: 8 / 10
Sound & Music: 7.5 / 10
Replay Value: 9 / 10
Final Review Score: 8.2 / 10
