S. Prysm Destroyer – Steam Review

Overview – developed and published by MaidsWithGuns, S. Prysm Destroyer is a 2.5D Platform run and gun shooter, where players control a giant mech to destroy the creatures that threaten humanity. As the mech pilot Amor, control the Prysm Destroyer and eliminate the Primordial beasts, which have forced the remnants of humanity to live in domed sanctuaries. This title is currently available exclusively for steam, with a link to the game at the bottom of the review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank the rep who provided the copy of S. Prysm Destroyer that was used for this piece, via the Keymailer service. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of the review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. This title is light on plot, so I will be moving directly onto discussing the gameplay for this release.

Gameplay – S. Prysm Destroyer is a score focused platform shooter, with an action style that is reminiscent of Contra, with fast paced action and 8 way directional shooting. As the mighty mecha, the player can run, jump, use a jet pack and shoot through a series of stages that loop with ever increasing difficulty. The objective of each stage is to reach the goal, destroying the beasts that appear, while avoiding the hazards and obstacles of each level.

The action plays out in standard run and gun style, with the player running left and right, and being able to blast enemies with reckless abandon. The player starts each stage with a standard rapid fire blaster, allowing the player to shoot and aim as they run. However, the player is unable to shoot directly down or diagonally down in motion, going prone instead. To remedy this, the player can use the aim button, locking them in place to aim in all 8 directions.

As the player makes their way through each zone, they will encounter enemies that appear above and below them. Players are able to shoot through thin platforms, allowing players to strike enemies from a safer position, but enemies can also fire through these platforms. As the player is platforming, they will be able to jump through and drop down from the thin platforms, allowing for a lot of mobility during a run in the game.

During a run, the player will be able to collect power-ups by destroying boxes and enemies. These upgrades are temporary, lasting only a limited time as the on screen icons fade out. The items that can be collected include even faster rapid fire, spread shot and additional turrets to kill enemies faster. There are also health upgrades that can be collected, restoring damage taken for a limited time, alongside shields that nullify damage temporarily.

What separates this release from others in the genre is the inclusion of permadeath. Players have a single life to clear as many stages as possible, with the run ending when the meter is depleted. The player will get a results screen when a run ends, showing their score, stage reached and time spent playing with the highest score added to the leaderboards. Players can also unlock costumes for Amor to wear, which she will show off during the game.

The last thing to discuss is the special “gimmick for this release. During the course of a run, the player will encounter glowing gems, which will activate a temporary ultimate state, with an animation of Amor and Prysm Destroyer together. These states grant the player a special weapon for the duration, consisting of a flaming Katana, a frost thrower and lightning guitar. These three powers really knock the gameplay up a notch and really make it stand out.

Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to discuss the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.

Controls – this release has an arcade style to the controls, offering players a quick and easy pick up shooter. The game uses a three button input system, with the jump/jetpack, shooting and aim lock buttons laid out pretty easily, with responsive inputs that are very snappy. The game supports keyboard inputs, but the recommended way to play the game is via controller, with steam offering a variety of supported controllers.

Difficulty – S. Prysm Destroyer is a tough game and I don’t think there is an end point, as it appears the game will just loop stages with increasingly tougher enemies. The damage that enemy attacks will deal to the player will increase the further players get, with different colors signifying their power. This goes from white all the way up to gold, which is the max I reached before I hit a wall. It takes a while, but when you get in the groove you can go far.

Presentation – there is a low poly style to the game, with chunky models with an old style screen filter over the top, giving the feel like the action is observed through a monitor. This gives the game a retro sci-fi shooter style, which is further enhanced when combined with the sprite work for Amor that appears on the screens HUD. The sound is nicely done, with some exciting music and some minimal voice work. I really liked the touch that the thunder guitar power added.

Final Thoughts – this is a fantastic run and gun shooter, which I discovered through social media and I was happy to take the opportunity to check it out. I will say that it may be a little difficult for players, with a little bit of jank here and there, but it is a fun time. I spent several hours playing the game, and climbing all the way to the no2 spot on the global leaderboards. This was satisfying, as I saw my progress and skills increasing the more I played the game.

There is also the rewarding costuming system, which I was able to unlock over half of them, with some of them just out of my reach at my current skill. But, I plan on returning to the game to get the rest of them. This is also a good title for those who are looking for a solid challenge, with speedrunning rewards available. The fast paced action, challenging gameplay and easy to play nature make this a super easy recommendation for me to make.

In the end, I give S. Prysm Destroyer a final score of 5/5. This is an excellent platforming shooter, with fast paced chaotic action, a rewarding gameplay loop and plenty of content in a modest package, making for an easy to pick up game that is lots of fun, all for a really low cost of admission. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to the game is below. There has also been an announced release for the Nintendo Switch coming in the future.

Link to Steam version (HERE)