Whisker Squadron Survivors Blasts Off Into Early Access - Hardcore Gamer

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Bugs may suck but apparently robo-bugs are even worse.  Not only do they overrun the galaxy but the logical solution would be robo-spiders, and nobody wants that.  Instead, and with great relief, the feline pilots of the Whisker Squadron have it covered, flying through infested worlds to blast apart every buggy metal critter The Swarm can throw at them.  Which, as it turns out, is quite a lot.  Starting from the outskirts and flying straight to the heart of The Swarm’s hold on its planets, the Whisker Squadron is ready to exterminate the invaders with every laser, missile, and electro-bolt at its disposal.

Whisker Squadron: Survivor is an on-rails Star Fox-style rogue-lite shooter, bursting with color and energy as you fly through ten ever-more-intense waves packed with enemies and a truly ridiculous amount of return fire.  At the start of each run you choose a fighter craft, primary and secondary weapon, and a pilot with their own unique special ability, and then power up to an incredible degree as you level up along the way.  The “Survivor” part of the title is, like so many other games, a direct nod to Vampire Survivors, but unlike the usual clones Whisker Squadron: Survivor only borrows the progression rather than almost every single aspect of its inspiration.

If you’ve ever played the SNES or N64 Star Fox you know exactly what to expect, gameplay-wise.  The camera holds mostly behind the player ship as it flies forward at a set speed into the screen, and a targeting reticle lets you line up shots to take out air- and land-based enemies.  Boost and brake are on the triggers, roll left/right on the bumpers, and a double-tap of either bumper does a barrel roll.  Unlike Star Fox, though, actions are tied to energy,