After triumphing on mobile systems, the Galaxy on Fire saga by Fishlabs and Deep Silver makes the leap to Nintendo Switch with a remarkable conversion of the latest installment that appeared for mobile. Manticore review: Galaxy on Fire.
Although it is not the most popular mobile franchise (although it has also appeared on PC) in the world, the truth is that Galaxy on Fire has quite a following, to the point that more than 25 million users have downloaded some of its deliveries (or so its editors, Deep Silver claim). Precisely the last of them, Galaxy on Fire 3: Manticore , has been transferred to the Nintendo machine with enough success, becoming one of the few titles available on Switch belonging to the genre of space shooters .
That is what this exclusive proposal for eShop offers us in general terms (it has not been published in physical format): fighting in space a la Star Wars . An odyssey that will surely attract more than one user because it enjoys a more than remarkable level of quality both in terms of its playability and what has to do with its general technical finish.
In my opinion, one of the best things about Manticore: Galaxy on Fire is its argument. Instead of being before a video game that tiptoes through its narrative load, something very common in this type of productions, in this title the script carries a lot of weight throughout the game. In fact, between phase and phase it is possible to enjoy spoken conversations (in English with Spanish subtitles ) between the different protagonists that add interest to the main story that serves as a background. This plot takes us to the space sector known as Neox, a place where chaos reigns due to the large number of space pirates and criminals who have taken over its borders.
Manticore Galaxy on Fire first gameplay trailer
In a galaxy far away …Our task in Manticore consists precisely in eliminating the criminals and “rabble” that gather in this area of space. A goal that will take us at least 9-10 hours to complete and that extends over three main acts that include more than 30 different levels, some of them designed specifically for this edition of Nintendo Switch .
The sensation of flying over space is one of the strengths of this shooter, as well as the course of the fighting itself.
How do we kill each of the most wanted criminals in the Neox sector? Well, very simple: reaching them in each of the corresponding levels and making them bite the dust, no more, no less. The gameplay that this title proposes does not beat around the bush and basically we must carry out the different missions that are entrusted to us (protect allied ships, finish with specific objectives, reach a certain part of the scenarios, etc.) with clean shot. Pitched battles that enjoy a very interesting and very dynamic development and, although they can end up being somewhat repetitive, the fact of being able to have friendly characters on certain occasions, travel through different game areas or the possibility of improving our ship and acquiring others add enough interest.
Its level of difficulty is very well adjustedPrecisely this last aspect, the slight RPG touch (almost a must lately in any game that comes out on the market), brings that special spark to this work, a characteristic that suits it very well. As we overcome both the main objectives and, especially, the secondary missions , it is possible to collect enough resources to assemble more powerful weapons for our ship or, also, to build new ones. The control of these vehicles is very good, being able to perform the typical actions of this type of games such as firing several different types of projectiles, accelerating, making turns, etc.
As we progress, it is possible to improve our ship with better weapons and, also, build some new aircraft.
As you can see, it is a title that has a fairly traditional development within its genre, that of space shooters, a style that is certainly not the most prolific precisely on Nintendo Switch. That is why it is perhaps even more attractive, to which is added its more than reasonable value for money and its well adjusted level of difficulty.
It is also a game that has a careful technical finish, something predictable considering that said graphic section became one of the most praised aspects of the original title. The most remarkable thing is that Manticore: Galaxy on Fire works at 1080p and 60 frames quite stable (except for slight and occasional drops) in docked mode, while in laptop its frame rate is maintained but its resolution drops to the usual 720p. His artistic direction has also seemed quite inspired to me and the special effects provide the minimum dose of spectacularity required in a title of this idiosyncrasy. It is not the most graphically advanced game of Switch, but without a doubt it is one of the most cutting-edge among those available in the eShop store exclusively.
The sound is not at all out of tune either, and to the already mentioned dialogues in English translated into our language is added a quite successful warmonger-sci fi soundtrack and very good sound effects.
“Okay”
Manticore Galaxy on Fire
Fishlabs’ remarkable space shooter for mobile formats has made the leap to Switch with a truly attractive version for its users. And it is no longer only one of the few representatives available within the genre on this console, but it also has enough quality to attract enough fans of this type of action game. A careful story and an attractive technical finish end up giving shape to a somewhat repetitive but very entertaining and lasting title.
- Space battles are rewarding and quite spectacular
- The story has much more weight than that lived in other shooters
- Technically it looks a good level, highlighting its quite stable 60fps
- Large number of main and side missions
- Development can end up being repetitive by its very nature
- Except for a couple of new missions and little else, the rest is the same already experienced in the mobile version
