Sky Force Reloaded

Game InformerAndrew Reiner

8.5/10

Sky Force Reloaded is a bit unusual in design. Grinding for levels has more to do with your progress than the skill of weaving through a sea of bullets. This may sound like a dreadful approach to a vertical-scrolling shooter, but Sky Force Reloaded succeeds in making almost every second matter – whether it’s victory over a challenging boss or defeat to a basic enemy. Your ship is continually evolving, gaining better weapons, shields, and even the addition of A.I.-controlled assistants. The degree to which the ship improves is significant – almost comically so – giving players the firepower to ...

Pure NintendoKaelyn Daugherty

8/10

Sky Force Reloaded is the sequel to the highly acclaimed Sky Force, first available as a mobile game and then later released on the Wii U eShop. This awesome, f

Nintendo World ReportXander Morningstar

8/10

I had a great experience playing Sky Force Reloaded, and will keep playing it when I want to be doing something on my Switch that isn’t as big of a commitment of an RPG like Xenoblade. It doesn’t do anything revolutionary for the genre, playing it safe in all regards. It has a lot of content in an enjoyable package. The loop of short, quick play sessions is addicting, and an experience I did not expect to have as much fun with as I did.

GamingTrendElisha Deogracias

80/100

Sky Force Reloaded is a great shoot-em-up for the Nintendo Switch, and is enjoyable for the hardened veteran and newbie alike. The intense gameplay and enjoyable progression system just kept me coming back for more, and will provide hours upon hours of enjoyment.

If you’re a fan of classic shooters who’s made it this far into the review, you’ve probably scoffed once or twice at all the modernised concessions Infinite Dreams have made to the shmup formula. What makes Sky Force work so well, though, is the thought and care which went into keeping the gameplay balanced – and it’s hard to appreciate just how narrowly the game’s design teeters. Had the developers made the upgrades too impactful, it would have trivialised the game’s challenges, while weakening the upgrades would make them feel needless and tacked-on. It’s a testament to the d…

Video ChumsA.J. Maciejewski

6.9/10

When you boot up a sequel to a shoot 'em up, you expect some kind of innovative gameplay mechanics. Although Reloaded feels pretty much the same as last year's Sky Force Anniversary, does it offer enough new content to be a worthy sequel?

VGChartzEvan Norris

6/10

A vexing grind holds back an otherwise content-rich, enjoyable old-school shooter.Sky Force Reloaded is that strangest of games, one where its greatest strength is simultaneously its greatest weakness. [...]

Gamers HeroesCasey Scheld

40/100

Sky Force Reloaded is the FDA generic version of the shoot-em-up. Everything is so plain, and the lack of personality will dissuade all but the most hardcore of shmup fans.

COGConnectedStephan Adamus

40/100

I really liked the odd characters that popped up to give the game a narrative. And levels have one semi-unique mechanic, like rescuing people, which is accomplished by hovering over them for a set amount of time.

TheSixthAxisTuffcub

Unscored

I’m really surprised just how much I enjoyed Sky Force Reloaded, the first time I loaded it up I was playing it for five hours non-stop and at no point was I bored. Adding grind to a shoot ’em up sounds terrible but it’s a genius idea to counter the shoot ’em up’s traditionally short playtime. By adding the challenges, the act of replaying a level twenty or more times never gets boring. I am now going to bestow on Sky Force the highest honour I can give it: It reminds me of SWIV.