The art and aesthetics of Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress grabbed my attention when looking at new games. I got a message about getting a game request and instantly took it! I am glad I did.
Game Name: Shikon-X: Astro Defense Fortress
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PC (Reviewed)
Developer(s): Developer: Kindermann Corp.
Publisher(s): Treasure Bay
Release Date: August 7th, 2024
Price: $9.99
Major Daala is the best pilot that the federation has to offer. She gets shot down in one of her missions to protect energy capsules from being stolen by the Rolars, an alien army that the federation is warring against. As she is working on getting herself back to the main base she gets information about the roots of the Rolars. It is up to you as Daala to figure out who the Rolars are and how to get back to the Federation base in one piece.
The Good
Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress has a variety of ways to engage the player. Shikon X includes mini-games that are similar to other games like Breakout, Pinball, or Galaga. Completing the story includes being competent enough in all three of them. It diversifies the gameplay regularly. However, you can quit and play any of the mini-games at any time if you don’t want to continue the story.
Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress is created with the mentality of being a point-and-click narrative game. What this means is that every step of the game is essentially a logic puzzle. The logic puzzles themselves are pretty satisfying to figure out. They are also pretty simple once you understand the problem.
There is a really good blend of pixel art and hand-drawn art. I love the way the characters are designed and also things make sense once you meet the Rolars for the first time. This just adds more immersion to the world of the Federation and the Rolars.
The Bad
For most Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress the logic puzzles are pretty simple and talking to people makes things stand out. There are certain parts though that the logic is not the most logical. You have to always double-check your inventory and make sure you press interact on them in case they have something different on them. This did make me get stuck at some sections thinking I needed something else to figure out a puzzle just for the answer being using an inventory item on nothing.
I felt like I was just getting into the groove of playing Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress once it was about to end. The game is pretty show. I finished the full game in two and a half hours. I did spend a good chunk on the mini-games. You are probably able to finish the game within an hour if you want to speed-run it.
The Verdict
Overall Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress is a fun time. It is not a long fun time, but it has a fun story, simple mechanics, and logic puzzles and is a satisfying game to complete. If you are looking for an inexpensive game you can finish in a night, this is the one for you.
Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress is available on Nintendo Switch and PC.
Review Disclosure Statement: Shikon X Astro Defence Fortress was provided to us by Treasure Bay for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.
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Summary
Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress is an easy recommendation for those who want a small yet fun and engaging point-and-click experience.
Pros
- Simple yet satisfying logic puzzles
- Gorgeous Art
- Humor and reference-filled fun story
Cons
- Short game
- Some of the solutions can be a bit head-scratching in confusion.
