Pawarumi

Pawarumi is a vital, beautiful and utterly enthralling entry in the Shmup genre. Its trifecta of concepts might seem daunting at first, but this is an instinctual shooter that will blow fans of the genre away.

I feel like I should start this review by praising the developers of Pawarumi for the wacky concept they came up with when designing their game. I can barely think of any games that feature art and lore inspired by pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, let alone a space shooter that borrows these elements without feeling forced as a result. Pawarumi’s Aztec influences are very apparent, from the usage of sacred animal imagery such as jaguars and eagles, to the characters and their names.

A great game that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch.

Ultimately then, unless you’re a score chaser, your fun with Pawarumi is likely to be a short-lived affair. It’s an exciting game that feels surprisingly unique, but there just isn’t much to it. Depending on your skill level, you might be done with it in just a matter of hours. Though chances are you’ll return to it in the future for a quick blast of futuristic Aztec shoot ’em up fun.

PAWARUMI has got a unique mechanic, but it is brutally difficult in more ways than one. The color mechanic is not as intuitive as Ikaruga's, but those looking for something with great aesthetics will appreciate what is present here.

Overall, Pawarumi is a short, but enjoyable experience. With only five levels, most of the game time comes from trying for a higher score or practicing levels over and over to get further in arcade mode. The gameplay itself is enjoyable, so if the repetition doesn’t bother you, you’ll probably enjoy it. If it does, you’ll probably just have a few fun hours and that’s about it.