Pocky & Rocky Reshrined Switch Review

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined

Developed By: Natsume

Published By: ININ Games

Date of Release: June 24, 2022

Price: $29.99

In the vast world of the shoot-em-up (SHMUP) genre, a theme that often pops up is Japanese mythology. From the likes of Touhou to the classic Guwange, it's a topic that seems to fit quite well. And in the case of today's game, Pocky and Rocky Reshrined, it's clear that this title wears it's influences on it's adorable sleeve. Reshrined is essentially a reboot/sequel of the classic cute 'em up series, Kiki Kaikai.  Playing as the titular shrine maiden Pocky and her tanuki friend Rocky, it's up to the player to eliminate a host of mischievous Japanese spirits that are running amok.

It definitely helps that the gameplay in Reshrined is just as refined as in the original games. It's a scrolling shooter where you can fire your attacks in 8 directions while running around on foot as the stage scrolls about in different directions. It's definitely an effective gameplay system, and with the enemies coming from all directions it can get pretty hectic. Thankfully the fun factor is there. The graphics and soundtrack also do not disappoint, with lush visuals and rearranged tracks from the classic games. The presentation is well worth the price of admission alone.

Sadly not all things can be perfect. Pocky and Rocky Reshrined is only about 40-60 minutes long depending on your skill, though it is worth replaying again to improve on your score. There's also a bit of censorship on one of the characters outfits but seriously it doesn't detract from the gameplay in the slightest, and if you're going to skip the game/harass the devs over some missing cleavage, that doesn't speak very highly of your logic (seriously I've seen people wish bodily harm on the devs/localization team over it. What the hell?). All in all, Pocky and Rocky Reshrined is a worthy addition to the series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of either the series or the genre. Diehard fans should also check out the physical versions of the game at Pocky & Rocky Reshrined (gamesrocket.com)