Sektori from developer Kimmo Lahtinen is what I’d like to call a work of art. And before I get questioned heavily here for stating such, there’s a lot to unpack here as to why. Honestly, this is one of the best twin-stick shooter games I’ve played in ages!
So what exactly is Sektori, and why is it so good? Let’s get right into it.
Sektori
Players in Sektori will take on the role of a geometric-shaped ship and begin blasting away at enemies in an ever-changing and evolving battlefield. No two runs in Sektori will ever be the same because of the way the game plays out. You can collect upgrades, and these can be held onto until you have enough to trigger your desired effect. For example, you can collect upgrades and hold on to them until you reach the “Strike” level and then choose to upgrade that aspect of your ship.
Alternatively, you could choose to upgrade your shields instead. These upgrades are collected on the battlefield as soon as you’ve amassed enough of a yellow resource that enemies drop when blown up.
Playing through levels in Sektori involves weaving your way in and out of enemy ships, walls, bombs, traps and more while amassing resources and upgrades. Fight through enough waves, and you’ll face off against a boss enemy, and these are very challenging. Don’t be surprised to die within the first 2 minutes of playing this game. Sektori is absolutely brutal but oh so rewarding once you get the hang of things.
That’s where this game truly excels. One run through the game will suddenly turn into two and then three, and before you know it, you’ve pushed yourself a tiny bit further with every single run and boom, you’ve been playing for 2 hours straight. This game is ridiculously enjoyable and extremely addictive despite being extremely difficult to beat.
If you’ve ever played Geometry Wars back in the day, Sektori will feel right at home with you. Where it differs lies with the fact that Geometry Wars 3 had levels to get through. This is one action-packed bullet-fest, and the deliberately obscure upgrade system works wonders in getting you hooked. Once you’ve figured out that stacking upgrades and collecting resources are key to victory, you’ll soon be applying different strategies, such as using your “Strikes” to take out waves of enemies with no mercy.
An additional layer of strategy is also available in the form of an “Artefact” upgrade system that lets you “Evolve” yourself based on 8 card decks that are unlocked and selected as you get through the game. These card decks allow you to mix and match even more upgrades and really spice things up immensely if you get lucky with your evolutions.
You can also collect score tokens as well as letters which spell out a word which triggers an invulnerability state, and the first time this happens is truly mesmerising.
Gameplay
Gameplay in Sektori requires a certain level of skill at dodging and firing at the same time. If you’re used to “Bullet Hell” shooters, you’ll love this game. It’s a great test of hand-eye coordination as well as a visual feast for the eyes. Every single frame of this game is packed with flashy lights, enemies, visual effects and colours, so if you’re sensitive to any of that, you’d best avoid this game completely. Sektori looks fantastic in action, and you need to pay attention lest you get blown up nin o time from being complacent.
Bosses in Sektori are quite varied, and since you never know which one you’re going to get, it really keeps you alert, especially in your early few runs when you’re still getting to grips with things. For example, I got a boss enemy that encircled me and had cores firing off massive flaming lasers at me. It was, quite frankly, terrifying to say the least! Truly spectacular stuff here, having to dodge giant flaming lasers in an absolute panic.
Graphics & Sound
Sektori’s soundtrack is also amazing, with adrenaline-pumping electro music that honestly would fit right in at any self-respecting rave. It fits the theme of the game perfectly, and since the visual effects tend to match up with the soundtrack and sound effects too, it’s honestly crafted to perfection.
Replayability & Final Thoughts
Sektori is the type of game that you’ll want to play on a Steam Deck on your daily commute every single day for the next month. It will immediately hook you and won’t let go until you’re done with it or have perfected your bullet-dodging skills. Yes, there’s plenty of games in the genre already, but man, Sektori seemingly came out of nowhere and just knocked it straight out of the park. It really scratched the itch I had for a game like this that blends twin-stick action with random elements.
I do have a few minor gripes about the game’s menu looking very basic and the sheer cliff face of a learning curve here, but these are things that can be overlooked given how enjoyable the game is. Push on through after your first few runs, and you’ll see what I mean about this game being super addictive.
Overall, Sektori comes highly recommended from me, especially if you’ve played Geometry Wars 3 back in the day or if you’re a fan of bullet hell twin-stick shooters. The game has a steep learning curve, but it’s really worth playing, and the added difficulties plus additional game modes that can be unlocked as you progress make this well worth diving into. Give it a try, chances are you’ll love it!
Sektori Launch Trailer
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The game was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
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