PGC NEWS

The gaming landscape has seen a surge of indie developers capturing attention with innovative titles that break free from repetitive formulas. Among them, Vampire Survivors exploded onto the scene in 2022, becoming a global phenomenon and even earning a “The Game Awards” nomination. Its success spawned a subgenre of “bullet hell” known as “bullet heaven,” inspiring numerous imitators like Brotato, 20 Minutes Till Dawn, and HoloCure. Champion Shift joins these ranks, aiming to add its own unique twist to the genre. But does it succeed? Let’s dive in and find out.

Transforming the Bullet Heaven Formula

Champion Shift's gameplay features characters transforming into vehicles.

Imagine King Arthur or the goddess Athena transforming into a vehicle. This unconventional concept lies at the heart of Champion Shift. The game wastes no time introducing this mechanic, showcasing Arthur’s vehicular transformation right from the start, reminiscent of Transformers.

Like most bullet heaven games, Champion Shift features straightforward gameplay. Attacks are automated, leaving players to focus on movement and dodging enemy projectiles. Defeated enemies drop experience points, allowing players to level up and choose new skills or upgrades. This loop continues until the final boss is defeated, unlocking higher difficulty levels.

Champion Shift's characters can transform into vehicles equipped with powerful weapons.

The transformation mechanic isn’t just for show. These vehicles can be equipped with powerful weapons, like shotguns, missiles, and plasma whips, dealing significantly more damage than standard skills. However, their usage is limited and depletes quickly with movement and damage taken.

Roguelike Elements and Meta Progression

Champion Shift features various characters and skills to unlock.

Champion Shift further differentiates itself by incorporating roguelike elements and meta-progression. Each stage presents various objectives, like survival, target elimination, and item retrieval, adding structure and guidance for newcomers. Completing three objectives summons the stage boss. Defeating the boss unlocks new areas or higher difficulty levels within the current area. After clearing five areas, players can directly challenge the final boss.

Meeting specific requirements unlocks new characters and skills, each with unique attributes, keeping the gameplay fresh. Resources earned during runs can be used to upgrade stats and unlock new playstyles. Investing in vehicle-related upgrades is highly recommended, as they significantly impact combat effectiveness.

Room for Improvement

Champion Shift's user interface and feedback could be improved.

Despite its innovative ideas, Champion Shift suffers from several shortcomings that hinder the overall experience. The feedback for leveling up and selecting skills is lacking, providing little sense of reward. Furthermore, once all skills and passives are unlocked, progression feels limited to minor damage increases, which are overshadowed by the power of the vehicle transformations.

Champion Shift's level design and enemy behavior can be frustrating.

While the objectives add depth to the gameplay loop, the level design presents a significant flaw. Some levels are overly complex, with multiple layers and confusing layouts, forcing players to search for objectives amidst swarms of enemies. Technical issues, like lingering enemy skills after death and floating environmental hazards, further detract from the experience.

Conclusion

Champion Shift offers an intriguing blend of bullet heaven action and roguelike elements, with its unique transforming mechanic adding a distinct flavor. However, the game’s underdeveloped aspects, including its lackluster feedback, unbalanced progression, and flawed level design, prevent it from reaching its full potential. With further refinement and polish, Champion Shift could become a truly standout title in the genre. As it stands, it feels more like an Early Access title with potential rather than a fully realized experience.