Schildmaid MX is a horizontal shoot ’em-up from first-time developer HitP Studio. Studio head Michiel kindly got in touch with Fusion to explain that it’s currently awaiting release on consoles but has been on Steam since March of this year. We’ve given this PC version a go and given our thoughts in this review.
Like any shmup, you’re charged with protecting the planet from impending doom and go on a one-man mission to take on the enemy. You start the game with three different ships to choose from. Each one has a corresponding difficulty which equates to power, speed and homing abilities.
There are five levels to clear each with three stages. Those who get good at Schildmaid MX will quickly realise that there are secrets to unlock that amount to bonus boss stages that are very fun to play and add a little variety to proceedings. These grand set pieces really show off the bright pixel art and are well worth uncovering.
Your ship can be upgraded through a clever system of bullet absorption. You first must absorb a purple bullet that opens up your shield gauge, from there you can consume blue bullets that slowly upgrade your ship with better weaponry. If your shield depletes you will need to start them again but your upgrades stay. It sounds complicated but is deliciously simple when seen in action.
The other gameplay feature is your super move that slowly builds as you destroy enemies. Don’t be scared to use it as it builds fast and becomes your lifesaver when homing rockets and large laser beams have you penned down. It destroys most things on screen and plays a crucial role in clearing the screen in those tough moments.
The scoring system is directly related to your weapon upgrades and shield. Max out your firepower and keep your shield going and you start to absorb yellow bonus bullet combos that rack up high scores that score chasers will love to keep going. This is where the game really shines as it’s rewarding to see the big combo meter keep building alongside your general multiplier.
Schildmaid MX controls well but only supports d-pad on the Steam version. This is fine as most fans of these games will want that precise eight-way directional control. If you prefer to use an analogue stick you can switch this in the options. The menus are clean and you use in-game currency to unlock several new modes. These add some longevity as well as harder difficulties for those who have mastered the standard game.
The pixel art and music are excellent and there is a great mix of old-school and modern that blends well to create a feast for the eyes. My only real complaint is that many of the end-of-stage bosses are similar-looking and there isn’t much variety in these fights. The obvious answer to this is to get better at the game to unlock the excellent secret bosses but it’s a shame these are hidden until you crack the level.
Overall, Schildmaid MX is a well-made shmup that fans of the genre will enjoy exploring. The gameplay systems are well thought out and there is longevity here as some of the unlockable modes are really tough. Certainly one for experienced players, but newbies can always use the checkpoint system to learn the mechanics.
This looks grand!