Paying homage to games such as Robotron 2084, or the more modern (but almost certainly qualifying for retro status itself now) Geometry Wars, Satryn DX is a contemporary twin stick shooter that feels as if it’s stepped through a hole in time, direct from the arcades of the early 80s.

I’ve played an awful lot of old school video games recently, mostly thanks to having an Evercade and an Atari 2600+, and though it’s great to play those punishing retro games, it’s cool to discover a new one that’s brimming with the tension and pulse pounding, relentless pace that you’d find in the original titles.

There’s hardly any concessions to modernity here, though you will find that Satryn DX isn’t quite as punishing as it looks or feels at first.

In Satryn DX, you’ll make your way around single screen arenas, dodging bad guys and their offensive firepower as you try to rescue vulnerable, cute little glowing dudes from the battlefield.

You get three lives, though you can earn another for every 60 friends you save (which is easier said than done!). Enemies are varied in terms of their looks and attack patterns, and the overall aesthetic is one of neon-on-black minimalism, which looks beautiful in motion; again hearkening back to those early arcade titles.

It’s a lot of fun, and very addictive; if you’re a fan of old school twin stick shooters, this is definitely a game you need to play. If that’s not your thing, it’s not like Satryn DX will convert you, but it does what it sets out to do very well indeed.

Many thanks to publisher Flynn’s Arcade for providing me with a key for Satryn DX for review purposes.