While Steam Next Fest is over, I downloaded the demo for Birdcage, which is a shoot-em-up inspired by the games of Treasure (notably Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga), with storytelling and aesthetics that are a massive love letter to Metal Gear Solid. Which is a roundabout way of saying this is absolutely my jam.
Shoot-em-ups (or shmups, as their friends call them) are one of those genres that fell somewhat by the wayside after their peak in the late 1990s. The Sega Saturn and Dreamcast (as well as the arcades where a lot of these games debuted) were a hotbed for fantastic shooters that looked absolutely gorgeous. And while there have been occasional highlights like Geometry Wars and Platinum's Sol Cresta, it's not quite been the same.
