The idea seems very simple on paper – get a full crew of cute and cuddly animals, put them in equally cute space pods, and tear through the solar system on a quest to save humanity.
When it comes to intimidating video game genres, few are as imposing as the shoot ‘em up (or ‘shmup’ if you’re pressed for time). Games like Ikaruga or Mushihimesama are notorious for their high skill ceiling and even higher bullet count. It can definitely feel a little overwhelming watching these games in action, let alone actually jumping headfirst into one, but thankfully there are plenty of newcomer friendly options out there to cut your teeth on. B.ARK is one such example, and I’d even go as far as saying it’s one of the most accessible shmups you can dive into if you’re looking for an easy way in.
"B.ARK definitely looks like a promising shmup with its cartoon visuals and variety of animal chums but it falls apart at the seams when you compare it to its genre predecessors. It's still kind of fun at times, though, especially with its 4 player co-op component." - A.J. Maciejewski from Video Chums
Allison from Controller Crusade writes: "I’ve developed a deep appreciation for couch co-ops that manage to engross not only your game-obsessed friends but your novice gamer friends, as well. The game has to balance between engaging and challenging while still being simple enough to catch on quickly. B.ARK is, without a doubt, one of those games."
