Sektori Switch 2 Review

Sektori Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2

I had never heard of Sektori before an email landed in my inbox suggesting I check it out. Touted as a Geometry Wars-inspired twin-stick shooter, Sektori combines that arcade heritage with a thumping techno soundtrack and some chaotic boss battles. What’s It Like? Warm up those thumbs, throw on some headphones, and turn that dial to 11 as we review Sektori on Nintendo Switch 2.

Sektori is a fast and furious twin-stick shooter with a twist. The levels constantly morph and change throughout gameplay, keeping you on your toes by throwing as many enemies at you as possible. This forces you to not only stay on the move at all times, but also remain aware of danger zones where the arena itself is about to shift and transform. Each enemy drops glimmer, which can be collected to unlock upgrades. Rather than using a traditional levelling system, Sektori gives you upgrade points that can either be spent immediately or banked for stronger abilities later on. You might save four upgrade points to unlock a shield, or five to unleash a missile barrage. If you choose not to cash them in before the final upgrade selection, you instead receive a gold upgrade, which works similarly to Vampire Survivors’ traditional three-slot upgrade system.

Some of these gold upgrades come with trade-offs. You might gain three additional missiles but lose your shield for 75 seconds, or upgrade your blaster while also triggering a massive enemy swarm that must be defeated before things calm down again. This system takes a little getting used to at first, and there were many times when I either forgot to save points or panicked and cashed in early for a shield. More often than not, that decision would end my run because I sacrificed long-term firepower for short-term protection. That gamble is one of the things that makes Sektori so exciting. The gold upgrades can also add drones that follow and fire on your behalf, along with formations that can dramatically change how successful a run becomes. Discovering combinations that worked for my playstyle became one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

Every so often, a boss will spawn, each bringing unique mechanics and their own bullet-dodging challenge to the battlefield. Defeating them is immensely satisfying, although while learning their patterns, they quickly become the skill-check roadblocks you begin to dread. I know I say this a lot in my roguelike reviews, but you will fail… a lot. Thankfully, every defeat only reinforced my enthusiasm to jump straight back into another run and keep blasting away.

A huge contributor to the addictive gameplay loop is the audio and visual design, both of which work hand in hand to enhance the pulse-inducing soundtrack that ramps up the further you progress. While runs may start off fairly tame, they eventually evolve into a ballet of chaotic explosions backed by a thumping techno beat that perfectly matches the rhythm of combat and your attacks on screen. Visually, Sektori embraces its arcade-inspired roots with a spectacle of neon colours, sharp geometric effects, and enough on-screen action to completely overwhelm the battlefield late into a run. At times, this can make it difficult to keep track of everything happening around you, and I even had a potato moment where I tried to outrun one of my own drones, thinking it was an enemy projectile. Still, despite all the chaos on screen, there’s nothing more satisfying than pulling off a perfectly timed strike manoeuvre that wipes out a swarm of enemies and clears a path when you are moments away from being cornered, and it all stays at a silky smooth framerate thorought the duration. The visuals and soundtrack complement each other beautifully, like pairing a great wine with an equally great meal. Playing with the headphones turned offensively loud is, in my humble opinion, the best way to experience the game.

For my technoheads looking into accessibility, Sektori includes several options to make the experience more accommodating. These include high-visibility indicators, toggles for beat and screen shake effects, adjustable colour indicators, and directional indicators. Given just how visually intense Sektori can become later in a run, these options are especially appreciated, but, as always, I recommend doing further research to determine whether the game suits your specific accessibility needs.

At $22.50 AUD, Sektori offers excellent value for money thanks to its strong replayability and variety of modes. Its addictive “one more run” approach to gameplay means you will accidentally lose hours chasing a higher score, climbing the leaderboards, or experimenting with new upgrade combinations, while the thumping techno soundtrack perfectly complements the chaotic visuals and fast-paced action. For me, Sektori was a wonderful surprise that took me back to the days of booting up Geometry Wars at the start of a Project Gotham Racing session, and even after countless failed runs, I still found myself diving straight back in for more. If you’re looking for a stylish twin-stick shooter with fantastic replay value and an incredible soundtrack, Sektori is absolutely worth turning the volume up for.

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