Game: The Art of Flight
Genre: Action, Arcade
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer|Publisher: Et Al Games | Page to Pixel Publishing
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Playable
Price: US $8.99 | UK £7.65 | EU € 8,77
Release Date: April 7th, 2025
A review code was provided, and many thanks to et al. Games.
The Art of Flight – Chaotic Fun in Space
The Art of Flight takes the spirit of classic arcade shooters and gives it a chaotic twist by letting you control multiple ships at once. It’s a bold and unique take on the bullet-hell genre, blending twitch reflexes with light strategy and offering a package that’s as fun in co-op as it is alone.
At its core, the concept is smart. Instead of losing lives one by one, you control an entire squadron of ships simultaneously. If one is shot down, your fleet shrinks until they’re all gone, then it’s game over. It’s a refreshing change from traditional life counters and gives the game a sense of momentum, where managing your entire formation becomes a key part of the gameplay.
Fleet Management Meets Bullet Hell
Where the game shines is when you’re juggling a handful of ships, boosting, weaving through waves of enemies, and collecting power-ups mid-chaos. There’s a real thrill when you’re able to gather a full fleet and unleash synchronized attacks. When it clicks, The Art of Flight turns into a spectacle of screen-filling destruction, and it feels good.
Each ship can be individually selected for focus, letting you manually reposition it using the game’s “Solo” mechanic. This allows you to briefly pause the action (at least for the other ships), and plan out tactical movements. While this feature introduces a cool layer of strategy, it also slows down the game’s pacing. For a genre that’s traditionally fast and twitchy, this can be a mixed blessing. Some players will enjoy the added control, while others may find it breaks the adrenaline-fueled flow.
A Lot of Modes, A Lot of Chaos
There’s a healthy amount of content here, especially for fans of short-burst arcade sessions. Best of all, everything is playable in local co-op with up to four players. Endless Mode is easily the highlight; it’s the roguelike core of the game where randomized levels, enemies, and power-ups keep each run feeling different. Other modes like Defend the Mothership, Pacifist Mode (where you’re dodging instead of fighting), and Ring Chase (fly through a series of rings) add nice variety, though they lack the punch of the core endless mode.
Versus Mode, however, does require at least two players. Those who like to sharpen their skills can also jump into individual segments from Endless Mode to practice or simply enjoy a favourite stage.
Presentation: Serviceable but Unremarkable
Visually, The Art of Flight keeps things basic. The background is a standard space setting with little variety, and the sprite work feels functional rather than flashy. It’s not ugly by any means, but compared to modern indie shooters or pixel-heavy retro tributes, it lacks standout flair.
The soundtrack is an interesting experiment. It’s dynamic, meant to shift with your actions, but the relaxed tempo doesn’t always match the on-screen chaos. It occasionally feels like the music is out of sync with the gameplay’s intensity, which can be jarring. A more energetic or reactive score would have helped sell the adrenaline-fueled vibe.
Accessibility & Controls
Control-wise, the game plays best with a gamepad. Each ship has a boost, a lock-on missile, and a standard fire option. Power-ups are easy to use, and collecting them on the fly adds a light risk-reward element. For those who want a more relaxed experience, the game includes accessibility options to tweak the speed to slow things down, something more shooters should adopt.
Conclusion: Coming into Land
The Art of Flight injects the arcade shooter with some fresh, chaotic fun. Controlling multiple ships at once is a clever gimmick that offers both challenge and satisfaction, especially when you manage to fill your screen with a small fleet of death machines. The strategic elements slow things down a bit, which won’t be for everyone, but they do give the game a layer of depth.
It’s not the most visually stunning or aurally thrilling space shooter out there, but it delivers where it counts: fun, frantic gameplay, and great couch co-op. If you’re looking for a short-burst shooter to dip into solo or with friends, this is definitely worth a flight.
Final Verdict: I Like it
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