Obama Bullet Hell on an Alien Planet

The whole campaign works in online co-op, and that is the way to play it. You and a friend cross the planet together, take on the four bosses side by side, and turn every dodge and mistimed grapple into a shared story. It is short enough to finish in one sitting, which makes it a perfect evening: jump into a lobby, fight a god-forsaken creature or two, compare notes on the quirky locals, done. The joke of a title is funnier with someone watching, and the fights are easier and livelier with a second sword.

There are no regular enemies anywhere: the game is built around its four bosses, and each one fights differently. The loop is simple and tense. Their magic shield shrugs off your sword, so you keep your distance and zap it with magic while a storm of bullets fills the screen. The shield drops, and for a few seconds the boss is open. That is your window: grapple in, slash, and get out before the barrage starts again. The fourth fight leans more on platforming than the others, and it is a highlight.

Movement is where this game earns its keep. You have three jumps, a levitate, and a grappling hook that latches onto anything, including air, and yanks you toward where you aimed. Chain it with jumps to keep your momentum rolling across the overworld, or use it to close the distance on a boss right as its shield breaks. It also carries you through the platforming puzzles, some of which hide shortcuts: one vertical stretch can be skipped by hugging a wall, another chunk by hooking a lamp. Explorers will find secrets and easter eggs tucked around the map.