Review - Sektori

Roberto Nieves
60 minutes ago
5 min read

Developer: Kimmo Lahtinen

Publisher: Kimmo Factor Oy

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch 2

In every combat-heavy game, there is the flow state. It's an indescribable feeling in which controlling a game feels fluid, sublime, almost like second nature. You don't have to think about the controls or the rules. Everything just comes naturally. This flow state makes certain games extraordinarily rewarding. It's the making of exciting gameplay, and the hallmarks of strong game design.

Kimmo Lahtinen has made a game all about flow state, Sektori. This colorful hyper-arcade twin stick shooter is a kaleidoscope of color, sound, and tight gameplay. It's an extraordinary demonstration of flow state, and the game is engaging, but brace yourself for quite the challenge. With thumping techno music and strong gameplay, Sektori is an extraordinary experience for those who dare.

Begin Sequence

Sektori is a twin-stick shooter. Players are put into simple arenas and have to fight swarms upon swarms of enemies, all in small geometric battlefields. After some time, players face a gargantuan boss that tests their mettle and skill. The goal of Sektori is simply to survive and rack up the highest score possible, building chains and collecting power-ups. That's the basic premise of Sektori. However, peel back the surface, and there is a surprising amount of depth to the gameplay.

In the sea of geometrically shaped enemies and dazzling colors, there are various mechanics to Sektori. For starters, the game takes place in a formless void. Strange visual apparitions appear and surround the arena. The arena itself is a constantly changing battlefield in which hazards and danger are constantly occurring at every instant. What may be a safe moment in an arena can easily shift into something deadly.

Sectors and Sectors

What is a blank area becomes a wall. What feels like a safe area flashes in red, meaning imminent death. The battlefield is amorphous, constantly changing in ways that are unpredictable and not routine. Every playthrough challenges players with the shifts in the environment, and that is just the beginning. One moment, a wall forms. Another moment, a jumping platform appears. Sektori is a game where paying attention to visual cues matters.

Every single pixel and bit is an enemy. Most of the time, these shapes try to collide with you, but eventually they start shooting back. Even early on in the game, Sektori holds no punches. The game bombards the screen with enemies in various formations and orientations. Between the changing battlefield, enemies, and the strange backgrounds, it's a visual overload. This is all before a stage-clearing boss fight that truly tests players' skills.

Bullet Hell

The bosses come in various forms. Sektori has five bosses that fill the screen and overwhelm the player. Fortunately, Sektori does guide players as to where to target next but this is a boss and it is pulling every trick in the book to destroy you. From serpents to strange machines, these bosses are not easy and stop at nothing. The bossess challenge everything a player knows and defeating one is euphoric.

When accompanied by the changing battlefield, Sektori is very easily overwhelming. Some players may be disuaded by this outrageous assault of visual information. Players will die early and often when trying to master Sektori. However, beneath the enemy overload is an incredibly strong shooter, especially those disciplined to learn and grow with the game.

Geometry Wars

Kimmo Lahtinen is the solo game developer who made Sektori. His previous works feature several acclaimed titles over at Housemarque, including my personal favorite Dead Nation and Resogun. These games were all about ebb and flow. Resogun, in particular, combines shooting and boosting to achieve a state of flow, which involves shooting enemies and rescuing the last humans. Once that flow state is achieved, the gameplay gels together to provide incredible feedback of fun and enjoyment.

Sektori is the same way. There is movement, shooting, and avoiding getting hit. Your ship, a simple triangle, has one blaster, but there are tricks up its sleeve. The ship can use the strike attack. This boost attack can get players out of a bad situation. Striking into certain objects allows for a chain to be made. Learning the strike is essential for survival and racking up points. Once these basic mechanics are achieved, Sektori becomes extraordinary.

Adapt and Evolve

The most important mechanics to Sektori are to adapt and evolve. During the changing battlefield, small blue flares will erupt. These are called selectors. The selector allows small upgrades such as speed, shield, and score. Gaining these selectors is essential for survival, especially for gaining shields. Then, there is evolution, where every choice matters for those daring to go long in the campaign.

Evolution power-ups introduce new additions to the gameplay, such as the ability to fire in multiple directions or use missiles. These cards must be chosen wisely, as they can tip the scales in a sea of enemies. Other evolutions include drones and the ability to zap nearby enemies.

Change or Die

Sektori takes a little bit to get used to, especially with the sensory overload of the music and visuals, but once that settles in, Sektori is extraordinarily engaging. Sektori becomes this fever dream of color and blasting, with a thumping soundtrack to carry players through. Each moment carries an intensity and an unpredictability that I haven't seen in games before. Sektori becomes an incredible game, and I couldn't help but remember why I love the twin-stick shooter genre in the first place.

Housemarque is the king of twin-stick shooters, and you can feel the DNA from that studio in Sektori. Everything feels extremely tight and refined, and every movement is a split-second decision. Once you enter the flow state, it's hard to let go. Sektori becomes a wonderfully engaging twin-stick shooter when everything comes together.

For Those Who Dare

Sektori does have a price. The game is hard. Perhaps too hard. It's a game that harkens back to old-school arcade gameplay, but here, there are no continues. The player's health is measured by how many shields they can carry. Once a player dies, it's game over. To that end, Sektori will appeal to the hardcore gamer who wants to pour many hours into learning the craft and getting better with each subsequent run.

Having said that, I do feel like there could have been continues and extra lives for those that do want to make it to the end and warm up to the game's challenges. This could be an introductory game to twin-stick shooters, and such a difficulty could allow players to ease into the genre and understand the mechanics. I'm a believer in reachability, and while Sektori is reachable, it may be discouraging for but only the most hardcore of challengers. Additionally, I do believe a small narrative would have been a nice addition.

Embrace Sektori

I do encourage players to play Sektori despite the punishing difficulty, as the presentation and gameplay are top-notch and remarkable. Plus, it is impossible to resist pursuing that high score and making it to the end. Additionally, there are 6 additional game modes to pursue, from Boss Rush Mode to Assault Mode to Classic mode, creating an experience for all player types.

It may not be for everyone, but Sektori is a fierce and unrelenting twin-stick shooter filled with color and powered by bass. It's a game that brings the formula back to basics and reminds players of the intricacies and sheer fun of the genre. Sektori is an intense experience that will keep you coming back for more.