Title: ION Shift

Developer: Electro Soul Games

Publisher: Flynn’s Arcade

Available On: July 31st 2025

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2

Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch 2

Introduction

Ion Shift is a fast-paced 2D platformer in a science fiction setting.

Synopsis

Take on the role of a quick little alien species aboard a hostile craft in space.

Analysis

Control a fast alien creature aboard a spacecraft. You must run, leap, avoid, and attack your way through the chaos. If you want to escape in one piece you must showcase, stealth, precision, and accuracy against the enemy.

The gameplay

ION Shift puts you into the nimble body of an alien aboard a not so friendly spaceship. Filled with plenty of deadly traps, sentient robots, and resourceful soldiers, you have a small chance of surviving. Use the skills presented to you to remain intact and alive.

The game has 16 levels with plenty of difficulty, with a range that seems like it’s set from unforgiving to near impossible. The narrative is not the focus here and quickly becomes all about gameplay.  The game focuses mainly on stealth, precision, and survival. Get through and you are rewarded with the next set of traps and tribulations.

Your alien can crawl on walls, floors, and ceilings trying to avoid traps and the laser sights of soldiers. You use your controls to make educated leaps to avoid danger and sneak up on the enemy. You can also hold items and weapons to use and throw at the threats you encounter. You must use the environment to your advantage to proceed and complete the stage.

The game forces you to plan a route so you can reach your ultimate goal of escape. Through constant trial and error of figuring out where you must crawl, linger, and leap you must carefully locate items to use, while timing your progression to avoid death. The levels have mini checkpoints between areas that will help with the unforgiving pursuit ahead. Crawl fast enough towards an enemy and strike it before it strikes you.   

The levels are dark, metallic, and dimly lit. The neon color scheme shines amongst the dark silhouettes of enemies and obstacles. Sometimes the darkness bleeds into the enemies making them almost camouflage with the background giving you more things to watch out for. Dangers all around, but you must hone your skills to parkour through the space-themed corridors.

Final Score

ION Shift combines stealth, platforming, and careful planning and pairs it with fast-paced enemies, a fitting environment, and a corresponding soundtrack. ION Shift takes a known formula and adds its own flare by combining a platforming motif with a varying scale of difficulty coupled with the players skill. It makes for both a fun and frustrating marriage.

Some of the issues I had were also part of its identity. Learning how to navigate and move around in the platformer was part of the fun, but also a point of frustration for me. It is always fun to test a level through trial and error, but I found some issues with the sensitivity of the action. I would often under or overshoot my action where I thought I would be safe ended up with death. Normally once I learn how to perform a move or set of actions I can navigate well, but when I put this down for a day and come back to it, I found that I had to relearn everything. Getting back into the rhythm was hard, but again it is part of the process.

This game is worth a shot, especially if you like some challenge. The space-themed ambience and dark atmosphere make the game feel dire and hopeless, making it feel great when you get to the next checkpoint or finish a level. I hope you are up for the challenge and give it a chance.

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Shane Kelley is a Senior writer for Boss Rush Network, as well as a writer for Another Zelda Podcast. His favorite game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can find him on X or Bluesky to talk video games, Marvel, cribbage, and axe throwing.

Images: taken by author