PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate (v2016.01.08)

A tiny rescue craft turns hostile caverns into a chain reaction of lava, water, gas, ice, and panic. PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate combines twin-stick shooting with environmental problem-solving, sending you beneath alien planets to locate stranded scientists after a disastrous research mission. Its clean, colorful presentation keeps the mood playful even when a tunnel floods, a lava stream cuts off your escape route, or an enemy gets dissolved by something deeply unpleasant. Beneath that approachable arcade surface sits a surprisingly thoughtful physics-driven adventure.

Each level asks you to pilot carefully, aim in every direction, free survivors, and find a safe route back to the exit. Weapons break rock and trigger hazards, while a grappling tool lets you reposition ice blocks, clear passages, and contain dangerous materials. The standout feature is the fluid simulation: water cools lava into solid rock, flammable gas ignites, magnetic oil behaves differently from ordinary liquids, and every substance can become either a weapon or a problem. Scientists must survive the trip home, so reckless firing and poorly planned shortcuts can turn a simple rescue into a frantic recovery operation. The full campaign joins the original Shooter and its sequel into one 150-level run, with solo play and local co-op available for players who want to coordinate rescues together.

Ultimate’s biggest strength is how naturally its puzzles emerge from the same systems that power combat. Rather than stopping for separate brainteasers, you constantly improvise with terrain, pressure, fluids, and enemy placement while maintaining the precise movement of an arcade shooter. Enhanced lighting, refreshed effects, two visual styles, and a photo mode give the package more polish, while online Battle mode adds competitive chaos beyond the campaign. Fans of games like Lemmings, Worms, or classic arcade shooters who enjoy experimenting with physics will find plenty to like, and its gradual introduction of new hazards makes it welcoming to newcomers without becoming shallow for veterans.