Considering the fact that I’ve played a load of twin-stick shooters on the Switch, and just in general, I’d like to consider myself a true fan of that control style. Whether it’s arcade action or some roguelike craziness, in general I’ll sign up for it all. Whatever I may ultimately think of Look Mum No Computer, I’ll at least credit it for using twin-stick shooting as a controls, but delivering on a style of play using it I can’t say I’ve encountered to date, playing out almost like a shooting adventure-RPG of sorts.

Sharing its name with a YouTube channel that typically focuses on making music with odd and often home-made audio equipment, I suppose fans of the channel may have an extra angle for enjoyment. That said, for everyone else who is like me, if anything I’d say that gets it off to a shaky start, based on some past experiences that have felt like they were counting on name recognition, and a loyal fanbase, to buoy sales numbers for lackluster games. While there are some charming aspects to play, that’s sort of where I landed as a whole. You’ll explore a world constructed of computer hardware, blasting enemies, and looking to pick up gear and artifacts that you’ll use to upgrade either your weapons or some audio equipment weirdly enough. While you could argue that it makes the experience more unexpected and demonstrates creativity, I’m not sure that a great deal of fun managed to come along for the ride.

A lot of the issues stem from the controls being a little sluggish and dodgy, and the top-down view and pixel art style making it hard to tell what’s an obstacle and what isn’t at times. There’s no doubt that the same art style gives the game some charm, and that you’ll be exploring unfamiliar territory when compared to your average adventure like this. The problem is that there’s an associated cost, and the fact that your shooting feels a little imprecise doesn’t help matters. Just as a whole, I understand that the game’s charm and unique qualities are meant to help carry the day, but the underlying mechanics and actual gameplay still need to be of sufficient quality to help the game stand out. Unfortunately I’d say the results in that area are inconsistent at best, making for a more half-hearted recommendation for fans, or for people looking for something that’s simply different.