Since there are loads of types of shooters on the Switch, it’s typically pretty hard to show up with something that feels exciting and new. We’ve obviously seen plenty of retro arcade, twin-stick, roguelike, and first-person shooters, but I can’t say that I can recall many, if any, cases where the style of play would best be described as a shooting adventure. Now having played Star of Providence I can say that I’ve checked that variety off the list though.

More often than not feeling like a base of classic arcade shooting sensibilities, then mixed with puzzle and adventure elements, this just feels like something new, and that really makes me happy. The fact that it is built on a roguelike base is also a plus, since the layout of what’s effectively each dungeon level is then almost always throwing surprises at you. Whether that’s a string of tougher rooms, or perhaps a couple of key upgrades that can turn around even the most miserable of runs, you’ll thankfully be kept on your toes throughout.

Of course, compared to some of its brethren the diversity isn’t quite all it can be, and quicker than many you’ll begin seeing repetition creep in. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, especially since the degree of challenge with bosses in particular tends to be pretty high. Another area that could use some help is by making it easier to see helpful descriptions of what it is you’re picking up or choosing, since overall this felt scattershot and while I generally assumed what I was picking up would help, it also tended to feel trial and error quite often.

All that said, while this may be a pretty humble title in overall execution, the blend of elements of play you don’t normally see combined with one another still makes it feel pretty special. There are absolutely plenty of roguelike elements you’d expect to help keep every run feeling more varied, and some tough boss battles to survive through, and for the average genre fan this should be a great treat. Perhaps more novice gamers will find it a little on the overwhelming side, trying to contend with the mixture of styles as well as some nasty spikes in difficulty on occasion, but on the strength of daring to be different alone the developers deserve some credit here.