If you are a fan of space battles, Manticore: Galaxy on Fire is probably one of the best choices available for Nintendo Switch users right now. Following in the footsteps of Galaxy on Fire’s mobile iterations, Manticore: Galaxy on Fire is a perfect example of mobile-to-Switch success. The game is gorgeous, has a large amount of gameplay content and is set in a universe with enough lore to fill a book.

Players will start out flying a basic Groza ship in Manticore: Galaxy on Fire and eventually after completing missions, will unlock a range of other ships to fly. In total, nine ships are available. These are divided into fighter, scout and gunship classes and may belong to one of three different factions. The Terran, Nivelian and Vossk faction ships are all unique and each have different hull, energy, shield and missile attributes. These attributes can be upgraded by collecting specific resources in missions and by levelling up your pilot. Each ship looks visually stunning too and Switch users can view them in all their glory in a showroom mode in the hangar.

The game’s story is quite complex with a lot of political drama and intrigue. There’s also in-depth lore and backstory explained via text and surprisingly, fully voiced character interactions throughout the game. The game features a soundtrack that perfectly suits it and the graphics are as gorgeous as can be. Missions in Manticore: Galaxy on Fire can be accessed from a galaxy map and have a nifty progression indicator telling you how much has been unlocked or completed. The game also lets players take as many screenshots as they want in complete safety thanks to the “Action Freeze” option available from the pause menu. The action freeze can result in some great in-game screenshots being taken, especially in the heat of battle.

Gameplay is as simple as can be. Players move the ship and camera with the right analog stick and increase or decrease speed with the left. Shooting is reserved for the right trigger and left triggers and the R and L buttons are used to cycle between weapons loaded onto your ship. Eventually, as you progress throughout the game, more weapons will become available and can be equipped onto your ship. These weapons will be key to your victory in battles since some are far more effective against certain types of enemies than others.

While the gameplay may get repetitive at times, the game’s story helps keep things fresh by interspersing enough variety throughout. Some missions may be more action packed than others but overall, there’s a balance that’s maintained and the game never gets old. Being on a Nintendo Switch also assists the game since players can just put the console down and resume where they left off at any time without having to suffer through massive load times.

Players can also opt to fly around at their own pace in the game’s exploration mode. This doubles as a collector’s dream since various pieces of intel may be scattered in a particular location and players can try to find these in the exploration mode. Maps seem large but unfortunately, this is an illusion created by the game’s beautiful graphics. Players can reach the edge of a map and are automatically turned around despite being able to see detailed items in the distance such as space debris or remnants of space stations. This doesn’t influence gameplay much but had the maps actually been as massive as they seem to be, it would have been quite a treat for space exploration fans.

Overall, Manticore: Galaxy on Fire is a Nintendo Switch title that space game fans and fans of shooters will definitely enjoy. It’s not an Elite: Dangerous or Everspace since its far more arcade in nature but it’s still great. The game’s mix of story, action and stunning graphics combined with its easy to pick up and play gameplay makes it a great choice for fans of the genre to pick up.