Decent examples of Vertically Scrolling Top-Down Shooters can be few and far between at times, fortunately the critically acclaimed Jamestown+ is coming to the Switch eShop later this year and is available to pre-order for £17.99 which doesn't seem too bad for a title which looks to be potentially very enjoyable on the surface.

Brought to us by Final Form Games this is a title which has reportedly spent eight years in the making and takes its inspiration from only the very best examples of the genre with the goal of creating a shmup that's enjoyable by players of all skill levels.

Check below for the details and a trailer...

Sir Walter Raleigh has been sentenced to death in the Tower of London. In hopes of securing absolution for his “crimes” by solving the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, Raleigh flees to 17th-century British Colonial Mars. Board his Conveyance, a rocket-sled equipped with dreadful munitions, and set course for Britain’s well-known Martian colony — Jamestown. Guide Sir Raleigh on his journey to take down the deranged, power-hungry Conquistador and his armies of deadly robots and bizarre Martian warriors – and help him learn to fight for a cause bigger than himself.

Journey across Mars and its moons, Phobos and Deimos, alongside up to three friends (via couch co-op) in classic shoot ‘em up battles. Jamestown+ was carefully crafted to be accessible to anyone, with a wide variety of difficulties meticulously designed to offer engaging challenges for players of all skill levels, not just die-hard shoot ‘em up fans.

Players only need three buttons: Fire for basic attacks, Special for powerful weapons, and Vaunt for a bullet-eating, score-amplifying shield. Enemies drop gold when defeated that charge the Vaunt meter. Learn to take advantage of the shield and send your team’s score soaring into ever-greater heights.

Coordinate attacks by choosing from 8 ships with powerful weapons, ranging from the simple, yet powerful Beam to the powerful homing missile fusillades of Treason. Tinker with three additional Armada ships to create one of 36 customizations to fend off the Martian hordes however you see fit. Unlock these ships with gold plundered from the Conquistador’s army.

Bullets and enemies are easy to see and defend against thanks to beautifully hand-crafted retro artwork, making Jamestown+’s bullet hell action more like a bullet heaven. There’s something for everyone, including 20 unlockable challenge levels, 5 difficulties, and an emotionally-stirring orchestral score that perfectly complements the Colonists’ plight.

Does this look like a shmup that you could potentially enjoy? Will you be looking out for it nearer to its eventual release? Surely a game like this will feel most at home on the Switch?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or join in with the discussion on our forum.