Nanostray Critic Reviews

Once your thumb learns the locations of those four weapon-select spots, you’ll be able to tear through wave after wave of enemy ships in what is easily the best looking and intensely challenging game on the DS to date.

It may not take full advantage of the DS’s unique hardware functions, however the outstanding level of quality in gameplay, graphics and audio make for a sublime and addictive portable-shooter experience that’s too good to pass up.

Highly replayable. It's also insanely beautiful. I'll wear this cart out; it's just a remarkable old-school shooter.

Nanostray's old school, Galaga-style, kill 'em all action left us with sweaty armpits and racing hearts.

An impressive looking and playing game with strong multiplayer capabilities. Pick it up if you like this style of game or are in need of another game you can put into your “completed” pile.

A few more stages could have been nice, but after speaking with some of the developers I learned that Majesco didn’t give a long enough deadline.

Despite having an incredibly short adventure mode (8 missions which last about 5 minutes each), Nanostray brings a surprising amount of content to the table.

A perfect handheld game that’s easy to pick up and play. Those who can overlook the game’s minor flaws will have a lot of fun.

The multiplayer’s lack of depth compounds another problem: this game is painfully short. It spans only eight levels, and most of the replay value comes from the arcade mode, where you try for higher scores.

A great introduction to space shooting for the DS and a worthy successor to "Shin'en" and Majesco's "Iridion" games for the GBA.

What this game does, however is give the Nintendo DS library a real kick in the pants with an energetic production, fast-paced action, and some extremely challenging elements that will keep you going for some time.

I love Nanostray. It's got gameplay that holds up well despite the lack of additional stages, and you can link up against a friend for two-player damage. Furthermore, it looks spectacular, better than most DS games before it.

A wonderful surprise, a shooter that really engulfs you in its features and its presentation, and it shouldn't be missed.

Even with the touch screen, there's not a lot new here, but it's definitely an engaging addition to the DS family.

While the challenge mode will appeal to purists and the multiplayer mode to those with lots of friends lucky enough to own a DS, this lack of length in the story mode is going to put off people who enjoy the journey as much as the fight.

Nanostray is a great little shoot ‘em up and of course a portable one at that.

Wave after wave of deftly animated and designed enemies target your ship with a never-ending barrage of laser fire.

The graphics in Nanostray are some of the prettiest on the DS, hands down. The environments are varied, there is a ton of vibrant colours and except for some very rare slowdowns, the game runs at a smooth 60 FPS, no small feat considering how much is always going on on both screens.

There aren't many shmup games released at all outside of Japan, so DS owners are lucky to get not just any shmup, but a beautiful new one that sticks close to the high scoring spirit of the genre's beloved classics.

While there are only eight levels and gameplay could be more polished (such as improved enemies and a worthwhile Multiplayer mode), Nanostray still offers everything you could expect from a shooter.