PixelJunk Shooter
A shooter where players manipulate fluids to rescue scientists underground.
PixelJunk Shooter is a shooter video game from Q-Games, the fourth title in their PixelJunk series. It launched on the PlayStation Store via Sony Computer Entertainment in December 2009 for the PlayStation 3, and later came to Windows on November 11, 2013. A remastered edition called PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, handled by Double Eleven, arrived on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in June 2014, followed by a Windows release on October 21, 2015.
In the game, up to two players pilot subterranean vehicles to rescue scientists trapped underground. Missiles let players defeat enemies and break weak rock to advance. Players must also manage three types of fluid—water, magma, and ferrofluid—to reach survivors. Each rescued or killed survivor allows progression to the next part of a stage, but if too many die, players must restart or quit. The fifteen stages are split evenly across three episodes, each ending with a boss fight.
Q-Games formally announced PixelJunk Shooter during a pre-E3 press event on April 29, 2009. Initially called PixelJunk 1–4, a 13-day contest let fans submit title suggestions. The official name, PixelJunk Shooter, was revealed on May 25, 2009. Some fans disliked the simple name, but Q-Games president Dylan Cuthbert explained it was chosen for its simplicity and because shooting is central—shooting magma, water, enemies, missiles, lasers, and plasma. Other titles were considered, including the popular fan submission "PixelJunk Elements," but that was dropped because it didn't sound action-packed enough. The fluid mechanics rely on a particle flow simulation calculated using the Cell's Synergistic Processing Element (SPE). This is the first PixelJunk game with a traditional narrative, delivered through speech boxes unlocked by rescuing certain survivors. The soundtrack features songs by High Frequency Bandwidth, composed by Alex Paterson and Dom Beken.
The PlayStation 3 version of PixelJunk Shooter received "generally favorable reviews" on Metacritic, just three points shy of "universal acclaim," while the PC version got "average" scores. Eurogamer called the PS3 version "part retro videogame, part chemistry set; part Geometry Wars, part Zelda," and Game Informer deemed it "one of the best titles you'll find on PlayStation Network." IGN praised it as one of the best PSN titles of 2009 and Q-Games' best work yet.
Quick Facts
- Title
- PixelJunk Shooter
- Developer
- Q-GamesAdditional work by Santa Monica Studio. / Ultimate / Double Eleven
- Publisher
- JP · Q-Games · WW · Sony Computer EntertainmentUltimate / Double Eleven
- Composer
- High Frequency Bandwidth / Alex Paterson / Dom Beken
- Series
- PixelJunk
- Genre
- Multidirectional shooter
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
PixelJunk Shooter was formally announced during a 2009 pre-E3 press event on April 29, 2009. Originally referred to as PixelJunk 1–4, a 13-day contest was held in which fans submitted game title suggestions to Q-Games. The official title, PixelJunk Shooter, was announced on May 25, 2009. The simplistic name was received negatively by some fans, to which Q-Games president Dylan Cuthbert explained that the name was chosen not only for its simplicity, but also because shooting is the game's central mechanic. Several other titles were considered, including 'PixelJunk Elements', the most popular submission, but 'Elements' was dismissed because it didn't sound action-packed enough. The fluid mechanics are based on a particle flow simulation calculated using the Cell's Synergistic Processing Element (SPE).
PixelJunk Shooter is the first title in the PixelJunk series to offer a traditional narrative, conveyed to players through a series of speech boxes awarded upon rescuing certain survivors. The game's soundtrack is made up of songs by High Frequency Bandwidth, composed by Alex Paterson and Dom Beken. A PlayStation Home space for PixelJunk Shooter was added onto the existing Q Games 'PixelJunk Museum' space on December 17, 2009, where players receive articles of clothing unlocked by completing portions of the game.
Reader's Guide
PixelJunk Shooter received generally favorable reviews on PlayStation 3, just three points shy of universal acclaim on Metacritic, while the PC version received average reviews. Critics praised the level design and unique physics; 1UP.com lamented that the console version did not include a sandbox mode for experimenting with fluids. The music by High Frequency Bandwidth was praised as 'a funky, dynamic collection of upbeat trip-hop' by Eurogamer. Combat reception was mixed: Eurogamer praised enemies as 'cunningly-designed', while GameSpy remarked the combat experience 'isn't all that interesting'. Several reviews noted the game's brevity; GameSpot called it 'ultimately too short for its own good, abruptly ending just when you're getting into a groove'. Other reviewers noted the story concludes with a 'To Be Continued' screen, suggesting an Encore expansion was likely, but instead a standalone sequel, PixelJunk Shooter 2, was announced by Q-Games on May 18, 2010. The remastered PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, developed by Double Eleven, combines both games into one continuous game and features cross-buy and cross-save between PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The Vita and PS4 versions of Ultimate received generally favorable reviews.
Did You Know?
- PixelJunk Shooter is the fourth game in the PixelJunk series.
- The game's title was chosen from fan submissions in a 13-day contest; 'PixelJunk Elements' was the most popular submission but was dismissed as not action-packed enough.
- A PlayStation Home space for the game was added to the existing 'PixelJunk Museum' space on December 17, 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PixelJunk Shooter and who made it?
PixelJunk Shooter is a shooter game developed by Q-Games as the fourth entry in their PixelJunk series. It features up to two players piloting subterranean vehicles through 15 stages organized into three episodes.
What do you actually do in PixelJunk Shooter?
You control underground vehicles, using missiles and fluid-based attacks to blast through enemies while rescuing trapped scientists. The game supports both solo and two-player co-op play across its three-episode structure.
What's the story premise of PixelJunk Shooter?
Scientists have become trapped deep underground, and the player's job is to drive subterranean rescue vehicles through hostile territory to pull them out. The narrative unfolds across three episodes spanning 15 stages.
What platforms is PixelJunk Shooter available on and when did each version launch?
The original PS3 digital download shipped in December 2009, with a Windows port following in November 2013. The remastered PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate arrived on PS4 and Vita in June 2014, then on Windows in October 2015.
How does PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate differ from the original?
The Ultimate edition is a remaster produced by Double Eleven rather than the original Q-Games build, adding PS4 and Vita support alongside updated visuals. It also brought the Windows release forward to 2015, whereas the original Windows version had come out in 2013.
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