Slug Survival is a very simple game at first glance. I am dropped into one arena, given a gun and told to survive as many waves of mutating slugs as I can. That is basically the whole idea, but I actually like how quickly it gets into the action. I do not have to worry about a story, a large map or loads of menus before I can start playing. I just move, aim, shoot and try not to get surrounded. It has a nice arcade feel to it and the cute slug designs make the whole thing a bit less serious.
The shooting is the best part for me. The arena starts off fairly manageable, but the slugs get faster, tougher and less predictable as the waves go on. I have to keep moving because standing still for too long is a good way to get completely surrounded. Power ups also drop during runs and let me increase my firepower, with upgrades that can build me up to firing five shots at once. I really like that part because there is a clear difference between the start of a run and the point where I have stacked enough upgrades to tear through big groups of enemies.
The boss waves are another good addition. At certain points I have to deal with much stronger slug bosses instead of only the normal enemies, and beating them gives me bigger rewards and new upgrade opportunities. That gives each run a few proper moments where I have to stop relying on simply running around and shooting everything and actually pay attention to what is coming at me. I also like that the game keeps the arena small. There is nowhere to hide forever, so I am constantly making decisions about where I move next and how I avoid getting trapped.
The biggest problem for me is that there is only one arena. I understand the idea because the game is meant to be a focused survival shooter, but after enough runs I start wanting another place to play. The enemy waves change and the upgrades help keep things moving, but the environment itself never changes. That makes the game feel more repetitive than I think it needed to be. I would have liked different arenas with different layouts or hazards because that could have added a lot without changing the core combat.
I also think the weapon progression is a little limited for the amount of time I can potentially spend with the game. The three main weapons have different uses, including the Slime Blaster for dealing with groups, the Quad Blaster for stronger single target damage and the Ultimate Blaster for maximum firepower. I can earn these through normal gameplay, so I never feel like I have to pay for stronger weapons, which I appreciate. There is an optional upgrade pack that lets me keep the weapons permanently unlocked between runs, but I do not need it to access the actual gameplay.
The other issue is that the roguelike progression can start feeling predictable. I am basically looking for useful upgrades, building up my weapon and trying to survive longer than I did before. That is fun for a while, but once I understand the best way to move around the arena and which upgrades I like, there are fewer surprises left. The game is also still fairly small, so I think more enemy behaviours, arena changes and different ways to build my character would go a long way towards giving me more reasons to keep playing.
Overall, Slug Survival is a fun little arcade shooter that does not waste time getting to the point. I like the fast movement, simple aiming, escalating slug waves, boss fights and power ups, and I appreciate that all of the actual weapons and upgrades can be earned through playing. The single arena and limited overall variety are the main things holding it back for me, because eventually I start feeling like I am repeating the same run with different numbers. Still, the core shooting is enjoyable and the game is easy to pick up whenever I want a quick survival challenge.
Rating: 6.7/10
