Genius Shooter is another example of a casual roguelike shooter, just like Archero and many others. Still, because of a few interesting mechanics, it's a title you might actually want to try.
Aesthetics here is somehow strange & unlikely. The UI, background music, the first map, and the first hero hint strongly at the Wild West theme - but it's not a whole story. Most enemies you'll meet will be zombies of some kind - undead nurses, builders, or soldiers - and there are also ultra-cute animals, like bunnies firing carrots. Overall, the game is heavily stylized, colorful, and has the feeling of most similar titles. It uses pre-rendered 3d isometric backgrounds - and fully 3d characters and skills. Also, the visual effect looks exactly like they should - bright, glowing, exploding & splashy - while being smooth.
The core is just like every other run-or-shoot title in terms of gameplay. You start a stage of 50-or-some rounds with occasional bosses. As you kill enemies, you'll level up, getting new random skills each time - like burning bullets or increased attack speed. There are less-known types, like "standstill to get a bonus" or "bonus at the beginning of round" or "bonus scaled with level". Yet, if you want to change attack type - even something like split bullets - you'll need to get one of the additional heroes. They all got pros and cons - and with 16 of them, you'll have some choice of the playstyles.
Aside from this, Genius Shooter has a standard equipment system - you can drop - and then put on - gears in various categories, graded by rarity. Also, you can upgrade it, merge it into a better one, on "smelt" for resources. That's the typical part - but instead of well-known gold random upgrades - there's something more interesting in place - or even 2 things. Sometimes, you'll be able to drop "collection items" - put them in the collection, and then upgrade with gold to get fixed collection bonuses. Also, some resources will allow you to craft a "super weapon" - an equipable item that - aside from bonus stats - adds skill you can cast from time to time.
To get those resources, items & gold, you're offered a wide range of challenges - including those with online leaderboards. Also, each stage comes with a normal & epic mode - but also an "endless" one.
Like in every one of those games, there are many chances to watch an ad for a small reward. Fortunately, no ads are forced, and existing ones feel rewarding enough - or not too intrusive. Alternatively, you can get one of the various offers from the store - or a premium pass.
