It just does its style of controlled chaos really well.

Overall, even without online play, Jamestown is a great title that's worthy of any shmup fan's time. The mechanics are solid, the presentation is great, and the price is right – I can't wait to see what Final Form does next.

The level of polish found in the graphics and gameplay alike is outstanding for an indie title. Peculiar ideas and inventive mechanics make this quirky bullet-hell shooter a frenzied, fun affair.

But Jamestown doesn't get bogged down in its devotion to the classics of the genre, nor does it try to attract a certain crowd with its art style (yes, I'm talking about Deathsmiles and its ilk). It instead focuses on giving you as many ways to grit your teeth as possible, and doing so with a solid shooting base. It's easy to fuss about the missed potential of playing the game online (a genuine problem), but what you get here is plenty. It's also a decent excuse to get that group together, provided your friends are as crazy as you are.

Jamestown is that old classic shooter that you want to play today remembering your young coin-op escapades.

Its wild premise is surprisingly well-realized, and its shooting is top-notch. Put simply, it is a game that stacks up as well, if not better than many of the classics it's so clearly inspired by.

In short, Jamestown is a fun old school game that, for the price, shows excellent play time, replay value, and variety.