I have no prior experience with the Pixel Junk franchise, however, Pixel Junk Shooter is a fantastic representation of the series in its high-res 2D glory. In spite of the game being called Pixel Junk Shooter, that doesn't represent the game very well. The game is more about elemental puzzles and level exploration rather than blowing stuff up. Despite being an artistic feat, Pixel Junk Shooter is too easy of a game and is over before you know it which will make it a tougher sell to some people.
Pixel Junk Shooter has you flying around various maze-like levels searching to humans to extract out of danger. You'll be spending most of your time interacting with the world's lava, water, and other elements to alter the environment. Instead of the classic shield to monitor wellness, your ship has a temperature gauge you'll have to keep track of. Basically, stray away from lava. These elemental fluids are the star of the game, moving around in weird/cool ways and bringing in a unique gameplay mechanic.
While looking often generic from afar, Shooter manages to be a stand out. It's smart, yet simple puzzles act as great short bursts of fun. The game's flat color and fun physics add to the already unique design. For players searching for something new, Pixel Junk Shooter is an easy $10 to spend. Just know it'll be over in about three hours. Isn't three hours enough? That all depends on you, I guess. This game doesn't necessarily offer explosive action, nor does it give challenging puzzles. The shooter and puzzle genre blend in a nice way but won't completely satisfy either itch. Lets face it, an Encore versions of this game is in the near future.
Steven