Varth is a game that borrows heavily from Capcom's iconic shmup series, 194X. However, instead of somewhere historical, Varth instead takes place in a desolate, war-torn future. The aesthetic leads to an abundance of browns and grays, giving credence to the idea that we're led into the middle of a dystopia.

Varth's defining feature that sets it apart from other shmups is its Pod mechanic. Before the game starts, you can choose whether your Pods are fixed or smart. Picking the former option would protect you upfront yet expose your sides and back while picking the latter will have the Pods circle around you. These options present a bit of variety for the gameplay.

This game is for those who prefer a breath of fresh air from your typical military-themed shmups under Capcom's belt and would like to try something visually new. At the end of the day, however, shmup enthusiasts know that in games like this, visual appeal comes secondary to a game's ability to present a challenge.