Hi friends! Today I’m cozying up with Nitro Express. This side-view shooter launched on May 19, 2025. Grayfax Software developed it. PLAYISM published it worldwide. Nitro Express blends cute pixel-art girls with intense gunplay. The result is a mix of charm and chaos.
Overall Impressions
At first glance, Nitro Express feels like a chibi Metal Slug. The pixel art softens the action, but every shot still packs a punch. I loved the novel Horoscope system. It adds light RPG flair by granting buffs tied to zodiac signs. That twist makes replaying missions extra fun. On the flip side, the salary and unlock loop felt odd. Earning credits to upgrade gear sometimes stalled my momentum. In a crowded side-scroller scene, Nitro Express stands out for its free 360° aiming. Most peers lock to eight directions. This game feels more like a twin-stick shooter in 2D. And yet it keeps its own cheery personality.
Gameplay Mechanics
Control support is robust. I tested both mouse & keyboard and a DualSense controller. Aiming felt smooth once I tweaked X/Y sensitivity. You can set stick thresholds and dead zones too. Gunplay responds well. I jumped from an assault carbine to a shotgun on the fly, and each weapon’s recoil felt distinct.
However, not everything clicked perfectly. Ledge drops demand you stop and tap down. That kills your momentum in high-speed runs. I also hit a “cursor leash” bug near level edges. My aim stuck to one side, as if my mouse had a leash. Screen shake and visual clutter sometimes hid traps and foes. I missed a mine until it exploded at my feet. Mission progression also confused me at first. Both “Campaign” and “Mission” tabs unlock together. I expected Missions to unlock after Campaign. It took me a few menus to figure things out.
Story & Characters
Don’t expect a heavy plot; the focus here is action. You control a squad of pixel-art girls on covert ops in modern Japan. Their briefings show up as chat bubbles and icons. I especially liked one rambling text about hunting the best ramen stall. It gave a cozy local touch. You catch hints of a rogue syndicate backstory, but it never deepens much. Still, the world-building in backgrounds and NPC chatter makes each street feel lived-in.
Visuals & Graphics
Graphically, Nitro Express is a pixel art treat. Grayfax Software nailed every frame with tiny details—glowing vending machines, cracked sidewalks, neon kanji signs, and busy bystanders. The girls’ idle sways and reload animations give them delightfully human movement. Screen shake amps up the drama, though it can obscure crucial visual cues. UI icons for health, ammo, and salary blur together when bullets fly. I wish the in-mission HUD had larger, clearer icons. On the bright side, the main menu UI looks crisp and inviting.
Sound & Music
The soundtrack is one of my favorite parts. Upbeat electro drives the big shootouts. A soothing synth loop plays during stealth sections. Each track feels tailored to its stage’s mood. Gunshots have a satisfying thump, and explosions rumble just right. There’s no voice acting, but music and sound effects more than fill that gap. I nearly fell asleep to the calm menu theme on my first play and snapped awake as soon as the guns started firing. It’s that good.
Difficulty & Replayability
Nitro Express strikes a nice balance in difficulty. Early levels teach you core skills. Later stages turn into bullet-hell mayhem. I died plenty, but each failure felt fair. The novel Horoscope system encourages build experiments. Do you boost HP, reload speed, or movement? Combine signs for unique synergies. Mission variety also extends replay value—stealth extractions, timed raids, and boss rush modes. Global leaderboards will appeal to completionists and speedrunners. Still, I hope Grayfax smooths out the salary/unlock pacing, which can stall mid-game.
Pros
The game’s biggest strengths lie in its presentation and core mechanics: the charming pixel art is brought to life with fluid animations, while the true 360° free‐aiming system—including fine-tune options—lets you line up shots exactly how you want. A catchy soundtrack and punchy sound effects keep the action feeling lively, and the novel Horoscope buff system adds a layer of replayability that encourages experimentation. On top of that, mission variety goes beyond simple shoot-outs, keeping each play session feeling fresh.
Cons
On the downside, certain control quirks can interrupt your flow: dropping off ledges feels stiff, which can break momentum during tense moments, and a “cursor leash” bug sometimes hampers precision aiming. The in-mission HUD also suffers from clutter, occasionally hiding critical information just when you need it. Progression can feel grindy, too—earning salary versus unlock pacing strikes an imbalance that slows advancement—and the logic behind unlocking Campaign and Mission tabs isn’t always clear, leaving you guessing when new content will become available.
Tips & Tricks
To get the most out of your playthrough, take a few minutes before jumping in to tweak your sensitivity settings so the aiming feels just right. Experiment with different Horoscope buffs early on to discover synergies that suit your playstyle. When you’re navigating tight corridors, switch to a shotgun, but swap to a carbine for mid-range engagements. Pay attention to where enemies tend to spawn—learning these points in advance helps you avoid surprise ambushes. Finally, don’t hesitate to replay the early stages to farm extra salary; this lets you unlock key weapons sooner and smooths out the pacing of your loadout progression.
Trivia & Behind the Scenes
Nitro Express started as a rapid-fire jam entry in 2023. Fans loved its cheeky pixel art, so Grayfax Software expanded it. PLAYISM later brought it to a global audience. The small indie team teased development sketches on Twitter, building hype for the cute cast and dynamic gunplay.
Final Verdict
Nitro Express blends cozy pixel art with intense, free-aim gunplay. It dazzles with art direction, music, and weapon variety. It trips over a few control and UI hiccups. Still, it’s a solid pick for casual and hardcore shooter fans alike. If you want a stress-free yet thrilling 2D shooter with a cute twist, give it a spin.
Score: 4 out of 5 stars
