The MSX2+ shooter Laydock 2 is out now on Switch

D4 Enterprise has released the 1988 MSX2+ shooter Laydock 2: Last Attack on the Nintendo Switch. The game is available today via the eShop for $6.49 as part of the EGG Console series.

"This is Stormy Gunner. We have broken through our enemies defense zone," an English voiceover announces in the game's introduction. "Now we will start a counter attack. This is our last attack."

T&E Soft originally developed Laydock 2 as the final chapter in the series, following the original game and Super Laydock. The latter hit the Switch last December. The player pilots Stormy Gunner 2 through vertical and horizontal scrolling stages, navigating distinct environments. The levels shift from rocky blue caverns to space-themed areas with colorful horizontal streaks simulating high-speed travel.

Leveling up and docking

Laydock 2 leans into RPG mechanics instead of relying strictly on arcade shooting. Players level up based on their kill rate. Reaching higher levels unlocks up to 10 different option weapons.

The game also includes a two-player co-op mode. Both ships can dock together either vertically or horizontally to combine their firepower. One player acts as the pilot while the other controls the weapons.

A steep curve

The original MSX2+ release is known for a brutal difficulty curve right out of the gate. Players have to memorize enemy patterns to survive the early stages. The game throws massive mechanical bosses at the player, with some taking up a large chunk of the screen and firing from multiple turrets.

D4 Enterprise's EGG Console project has been steadily bringing 80s and 90s Japanese home computer games to modern hardware. This release adds another localized 1980s shooter to the Switch eShop, giving players a legal way to play a game that rarely made it out of Japan in its original era.