An FTL-esque game with a pleasant combination of story, strategy, and combat.
What more can I say that hasn't already been said?
So, this is an older game, so of course its graphics are outdated. That being said, there is an awful lot to love about this game. The world-building is deep and rich and has meaningful applications to your game experience. It has mystery, suspense, drama, humor, and heart. In many ways, the world it has created often reminds me of Star Control II, with many different alien races, each with their own guiding psychological traits. The game provides several different scenarios, with different alien species interacting in a variety of ways. Exploration is crucial. Make alliances, trade with friendly species, break up evil empires (or join them), stop world-ravaging aliens (or become their accomplices). You can be a benevolent hero or you could choose to dominate the star sector with an iron fist. There's more than one way to achieve your ultimate objective of finding a new world for the human race, but keep in mind that your methods matter, and humanity will have to live with the results of your actions. So, you can still win the game temporarily only to set up humanity for its doom. The combat is moderately paced. Each alien species has a very different approach to battle. Some have heavy shields and are only vulnerable in very small target areas. One race has ships that are essentially giant chainsaws that rely on melee combat. Another race is a time traveler that adds ships to the battle by traveling through time, and taking out "older" iterations of the ships also eliminates the younger iterations. One species has a powerful telepathic influence that won't allow you to attack them unless they want you to. In summary, this is an excellent game, and I'm happy to recommend it to you.
This game. Wow. There were many times during it that I was left genuinely speechless, or when the feelings and thoughts it evoked were so powerful that I found that I just had to stop and think. This game is about grief and loss and healing. It is presented in a way that provides a highly relatable narrative in a simple, non-verbal way and allows the player to not only take in what is being conveyed but to project their own experiences upon it in a way that I found to be genuinely therapeutic. This game knows exactly what it is. It is not intended to be a punishingly difficult platformer or a mind-bending puzzle, although the platforming and puzzle elements are well balanced for the experience that the developers are sharing with the player. This game is about the human heart, and is a tool to help the player explore what is in their own heart and move towards a feeling of catharsis, relief, and healing. For those who have gone through difficult loss and trauma, there are small, important details that the developers included that the player will relate to. This game is also a stunning piece of art, both visually and auditorily. There were several areas that I just stopped progressing and allowed myself to take in the ethos of the mindscape that the developers created. This surreal, fantasy world holds many emotional truths that are spoken without words, but communicated in a profoundly clear way. As I worked through the experience that Nomada created, I felt seen and understood. It was not what I was expecting. The ending sequence... holy cow! I was genuinely moved to tears at the powerful use of visual and auditory symbols, especially the intertwining of two voices at once for the first time in the soundtrack. This is a game I will be thinking about for a long time, and that I will wholeheartedly recommend to others.
The original Missile Command was a masterpiece of its time, and arguably one of the most strategic of the early Atari games. The gameplay became frantic, leaving you constantly on the edge of disaster. That’s what made it great. This version does a good job of honoring the original while adding a decent chunk of new content that feels well aligned with the spirit of the first game. The visuals and music strike the right chords. The new features feel like additions instead of distractions. In other words, it’s a remake done right.
So, there’s no arguing against the fact that Asteroids deserves a lofty throne in the pantheon of games. It’s gameplay holds up after many decades. So, I was excited to see this new version. And… it was okay, but sadly a little underwhelming for me. Not bad, but a little sad. I actually really enjoyed the new Gravitar and Missile Command that came out at the same time. They both feel like great upgrades upon the original, and feel like the gameplay of their originals has been taken to the next level. I wanted and expected the same for Asteroids. But, Asteroids just didn’t feel like it succeeded the way those other two titles did. Yes, the visuals are fun. The music is great. But, I think there is a balance issue with all the upgraded weapons and options. It made it feel too easy, like all I needed to do was stay stationary, spin, and shoot, and I passed level after level unscathed. This is Asteroids. It should feel like the Apocalypse is always just 10 seconds away. I couldn’t decide if I felt like Alex Rogan from the Last Starfighter with infinite Death Blossoms or like Anakin Skywalker discovering that spinning is, in fact, a good trick. I felt overpowered, and that took away some of the fun. And oddly enough, I experienced intermittent stutters from a game that should definitely not have been producing performance issues. So, it’s pretty. And it sounds great. And it has a lot of nifty weapons. But I can’t help but feel that this version actually lost a bit of what made Asteroids great, instead of adding to it. That being said, I definitely recommend the other Atari remakes released at the same time.
First off, I am a big fan of the original Gravitar, which was not as popular as some of the classic Atari heavy hitters but made a name for itself as a niche classic. When I saw this new spin on it, I was hoping for something that still felt like Gravitar, but with added depth. From what I have experienced so far, I am not disappointed. This game delivers what it promised: classic Gravitar ethos with enhancements, expansions, and upgrades that feel like the old Gravitar all grown up. Well done, Atari! If you enjoyed Gravitar, give this a spin. And, if you missed Gravitar the first time around, this game is a great reason to give it a try now.
Space Engine is what Carl Sagan would play if he was still alive today. Blending real scientific data about the cosmos with procedural generation to fill in the gaps, Space Engine takes great pride in showing you the universe as it is, according to our current state of knowledge. Honestly, I think the developer deserves and honorary Ph.D. for the degree of scientific fidelity they have adhered to in Space Engine. I also find Space Engine to be one of the most meditative programs I have ever seen. Watch the sun rise on Titan, then dive into its oceans. Brave the majesty of Sagittarius A* and ponder the universal cycle of destruction and creation. Surf the Pillars of Creation and race on the edge of a neutron star’s accretion disk. Or, just find a quiet place filled with ethereal beauty and take it all in. If you want, you can also hop aboard a starship and use that as your own vehicle to stellar adventure. But you can use Space Engine any way you wish. Do you want to export planets? You can do that. Do you want to create amazing skyboxes? You can do that. Do you want to make gorgeous space videos? You guessed it… you can do that. I can’t say enough positive things about Space Engine. Buy it. You won’t regret it.
This is a game with depth, humor, and polish, especially for the time in which it was created. The combat is varied and interesting, with each race behaving in a different fashion and requiring different tactics. Each different species has a different psychology and motivation. Different sectors provide a variety of webs of political relationships to be worked through. Each sector can be solved in different ways based on the player's choices. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of Star Command 2, but with 3D ship interactions. It is a retro game, so go into it with appropriate expectations. But if you can appreciate that, and if you have an eye to see the real effort and artistry put into this title, you won't be disappointed.
