I didn't really know what to expect from Dex. An unusual mix of side-scrolling, RPG, and cyberpunk that nonetheless not only works, but is enormously good fun. Once you get used to the side-scrolling controls, Dex takes you into a world that is perhaps a little cliched, even predictable in places if you're familiar with the genre, but we get so little in the way of decent cyberpunk, I can't help but fall in love with it. It simultaneously manages to take me back to old days of Beneath A Steel Sky and more recent and more combat-oriented games such as Deus Ex or Shadowrun. That alone is to be appreciated. The characters and voice acting are well done, particularly for such a small studio, and the game helps you build your blue-haired protagonist & beautifully voiced Dex your way. Do you favour stealth and alternative entrances or combat and out-and-out slugging? Silver-tongued dialogue or brute force? The missions are nicely varied both in content and approach, giving you a real chance to tailor the resulting experience to a given style and role. The soundtrack is wonderful, and really helps build that dystopian vibe. While small, the wonderful world built has nothing spare about it - everything ends up having a purpose, which is a joy to encounter as you progress further into the game and go 'oh, so that's what that is for'. I'd like to see more of this, please, Dreadlocks. Even just more of the same would be just fine.
Rebel Galaxy is not terribly deep, and this is not merely a pun on its navigation. You won't find the likes of X3's intricacies, or Freespace 2's excellent plot, or 3D flight at all, but what is there I would describe as a fun Han Solo or Firefly simulator in partial 3D with a distinctive Southern US twang. Dropping you into a distinctly rusty end of space, the relatively thin plot is a convenient excuse for you to make a great deal of money and convert that into better equipment, larger ships, and more pretty explosions. The combat is satisfying if not sophisticated, and not since Freespace 2 have I had as much fun with beam lasers and cannon fire glittering inbetween the stars. Each outpost within each system is its own little political microcosm which produces and imports certain goods, but can vary due to being at war, or in famine, or in a tech boom etc. You can gain reputation with factions around the systems by doing missions for them, or just interfering as you see fit. Respond to a distress call, help out a trader under attack, and Citizenry will gain some reputation and the trader will give you some money. You can trade with that trader directly or you can go the route of the pirate, demand they hand over their cargo, or destroy a relief ship on the way to a famine-stricken world and thereby inflate food prices higher. The choice is yours & as a playground, Rebel Galaxy is quite interesting if a little static for those looking for true sandboxes. Great if shallow fun for a few days. Some finishing tips: Hull and equipment in it are unlinked; you can finish the game in a corvette or a dreadnaught; just a matter of how much firepower you have in turrets vs speed. Missions are where the money and rep is; just beware escort and protect missions that might intersect unfortunately with the game universe's varying behaviour. Get Rank 8 with Merchants Guild to get EMP ablation. If you hate the music, you can hook custom soundtracks (but I loved the themes).
