(Biased review, TL;DR, only play casually if you haven't touched the genre)
I got this game, to summarize, on a challenge lottery. It looked cool on paper, managing a ship through hazards and collecting stars to go back to your platform. On paper, I emphatize.
It will be a great experience for those who already played this genre and are looking for more, or for dedicated people who don't mind getting used to awkward controls. Technically-wise it works, and there is also a quick reset button which is very much appreciated.
HOWEVER, that's where the pros ends.
I hated the insanely slow turn rate. I get it's to represent lunar ships but it's so heavenly punishing words aren't enough to express my hate for it.
I hated how the momentum sometimes gets so strong that you need a few seconds to stop it. Crucial few seconds for the timers.
I hated how the ship crashes if going too fast while landing on its own feet. Though I understood it.
I hated how you have to do a particularly perfect landing for it even to count, otherwise it won't work. Going too fast? Try again, the ship will keep moving, likely fall to the side and crash or have you waste precious seconds of time. Landed too close to the border? Oops, a feet is sticking out, no landing for you, go move again. Landed on a bad angle? Ship will tumble and crash (this particular thing applies to all surfaces)
I hated how tight the times for 3-starring (master) the levels are on the first and second worlds, almost as if you're expected to already be mastering the controls DESPITE being so awkward.
I hated lasers.
I hated the mines being on OH SO CLEVERLY positioned ways such that you have to intentionally sidetrack your movement to take them into account and thus hammering your lowest possible time.
I hated the tracking mines. Glad they didn't appear much, I would have actually dropped the game for them.
I hated the missile turrets. I hated the gun turrets as well but they were only annoying on a single level.
I hated handling boxes with the tow line. If you tow them from below they fall in your head - if you tow them below a platform they never move. I also hated how they never land properly on buttons.
I hated how the shield bounces you into hell and back.
Ice was kind of fun, tbh.
I hated moving platforms. You really can't land well on the first time on those things. It just doesn't work properly.
I hated water. Messy psychics system that further emphatizes how badly the game plays.
I hated that space gas that makes big jumps yet another piece of RNG in the grand puzzle.
I hated rappeling and losing momentum because I was forced to stay too close to the wall THANKS to the space gas and other hazards.
I hated acid.
I hated saws, they're like lasers but even more prominent.
I hated those metal pushers.
I hope the feeling came across that I didn't enjoy this game since the first hour but was determined to complete it because I knew I could.
I got this game, to summarize, on a challenge lottery. It looked cool on paper, managing a ship through hazards and collecting stars to go back to your platform. On paper, I emphatize.
It will be a great experience for those who already played this genre and are looking for more, or for dedicated people who don't mind getting used to awkward controls. Technically-wise it works, and there is also a quick reset button which is very much appreciated.
HOWEVER, that's where the pros ends.
I hated the insanely slow turn rate. I get it's to represent lunar ships but it's so heavenly punishing words aren't enough to express my hate for it.
I hated how the momentum sometimes gets so strong that you need a few seconds to stop it. Crucial few seconds for the timers.
I hated how the ship crashes if going too fast while landing on its own feet. Though I understood it.
I hated how you have to do a particularly perfect landing for it even to count, otherwise it won't work. Going too fast? Try again, the ship will keep moving, likely fall to the side and crash or have you waste precious seconds of time. Landed too close to the border? Oops, a feet is sticking out, no landing for you, go move again. Landed on a bad angle? Ship will tumble and crash (this particular thing applies to all surfaces)
I hated how tight the times for 3-starring (master) the levels are on the first and second worlds, almost as if you're expected to already be mastering the controls DESPITE being so awkward.
I hated lasers.
I hated the mines being on OH SO CLEVERLY positioned ways such that you have to intentionally sidetrack your movement to take them into account and thus hammering your lowest possible time.
I hated the tracking mines. Glad they didn't appear much, I would have actually dropped the game for them.
I hated the missile turrets. I hated the gun turrets as well but they were only annoying on a single level.
I hated handling boxes with the tow line. If you tow them from below they fall in your head - if you tow them below a platform they never move. I also hated how they never land properly on buttons.
I hated how the shield bounces you into hell and back.
Ice was kind of fun, tbh.
I hated moving platforms. You really can't land well on the first time on those things. It just doesn't work properly.
I hated water. Messy psychics system that further emphatizes how badly the game plays.
I hated that space gas that makes big jumps yet another piece of RNG in the grand puzzle.
I hated rappeling and losing momentum because I was forced to stay too close to the wall THANKS to the space gas and other hazards.
I hated acid.
I hated saws, they're like lasers but even more prominent.
I hated those metal pushers.
I hope the feeling came across that I didn't enjoy this game since the first hour but was determined to complete it because I knew I could.