A Look at SPACE MENACE 2
7Space Menace 2 has just released into early access, the dev was kind enough to send me a key so I took a look. I found a chill time cruising around space, building up my little squad of ships to face bigger foes ahead.
Fair warning I do go on a bit... there is a TLDR further down along with a link to the game's steam page. There is also a demo out for it.
On the positive side the game does offer quick ship to ship combat in a rapid fire format with some interesting options for customising the ship loadout that acts a bit like a puzzle game. Controls are simple, ship design is easy to understand and the pew pew of laser bolts and trails of homing missiles do put on a bit of a show. I have not delved deeper yet to face big foes or use larger ships of my own but I am seeing hints of how those things could play out when I get there. For a bit of casual space combat fun this game has its moments for sure.
There are definite areas where it feels like it falls a bit short in terns of features or presentation but this is an early access, there is only room and time for such things to be improved or woven into the whole. There was a comment saying incomplete due to features missing from the first game, I have not played that so I cannot say. But I can also see where more features might be welcome and would only strengthen the offering, in some ways I feel like the game might have been released a little prematurely when viewed in that light.
Some games to get by with a comparable level of features here but they also tend to pair it with distinctive presentation; something this game does not yet have to set it apart. I do find that a concern; fast action space games along similar lines tend to be a competitive area from what I have seen. Space Menace 2 does need some attention to define itself to stand among them... but I also know from my own limited skills that that is far harder to implement than it is to type these few words about it. I just hope the Dev has a plan in that regard.
I wrote a lot more initially (which I then deleted) about Battlevoid Harbinger; the game I know best with comparable offerings, but then felt I was saying way too much (then I typed all this and had a head/desk moment). I saw a comment on the first game mentioning it and from there the link was stuck in my mind since I've played that game a lot.
Honestly the core features of the gameplay are comparable (this game has a more granular ship loadout customisation, Harbinger has better character for factions plus meta ship progression) but Harbinger sets a much higher mark for its graphics and sound design (I consider that to be its specialty in fact). Space Menace 2 does not need to match that but I do feel it needs to find how to make itself stand out a bit more. It is a whole early access / finished game or solo dev / dev team comparison which means it is a seriously flawed comparison (apples vs oranges, both are round fruit!) but it does show some of the competition in this genre. That is my strongest criticism for Space Menace 2 right now.
TLDR; I found this to be a solid core concept for a game that operates smoothly. On its own merits; a chill time for some hours cruising or idling in space combat. Mileage may vary but it is worth checking out if you are interested in such games.
There is also a FREE DEMO available that I checked, it allows access to the easier zone in the game to play around with and try it out.
The demo and the early access itself can be found HERE:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3136380/Space_Menace_2/
The price may be a sticking point right now compared to other options in the genre but long time watchers know my philosophy on early access;
Buy not on hopes or expectations, but on how you weigh what is already presented. Take a look at the game and the dev, then decide for yourself.
And lastly, my thanks again to the Dev for providing me with a free steam key for this (first time that's happened). It was freely given and with a hope I'd be interested enough to show it on the channel, no other expectations or requests given and the polite tone made me determined to give it a shot.
I have tried to be fair and focus on the game as it stands, and explain my views in an appropriate way... but as long suffering viewers know, I do have a habit of rambling and / or getting distracted sometimes. That is why I have tried to include positive and negative points in my look at the game and tried to be reasonable but, in the end, I am a flawed human creature. So I apologise for anything I might have overstated or focused on a bit too much, I do wish the developer well with their project.
I know enough to be sure that game development, especially solo, can be a hard and daunting task!
I share a discord with several other content creators and a load of friendly people.
Feel free to drop by the Guild of Calamitous Intent if you want to have a look.
https://discord.gg/MnmaV8A