Let's Try: Gaia Beyond
4Full disclosure: the development team of Gaia Beyond reached out to me and gave me a key to try this game out. It's in Early Access right now and they are looking to release in August.
There's nothing like a top-down space sim that leans into drift mechanics to remind me what a terrible pilot I am. Gaia Beyond reminds me of a game from long ago, but updates things just enough to have it feel modern. The universe is vast and empty, and yet I still manage to crash into every asteroid.
The music swings between haunting and lonely to something I would describe as Deus Ex-esque. That's not a bad thing, but I can feel some inspiration.
The combat asks much of you, and you will be punished if you're sloppy. I'd expect nothing less, given you are a tiny ship flying through space. You have to be on your toes, or you'll just be more stardust.
The artwork of the ships and people, a sort of not-quite-finished oil painting, almost seems at odds with the UI, which is extremely futuretech, with glowing blues and sharp corners. It's an interesting contrast, and I'm not sure if that's intentional or just because it's Early Access, but I dig it.
I'm going to be playing more of this game for sure.
Game info: http://www.gaiabeyond.com/
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