The latest in my attack of (at least) one title from my 638 game backlog every day that the UK is in 'lock-down'.
I'm not planning on completing them, just playing them for long enough to know: A) What they're all about and B) If they're good enough to continue playing ASAP
Old school yesterday, bang up to date(ish) today as the random game selector picked:
Space Pirate Trainer on PC/VR
Technical stuff out of the way first in case anyone is interested: My CPU is an i5 4460, GPU is a 6GB 1060, and the VR is the vanilla Lenovo Explorer. I was lucky enough to be given the VR for free as the previous owner was upgrading and knew that with my IRL skills I'd be able to fix the hinge he broke and with my nerd tendencies I'd enjoy a new toy.These specs sit right on the bottom edge of what is recommended for VR but I've played Superhot, Halflife, Rec Room, and now Space Pirate Trainer with no issues whatsoever.
Anyway. This game is very simple: The player stands on a platform on the edge of space and attempts to shoot down waves of enemy droids as they fly around you. This is pure arcade blast and it knows it. The standard game mode is three lives and you're out and is even called 'Arcade', another mode; 'Old School' makes the enemy attack in Galaga style patterns.
The weaponry at hand is great fun. The standard blaster has eight different fire modes, ranging from the stand rapid fire blast to a shotgun and even a grenade launcher. You can have a gun in each hand but keeping track of which gun was doing what in which hand was bewildering. Fortunately there is also the option to use a secondary weapon which is kind of a dual purpose shield/light sabre affair. Yes, before you ask, you can absolutely deflect enemy fire back at them with the blade and, as per the game's primary defensive gimmick, you'll be doing so in bullet time.
The secondary weapon isn't done there though. It has an additional function in a sort laser lasso which can be used to charge nearby friendly auto-turrets or, a much more fun use, is to tether the enemy droids and then subject them to whatever punishment you fancy. I enjoyed pulling them in close and blasting with the shotgun but they can also be smashed into the ground or brought close enough to slice with the laser sword. I even picked up an achievement for destroying one by pulling it into it's own laser blast.
You've probably got the impression that there's a lot going on in this game - and to extent that's true. But the problem is that all the complexity is on the side of the player - the enemies have very little variety at all. Little round droids make up the majority of the cannon fodder with the occasional swarm of slightly different shaped droids thrown in to attempt to mix things up.
Which leaves me with a weird contradiction. Space Pirate Trainer makes no attempt to be anything other than a throwback arcade shooter with modern trappings - and it succeeds brilliantly at that - but somehow I can't help but feel I want more from it. It almost feels like a proof of concept that is yet to have the rest of game built around it.
Having already played Superhot VR and Robo Recall before coming to this game it's hard not notice the lack of depth. Both of these games take the concept of a fire fight with bullet time action and do brilliant things with it. Space Pirate Trainer was made with a fraction of the budget - and this should be applauded - but it doesn't make the game feel any less vacuous, and, despite having a fun time with it for an hour, doesn't make it any easier for me to recommend.
Space Pirate Trainer - Worth grabbing in a sale, but don't go out of your way.
Previously...
Day One was the excellent Luminees II on PSP
Day Two was the fun-but-probably-better-in-co-op Sanctum 2 on PC
Day Three was the pretty ropey but maybe worth a second chance on PS2 Dead to Rights 2 on Xbox
Day Four was the utterly stunning Pyre on PC
Day Five was the horribly aged but undeniably addictive skate it on the Wii
Day Six was the endearing and surprisingly competent Enduro Racer for the Sega Master System
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