Space Expedition Review

The dreaded buzzword "Metroidvania" is perhaps too broadly used to describe games with a lot of backtracking. But when it comes to the Metroid half, a sense of lonely exploration is also essential to that equation. While it does so on a smaller scale, Space Expedition successfully follows in that great tradition.

Say what you will about how boring and generic the name "Space Expedition" is, but at least it explains the game. Players control a lone astronaut exploring an abandoned planet. From empty space outposts to its undisturbed alien caves, players will feel like their very presence is disruptive. Desperate letters collected along the way add to the tension. But really, it's the game's phenomenal retro art style to sells the atmosphere. With dark, effective colors choices, clean designs, and music than can go from serene to suspenseful in an instant, the game manages to say a lot with a little.

Meanwhile, the modest gameplay holds up enough of its end of the deal. Space Expedition plays like a 2D platformer, where methodical navigation trumps constant action. Early on, players discover a jetpack that lets them hover over long distances. Players use tricky items like that to solve most of the environmental puzzles like drills that pierce the Earth, crates to stand on and reach higher places, and a rocket boost technique to outrun rising lava. Alien enemies are few and far between, but when they do appear a turret makes satisfyingly short work of them. However, a chase from a menacing queen forces too much aggravating trial and error, as does the game's over-reliance on its crumbling platforms mechanic.

But even with its relaxed pace and slight difficulty spikes, Space Expedition still won't take too long to finish. Levels are short and, despite their nonlinearity, surprisingly straightforward. There's momentum driving the slow burn. Hidden objects create incentive for more playthroughs and flesh out the narrative, but ultimately the game feels like a younger sibling to even a handheld Metroid.

Still, that's great company to be in. And with its stellar presentation and intelligent gameplay, it's company Space Expedition deserves to be in.