An Early Access code was provided with many thanks to JF Games
Galactic Glitch Flies Onto Early Access
Ever wanted to pilot a spaceship created by an advanced AI, only to get obliterated and start over? Welcome to Galactic Glitch, a top-down twin-stick shooter with roguelite mechanics, now in Early Access on Steam. Another entry in the ever-popular roguelite genre, Galactic Glitch, has you zooming from room to room, blasting enemies, and tackling Behemoth boss fights. But don’t get too comfortable, one wrong move, and it all comes crashing down. Back at base, you upgrade your stats and dive back in for another addictive run. Galactic Glitch nails the formula, adding fresh ideas to stand out in the crowded roguelite arena.
Running the Simulation
In a twist on the usual space shooter narrative, you play as a spaceship born from advanced AI, running complex simulations to hone your combat skills. Fail the simulation? No problem: just restart and try again. The narrative fits snugly into the rogue-lite design, and the witty banter from the AI between runs is short, sharp, and to the point. The gameplay, however, is where the real magic happens.
Shoot and Use Physics
Controls are smooth and responsive. Your ship shoots and activates a special attack on a short cooldown timer. Over time, you unlock various intriguing weapons, from long-range lasers to deadly up-close shotgun blasts and even a force field that slowly drains enemy health. But the real star is the grav gun, letting you hurl objects like rocks, rockets, and even enemies back at your foes. It’s a blast to use, though when the action heats up with faster, tougher enemies, you’ll likely fall back on trusty twin-stick shooting.
Upgrades Galore
What keeps you coming back for more are the buffs you pick up along your travels. Occasionally, you’ll find rooms where you can spawn extra enemies for a chance to boost your stats like attack or health. These buffs come as colour-coded cards, which you can later exchange to enhance special abilities permanently. Progress further, and you’ll unlock new permanent skills, boosting your weapons and opening up new secrets and biomes, ensuring no two runs feel the same.
Boss Battles and Visuals
Each level ends with a mini-boss, and after a few levels, you face a gigantic boss. These epic encounters are the cherry on top of the adrenaline-fueled gameplay. Once the level is complete, you can buy extra stat buffs or abilities with the currency you’ve collected. Galactic Glitch’s visuals are a neon delight, with upbeat soundtracks and levels filled with space debris and enemies, all surrounded by an electric field that bounces you around like an elastic band. Enemies range from mechanical menaces to biological monstrosities, each with unique attacks and weaknesses for you to exploit.
Final Thoughts
Galactic Glitch makes a stellar first impression in Early Access. Fast, fluid gameplay with a mix of combat options keeps you hooked. Good news for Steam Deck fans: this game is already compatible with the handheld. The difficulty curve isn’t too steep, allowing steady progress and new unlocks. If there’s room for improvement, it would be in breaking away from the rogue-lite formula a bit more, perhaps by switching weapons after boss fights. Even in its current form, it’s a ton of fun. If you’re looking for your next space shooter fix, add it to your Steam wishlist.
A free demo is available on Steam, so give it a whirl!
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