Code provided, with many thanks to The IndiEXP.
Which Way Up: Space Olympics A Party in Space
Which Way Up: Space Olympics is a jolly party game with a focus on simple controls and loose platforming. Created by space enthusiasts from Australia, Which Way Up looks to create a memorable game night experience for the entire family and gamers of all skill levels. I had a chance to play through a demo build of the game and have some thoughts to share, which are out of this world.
Platforming With Gravity
In the demo build I played, Which Way Up: Space Olympics could be played with 2-4 players locally. The developers are planning to introduce single-player elements and online multiplayer in the final release. Like most party games, you select your character and then select the party games you want to play. The first player to win five games wins the Space Olympics.
A feature that stood out right from the start is you can play through a helpful tutorial. Here, every player is shown the controls on screen so they can practice them before taking on the games. It’s short and to the point, so experienced players won’t be delayed too long to get to the action.
Control reminders are also given during loading screens. Controls are easy to pick up. When you jump, you’ll leap off the platform you’re on and float into space. If you’re closer to another surface, the gravity of that surface will pull you in. With skill, you can play around with the gravity and wiggle around the platforms. In addition, you can charge up a punch to knock other players off, a bit like Smash Brothers. It feels comfortable and easy to use.
The Party Games
As for the party games themselves, they are short bursts of fun with decent variety in design. My favourite was a game called Event Horizon, where your characters need to flee from a devastating black hole coming from the left of the screen. If you’re really nasty, you can punch fellow players to take the lead. The last survivor is crowned the winner. It’s a very simple premise but sometimes simple is the most fun.
Other games include Overload, which essentially acts as a tag where a player with an electronic pulse needs to tag other players before the timer expires. Star Ring is a moving King of the Hill game where players need to try to stay in a ring as it moves around the level. Comet Collect has players punch comets into their goal to collect points. All of these games will feel familiar to experienced players.
However, the simple controls complement each other very well, making for a party game suited to everyone. Each individual game only lasts a few minutes at most, with the entire Space Olympics unlikely to take up too much longer than fifteen minutes. It appears that the game has no progression system, so all players are on the same level from the start. This will appeal to players wanting that pick-up play experience out of the digital box without the hassle of unlocking things.
Before The Universe
Though no story or plot is offered in the game, the Steam page description sets the scene for the premise. Which Way Up: Space Olympics is set at the dawn of the universe. You play sprites responsible for building the cosmos as we know it. These creators manifest in the game as cute, cuddly sprites and act as the main characters in the game. Examples include Sprout, the manifestation of organic life; Sunny, the provider of light or energy (basically the Sun); and Maggie, the manifestation of magnetic fields.
Each character feels unique and quirky. Creating is hard work, so even sprites need a break, and that leads us to the party premise of Which Way Up: Space Olympics. It will be interesting if this story element is merged into the final product, but I guess time will tell. The graphics are simple but charming and suited to absolutely everybody. The soundtrack is appropriately cosmic and upbeat, adding to the family-friendly feel and party atmosphere.
Final Thoughts and Roadmap
Overall, I liked what I played of Which Way Up: Space Olympics. It comes across as a simple, to-the-point party experience that should provide plenty of cosmic smiles around the living room whether you win or lose. What stood out most to me is how accessible the game is for gamers of most skill levels. Which Way Up: Space Olympics looks to be an appealing game night game with family and loved ones. Consider wish listing it on Steam, as that always helps out developers.
As for the roadmap, Which Way Up: Space Olympics is planning to release in early 2025. The developers are looking to add a single-player mode, online multiplayer and more party games. They are also looking to release the game on other platforms, though precise ones are yet to be announced.