Today is surely an exciting day for Nintendo fans with all the Direct news that has relentlessly pulled no punches at all. But it certainly helps to take a look at the smaller games that demand attention as well. Lex Laser Saves the Galaxy, Again is just that kind of game.
Lex Laser is a tactical turn-based RPG that is inspired by numerous games like Gauntlet, Diablo, and Dungeons & Dragons, as well as various books by Robert A. Heinlein, and TV shows like Babylon 5 and Fire Fly.
The game has some unique twists and a meta-design choice, as the eponymous tall-tale hero of the galaxy is guided against his will by us, the players of the video game, through a 2D world fighting off hordes of enemies, mining explosive crystals, exploring ruins, and much more. Whether he wanted to or not, he has been accredited for…
[fighting off] 300 zologs in the Battle of Hilbert 5 […] [becoming] the only human to have been made an honorary member of the Vkesti Immortal Council.[releasing, catching, surviving, and curing] the final outbreak of Smallpox IV […] [and digging] up a fortune in alien artifacts in the asteroids around Rigel – [losing] it all three days later.
And all this guy really wants is some peace and quiet in his life. But at least he’s an expert technician, spaceship mechanic, and maybe even a scientist because of us.
The combat in Lex Laser is like that of a turn-based RPG in which the fights happen between periodic waits. Large hordes of enemies will appear in frame and have to be taken down quickly before they overwhelm you, or before you run out of ammunition. Each weapon deals damage in grids, and the larger the range, the more enemies you will destroy. Should you defeat one enemy per turn, you’re doing it wrong and you need to choose the right weapons. You can see how it works HERE.
Like many RPGs, you find scattered items and artifacts to develop your character and make stronger weapons. Fortunately, you don’t have to learn recipes or combinations because Lex Laser can do it all (we made him that way after all). There are also sensors that can read out or predict enemy movements, as well as seeking survivors.
Lex Laser is going to be structured around an episodic format, with each level designed to be like a television serial. Each episode is a self-contained subplot in an overarching story, much like our favorite sci-fi romps such as V or Flash Gordon. The game is not meant to be played in one sitting, and can be picked up again at any time with visual summaries about where the player last left off. It can be played at anyone’s pace.
Surprisingly, Lex Laser is designed for older experienced gamers who are raising children. The Kickstarter ad describes it as being for people who “people who might have to stop playing at any moment, who might go weeks between sessions, who might have to deal with curious faces peeking at their screens without warning.” Whether this relates to you or not, the game will still have a challenging story mode with complicated narrative situations.
Interestingly, the Kickstarter ad says that the game is not for children, but can be played near them. One of the goals behind this design choice is to bring parents closer to their kids and start conversations.
Lex Laser Saves the Galaxy, Again is slated for a 2014 release on Windows, Mac, and Linux. There are 23 days left for funding with a goal of $65,000. So far, the game has made $7,395. The team behind this game is hoping to use this money to create a more robust story campaign, create development tools for gaming communities, and port Lex Laser to tablets.
So if this sounds like a game for you, definitely look forward to more news about Lex Laser Saves the Galaxy, Again in the future.
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