Strike Vector, you had my curiosity at last yearâs E3. Now you have my attention.
https://lastchance.cc/you-wont-believe-this-is-an-indie-combat-game-512755897%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Itâs also not really flight because you can, at any time, hit the brakes and transform your fighter. Itâs not as dramatic as a Macross transformation, but the results are the same; with the press of a button you go from controlling something thatâs flying into controlling something thatâs hovering, and which moves more like a FPS character (complete with zoomed in âiron sightsâ) than a space jet.
Combined, and given the breakneck speed matches play out at, the whole thing ends up feeling likeâŠwell, like an old game of Quake, albeit one whose controls take some time to get used to. So despite the art, and the flying, I guess itâs that throwback to the deathmatch shooters of old thatâs so appealing â and defining â about Strike Vector.
Itâs out on Steam now, and the dev team promises new content is continually coming down the pipeline. With a small team and a focus on multiplayer mayhem, donât expect a singleplayer campaign. Donât even expect a proper tutorial. All there is is a selection of ships, of weapons, a server list and a game full of things exploding at really high speeds.
So, yeah, itâs a lot of fun! I mean, itâs not without some issues. I wish there was more to do. Like Hawken â another attractive sci-fi multiplayer shooter made by a small team â I wish there was a story, an adventure to be had in this gorgeous world theyâve built. I wish the attractive architecture and ships designed by Paul Chadeisson and Pierre-Etienne Travers were married to a UI and menu system that wasnât instantly hideous. I wish the game had any other soundtrack than the one it has.
But hey, I can wish for stuff all day, even from the biggest and most expensive games. Strike Vector does one thing â frantic multiplayer combat action â and does it really well.
Itâs $20 on Steam, and is out now
