Gameplay
Graphics
Sound/music
Controls

Space is brilliant isn’t it? It’s full of planets, stars, solar systems, nebulas and space pirates blasting each other to bits because that’s what pirates do. “Rebel Galaxy” lets you do just that, you start with a craft then start taking on jobs, mining for cargo, being a good guy or just be a complete outlaw trading in slaves and blasting the local militia into the darkness of the void. There’s also a story in “Rebel Galaxy” about finding your aunt and uncovering the secrets of a mysterious artefact. After spending hours upon hours playing this game you forget that it was made by only two guys Travis Baldree and Erich Schaefer (the very same team which developed games such as Torchlight and Diablo!). “Rebel galaxy” had already landed on Steam last October, but now it has finally made its way to PS4 and Xbox One but is it worth the wait?

Jumping straight into the gameplay, all I can say is that it’s brilliant; it’s addictive, challenging and enjoyable. You don’t need an instruction manual to understand this game. Speeding around the galaxy in your trusty vessel armed to the teeth with rockets, cannons and lasers is simple affair thanks to the control scheme. And the fact is, there are no Y axis to be found within the game. Combat is similar to the naval combat from Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, passing by other ships and then unleashing fiery hell from your broadsides sending your foe into the void; it feels and looks brilliant.

FIRE ALL CANO…. I mean LASERS!

Everything takes place on a 2d plane, there’s no up and down, basically it’s Black Flag in space. It’s not all about fighting through. You can be a trader too which helps make your fortune. Fill your hulls with different items from Diamonds to Slaves then sell them for the highest price at the various space stations located in each Solar System. If you feel devilish you can live out your space pirate fantasies by hailing crafts, and telling them to drop their cargo or “suck a void”.

“Rebel Galaxy” is incredibly accessible. It’s easy to pick up and play but my God it’s addictive, the thirst to buy a bigger ship that has more guns or a larger hull is insane. I’m constantly trying to find ways to earn more money to buy upgrades or a new ship. The variety of vessels to captain ranges from small speedy ships useful for cargo runs, to colossal dreadnoughts armed to the teeth for intergalactic war. At the later stages it can become a tough grind, some missions you will simply be out gunned and out matched, which can become a little stressful. At times, you merely have to do a little grinding to save up and buy some bigger guns. However, with risk comes reward pulling off a dead drop mission which consists of collecting important cargo then escaping the clenches of several enemy crafts feels incredible, especially when you make bank. There is a good variety of quests to take on from all-out war to simple cargo runs.

Some ships are truly huge in “Rebel Galaxy”.

The story in “Rebel Galaxy” is probably its weakest part, but it isn’t forced upon you. The plot consists of finding your aunt who’s uncovered a mysterious artefact. You get to travel to different systems trying to unlock its secrets while meeting with various characters along the way, it’s completely optional but does open up some nice perks along the way. After a short tutorial, you’re left to your own devices, you can go about being a do-gooder, become a trader or be a bad-ass space pirate and pick a fight with anyone who dares to cross your ship. There’s also a little freedom during conversations as on occasion you choose your response while in conversation or hailing other ships to either trade or intimidate them.

The visuals are pretty impressive. The color pallets are varied, which make for some stunning vistas thanks to colorful Nebula, various asteroid fields and blazing stars which fill each solar system. The ship designs are also awesome and come in all shapes and sizes. Unlike its PC counterpart “Rebel Galaxy” runs at 30fps rather than 60fps. It’s worth noting that during my time with it on PS4, I have not experienced any frame drops or noticeable issues during busy firefights.

Don’t annoy the Space police as they’ll punish you for carrying illegal cargo.

Furthermore, the sound design is also at a good standard, and the sound of your hyper drives booting up have that Sci-fi authenticity you come to expect. The voice acting is at a decent standard as well, and there is a variety of characters speaking both English and alien dialect. Having a pirate hail your ship threatening you then moments later begging for a cease-fire is very entertaining. There’s also an in-game soundtrack consisting of country rock but personally while piloting my Dreadnaught. I played a few tracks from ‘2 steps from hell’ that felt more at home, which does make the long travel from one side of a solar system to the other a bit more fun.

“Rebel Galaxy” offers more than I expected, the story will last you’re a good 20 hours, and that can go on longer as your take over each Solar System, destroying all that stand in your way as you acquire the most powerful ship available. Fans of Treasure Planet and various Sci-fi flicks will find plenty of enjoyment here. The Solar systems are large and have plenty of secrets to discover from rare resources to huge convoys. The gameplay is incredibly accessible, and it’s certainly a nice treat for those looking for a space adventure game on their console.

Pros:
+ Enjoyable Combat
+ Accessible
+ Nice variety of ships.

Cons:
– Can become repetitive
– Fluctuating difficulty
– Travel can get a bit boring

tgg grade 4 out of 5

Verdict: 4/5
Rebel Galaxy is a nice surprise, so if you´re looking for a Sci-fi space shooter that doesn’t need an instruction manual to operate. You will feel right at home with Rebel Galaxy for sure.

Title: Rebel Galaxy
Developer: Double Damage
Format: PS4, Xbox One and PC
Genre: Platforming adventure
Resolution: 1080p
Release date: 05/01/16
Difficulty: Medium to Hard
Spent time: 20 hours
Average grade internationally: 66.67%
PEGI age rating: 12
Price: £15.99