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Galak-Z: The Dimensional Review Thread
- Thread starter Jimmyfenix
- Start date
Muchi Muchi Pink
Member
"A rogue-lite" I assume they wanted to say rogue-like. But seriously do we call shmups now rogue-like just because you die in one hit? So stupid.
hey_it's_that_dog
benevolent sexism
No they meant rogue-lite and it means you don't start completely from scratch when you die. Not sure what one-hit-death shmups have to do with it.
Freedom = $1.05
Banned
Rogue-likes have permadeath, zero progression, and stages are procedurally generated
Rogue-lites have some of those features but not all. Usually, they allow for some progression but almost all of them feature procedurally generated stages
Muchi Muchi Pink
Member
It's a freaking shmup.
Freedom = $1.05
Banned
And spelunky is a 2d platformer
I don't get your angle. Are you complaining about an accurate descriptor being used for galak-z or is the description of the game not reductive enough for you?
It's procedurally generated. No one's saying it's not a shmup as well.
backbreaker65
Banned
Good but tough Game. Learning the controls and the momentum of the ship physics is the tough part. One of the best games I've played all year.
Muchi Muchi Pink
Member
Thanks for the warning, will avoid this then.
0.1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55
Banned
Galak-Z is awesome
there is a lot of depth to the combat
pretty steep learning curve with maneuvering the ship, but once it clicks.... its very rewarding.
the music, sound effect, and visuals all come together to deliver a great trip down nostalgia lane.
there is a lot of depth to the combat
pretty steep learning curve with maneuvering the ship, but once it clicks.... its very rewarding.
the music, sound effect, and visuals all come together to deliver a great trip down nostalgia lane.
You do start from scratch if you die, very little is persistent.
Go into it thinking it's a shmup, and you won't last very long.
pixellated_man
Member
Sounds good so far. Why so few reviews though?
Not necessarily. The basic progression is similar, but the control system is very different, as is combat. I like 'em all, personally, but for different reasons.
Jimmyfenix
Member
review codes were sent late/ late updates to the game
GI , GB and Kotaku reviews are coming soon.
drotahorror
Member
I didn't think it'd be a hindrance but it is. I would have preferred hand crafted levels with different environments. All seasons look basically the same. *haven't seen the 4th season
Most journalists (and people) probably can't beat it. Game does not mess around.
If you like those two and 2D space games, then yeah.
Not sure what you are trying to get at here. Roguelikes can be various game types.
TimorousPanda
Member
Really excited to try this out at some point.
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
You were the one that didn;t know anything about the game to begin with and responded aggresive to "shrumps being called rogue-like".
backbreaker65
Banned
I think why so few reviews, the game is tough and they probably getting their asses handed to them.
pixellated_man
Member
Hmm, so the review copies were sent out late and / or the game is simply too hard for most reviewers to finish in time for the release. Makes sense, but still a shame. Smaller games like this need all the publicity they can get or they may be overlooked on release. Especially when the game in question looks to be a real gem like this one. Let's just hope a packed august for Indies on ps4 does not hinder success for the developers of this title.
0.1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55
Banned
this gif is worth the price of entry
whats even better is mech on mech combat. it's pretty incredible to block a massive laser sword with your shield and then charge strike the foe into oblivion.
whats even better is mech on mech combat. it's pretty incredible to block a massive laser sword with your shield and then charge strike the foe into oblivion.
Freedom = $1.05
Banned
The devs said the game could take 20-25 hours to complete. So if reviewers just got the game the it's not unreasonable to think that they're trying to complete it before posting a review
pixellated_man
Member
The above gif reminded me to ask about the performance issues the game was having prior to the day one patch. How much does the patch improve on the fps?
There are still performance dips when lots is happening on screen, but they've said they are looking at improving it.
SerTapTap
Member
Haven't gotten around to doing a video yet, but the game's quite good (and ramps up in difficulty slowly but surely). Died to 3-5 last night. Combat is great, doesn't really play like a shmup, or like Asteroids, it's got it's own control scheme that takes getting used to but works quite well.
The proc gen is pretty boring to be quite honest, but the enemy variety is decent, AI is good and general combat depth is solid. The roguelike elements are very minor and weird, even calling it roguelike seems inappropriate.
It's a game with procedurally generated levels (from a rather small variety of templates, and like, two visual styles) where you have to complete 5 levels (a season) in a row or restart, there's a "retry" mechanic with limited chances per season (up to two if you earn them), and you can unlock the potential for items to randomly be in the shop. That's about all there is to the roguelikeness.
There's still perf issues but they're being worked on. Devs seem aware of most technical problems the game has and has fixed a few (patch not out yet though). The day one patch brough the game to a proper 60 FPS with no tearing but it still dips. Don't play without the patch, if you even can, and don't worry about the pre-release version, only press had to deal with it.
N++ and this game both had review copies out really late in NA--sounds like it might be because of the preorder. I got an EU copy of N++ so I got to play it a week early (a week with N++ is still scratching the surface though) and with this game I wasn't so lucky and only had a day before launch to play it (and as above, it was broken performance-wise). Wait a few more days.
The proc gen is pretty boring to be quite honest, but the enemy variety is decent, AI is good and general combat depth is solid. The roguelike elements are very minor and weird, even calling it roguelike seems inappropriate.
It's a game with procedurally generated levels (from a rather small variety of templates, and like, two visual styles) where you have to complete 5 levels (a season) in a row or restart, there's a "retry" mechanic with limited chances per season (up to two if you earn them), and you can unlock the potential for items to randomly be in the shop. That's about all there is to the roguelikeness.
There's still perf issues but they're being worked on. Devs seem aware of most technical problems the game has and has fixed a few (patch not out yet though). The day one patch brough the game to a proper 60 FPS with no tearing but it still dips. Don't play without the patch, if you even can, and don't worry about the pre-release version, only press had to deal with it.
N++ and this game both had review copies out really late in NA--sounds like it might be because of the preorder. I got an EU copy of N++ so I got to play it a week early (a week with N++ is still scratching the surface though) and with this game I wasn't so lucky and only had a day before launch to play it (and as above, it was broken performance-wise). Wait a few more days.
I had my own concerns going into it - this type of control scheme has never been my forte. But the game eases you into it and gives you plenty of options about how to approach combat, including outright avoidance in most cases. So far, I haven't found myself dying for any other reason than I overextended myself and so the fault was mine, not because the game was crushingly hard.
After replaying season 1 a few times, it's more like a random "tile" system, than a full proc-gen system, you can see the same "tiles" (like a round bit of terrain with a tunnel into it and a clearing).
It's probably my only real minus on the game at the moment, that it really doesn't feel like proc-gen, it all feels very samey, good job the combat is so organic.
SerTapTap
Member
The objectives are proc gen too, which might be why the writing is fairly weak especially outside of the last "episode" stuff. Die on 3-1 and you'll notice your objective is different each time
You don't even have to die, if you don't like the mission offered, just back out to the main menu and you'll get another one offered up when you load the game.
pixellated_man
Member
Thanks for the reply. Doesn't sound too bad and the reviews so far are not making a big deal about it. I think I will get this on ps4 even though the PC version will probably run better on my rig. That vita streaming is too much of a pull for me.
It is hard as hell, but it's also still incredibly fun. Difficult games are only really irritating when retrying is a bore. Luckily the degree of complexity to the combat allows for you to experiment with a multitude of tactics and approaches, that are fun to explore till you get it right. I'm still very early on in the game though, so will reserve proper judgement till I've spent more time with it.
Jimmyfenix
Member
updated the OP with more reviews
Gametrailers posted their review a few days ago. Solid video. They gave it an 8.5/10.
GT | Galak-Z: The Dimensional - Review
GT | Galak-Z: The Dimensional - Review
I like how A-Tak and Beam interacting together. Good for some chuckles from time to time. Presentation is great and combat can be super fun if you pull off some crazy kills. Level design and performance are the only real downside as some of you already mentioned. Not much variety in the maps and frames can go the hell if too much stuff happens at once. But overall it's a good game with a big learning curve.