EVERSPACE Preview

Take the zone-by-zone nature of FTL, mix it with a pinch of Rogue Legacy and stir in some good old Freelancer-style space combat and you’ve got a good approximation of what EVERSPACE is. It’s also very, very pretty.

EVERSPACE is a single player space combat game with a rogue-lite style game loop. It has you dealing with an ever-changing sequence of events as you attempt to reach the next sector. Each zone leading you closer to the gate ready to throw you into your next gauntlet.

Like most rogue-lites you are expected to die, with each run hopefully bringing with it a little more progress thanks to the persistent progression system. In EVERSPACE when you die you lose all resources and equipment you had but you keep whatever blueprints you’ve found and the credits you’ve accrued, allowing you to give yourself a better shot next time through being able to craft different items and spend your cash on improving your overall state between runs.

Each run also has you playing as a different person (which is where my Rogue Legacy comparison came in at the start) helping push the feeling that you are always pushing forward, that last death can’t be for naught.

The improvements you make via the games perks system are permanent, ranging from hull and shield improvements to changing how much information is visible on the sector map. These upgrades like in other rogue-lites help you progress further over time.

The game itself is beautiful, crafted with Unreal Engine 4 it really showcases some stunning space imagery. Going for something more fantastical in style it has vivid blues and reds that really make things stand out against the stark nothingness of space itself.

That fantasy angle plays out in gameplay too, EVERSPACE is an arcade-like title through and through, combat is fast-paced; eschewing realistic newtonian-style jousting for a more immediate dogfighting feel. Fights tend to be close combat and the mix of ballistic, laser and missile weapons in play give it a frenetic pacing.

Each run is randomly generated meaning you’ll never be sure what you are going to encounter, every zone can contain enemies, resource nodes to mine or collect, traders to barter with or simply canisters with goodies in. Some zones can have objectives to complete too, destroying a jump drive jammer for example and like in FTL you are encouraged to move forward by the threat of enemies constantly on your heels.

The combination of action-packed combat and rogue-lite progression systems is both compelling and unique from what is on display so far and is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

EVERSPACE is currently in beta and is expected to go into Early Access on the 14th September 2016.