With each passing year gaming is growing bigger and bigger. We can now look forward to multiple high profile blockbuster titles every year, meaning we gamers are a very lucky bunch indeed. However, let’s not forget that a game doesn’t have to have millions pumped into it for it to be worth your time. In a gaming climate saturated by enormous franchises, I have come to love the brilliant indie games that crop up every now and then. These games should be cherished and loved, and one such game is Strike Suit Zero from Born Ready Games.
What is Strike Suit Zero? Well, in a nutshell, it’s a space combat game. In Strike Suit Zero you'll control a high tech spacecraft/mech, piloting it in missions throughout a story driven single player campaign. It’s also a hugely entertaining.
My time with Strike Suit Zero was spent on one mission, during which I used a joystick to control the game – however the game can be played using conventional control methods. I began the level by taking out enemy ships using my primary guns and lock on missile systems. Pretty standard stuff, but it helped me learn my way around the game. Things quickly got much more challenging though. I was soon using all of my piloting prowess to defend my allies against multiple waves of fighters, missiles and enemy frigates. Gameplay comes together to create a superbly paced and rewarding combat experience that packs a punch.
One of the biggest combat features of Strike Suit Zero is your ability to change into a hovering mech. When in this mode you can dash away from incoming fire, use devastating machine guns, and dish out a huge amount of damage by locking on to multiple enemies and firing missiles at them. Time spent as a mech is limited though. The longer you stay in mech mode, the more flux you will use, meaning eventually you’ll run out. That is unless you can keep chain killing enemies, as this is the only way to regain flux. The key to success is carefully managing your flux, chaining together kills, and making skilful use of your time in mech mode.
Adding to the stellar gameplay are the gorgeous visuals. Taking into account that this is an indie game developed by a small team, Strike Suit Zero looks astounding. The backdrops to the levels are absolutely stunning, whilst ships look equally impressive. Combine this with some impressive sound effects – the torpedoes are a favourite of mine – and you’re on to a real winner.
Strike Suit Zero was one of my favourite games at the Eurogamer Expo. When you consider that huge games such as Call of Duty, Assassins Creed, Forza and PlayStation All-Stars were present at the expo, you’ll realise that isn’t a statement to take lightly.
