Oh no! Snatch! Toss! Avoid!
It’s likely that you currently have a twin-stick shooter, roguelike game in your Steam collection. There is no lack of them at Valve’s marketplace with titles like Nuclear Throne, Enter the Gungeon, and The Binding of Isaac. Galactic Glitch adheres rather well to the blueprints of the genre with its signature permanent improvements, perks that accumulate over time, and a network of battlefields that are formed randomly. However, a grab-and-throw mechanism adds just the right amount of uniqueness.
Just in case you haven’t played a dozen other entries, Glitch walks you through the basics in a brief tutorial. Your intrepid tiny spaceship can fire its main gun, a power-shot controlled by a meter, and dodge, the latter of which has a thankfully short cooldown. Additionally, you’ll need to be skilled at each of these skills because the game’s spherical arenas are sometimes small and cluttered with floating debris.
However, your ship is also equipped with a Grav Gun. You are able to draw in little objects with this device. Once you’ve grabbed them, you may aim and throw them with ease. Generally speaking, utilizing your main weapon deals less damage than snatching rocks or mines and hurling them at enemies. Additionally, the Grav Gun allows you to switch the roles by allowing you to seize tiny foes and their missiles.
Thankfully, Crunchy Leaf Games, the developer, does not need you to employ the mechanic. Thus, you have the option to play Glitch like a conventional twin-stick shooter by hiding behind space trash. Enemies harming one another is the result of another clever design choice. It’s always satisfying to narrowly avoid an AOE attack and watch as a following enemy is destroyed by the blast. Furthermore, even though it is theoretically feasible to bounce objects off the arena’s walls, such trick shots are unfeasible when numerous opponents are pursuing you.
Two different kinds of currency will be awarded to you as you go through each level and defeat the waves of opponents in each chamber. Although they are more uncommon, orbs can be used to unlock and permanently enhance your weaponry as well as gain access to perks that can boost your throwing damage or extend your health. Conversely, Shards are more common and let you buy upgrades that are exclusive to your current run.
Galactic Glitch has some strong foundations already, even if it will only be available for six to twelve months in Steam’s Early Access program. The array of weapons available is impressive, including powerful railruns, quick twin-blasters, and the Stabilized Quantum Beam, which lashes opponents like an enormous electric whip.
The current build does have some flaws, but it also adds around thirty percent more content to the game. There isn’t much diversity in the in-game store currently available on all maps, and duplicate things occasionally appear. The game’s power-up hubs, which are set out similarly to a stage’s interconnected arenas, are the more bothersome aspect, though. Although this maintains aesthetic coherence, it is difficult to move between the many spaces. Let me look at everything that’s for sale when I browse for rewards.
The rather complex, neon-hued, anomaly-filled surroundings of Galactic Glitch make it easier for you to stay on top of things on any hectic battlefield. Another benefit of this decision is that the game runs well on portable devices like the Steam Deck. Although there is occasionally some judder, the framerate remains consistent. It’s true that a lot of the more significant enemy strikes are graphically indicated, so “reading” the screen isn’t too difficult.
Despite the abundance of twin-stick shooters in your Steam library, Galactic Glitch is becoming into a strong rival that’s well worth checking out. Although throwing and grabbing are included, the damage is weighted, so you can defeat big opponents with a few well-aimed throws. The nicest thing about Glitch is its sense of freedom; it allows you to choose between several perks and weapons, and you can choose to attack by tossing or shooting.