Convicted Galaxy Demo

The main problem with space is that it’s mostly empty, in spite of how big it is and how many stars and galaxies are out there. The distance between each star is huge, and except for a few lonesome subatomic particles, there’s nothing in between them. Obviously, this would translate into very boring space sims, so it’s only natural that the developers usually fill this emptiness with pirate ships or aliens.

Convicted Galaxy is an interesting space sim with survival elements and roguelike gameplay mechanics, in which the main goal is to stay alive, collect resources and maybe help a few friendlies along the way. The whole thing takes place in a 2.5D environment, so you are not as mobile as you might believe at first, but then again this allowed the developers to focus on the gameplay instead.

You play as a spaceship pilot who wakes up after a crash, only to realize that he is in the middle of a galaxy full of escaped convicts. Naturally, the end goal is to escape from the galaxy, and you only have one shot at it, because the game features permadeath as a core gameplay mechanic. Hence, you have to build structures, gather resources, as well as upgrade your ship to handle the situation better.

The other objective is to rescue as many friendly spaceships as possible, which is easier said than done, because you have to protect them throughout the journey out of the galaxy. On top of all that, the enemy ships get stronger as you progress, making the whole thing a proper challenge. It’s also worth noting that the galaxy and the solar systems are randomly generated for each playthrough, so you get a different challenge every time.

As for the graphics, they are actually very polished, in spite of the fact that the technology used is rather basic. The lack of a third dimension might be an annoyance for some, but it’s actually a good choice considering the gameplay mechanics. The controls could use a bit of work as well, because it can be difficult to shoot, move and avoid obstacles at the same time.

In the end, Convicted Galaxy might actually be the next Faster Than Light, but it needs a tad more work before that happens. Until then, it’s amazing to see what the developers have managed to achieve so far, and you can lend them a hand by participating in this Kickstarter campaign.