Aetherspace Demo

Space battles are always fun to watch, and even more fun to participate in with the help of video games. Some prefer to focus on the action and make the said battles as intense as possible, while other games provide the players with rich tactical options that require more planning. Whichever approach you like most, there are many options at your disposal, as well as more on the way.

Aetherspace is a turn-based strategy game that allows you to take control of a gang and use spaceships in order to fight your rivals for territory. Although it looks fairly simple at first, given the basic interface and lack of flashy graphics, the game is actually quite complex, especially when it comes to ship customization, tactical options and the character development possibilities.   As such, you start with only a ship and a pilot, but you can acquire more along the way. There are missions you can undertake, and each one of them requires time in order to be completed. If you win, you can get better parts for your ship, as well as experience for the pilots. The skill trees are quite extensive, and some abilities can change the course of battles when used at the right time.

New parts can be used for ship upgrades, and it’s a joy to finally get more power for your fleet after a difficult victory. You are free to examine your ships, customize their colors, as well as install upgrades whenever you want. Sometimes it’s important to choose one part over the other in order to stand a chance, since maximum damage is not always the way to go, given the tactical scope of the game.   Even so, there are many weapons to choose from, and they all have unique advantages and disadvantages during combat. As far as the graphics are concerned, the visual quality is kept at a minimum, but there are plenty of nice backgrounds as you cruise through the depths of space. The interface is helpful and intuitive, although the tutorial helps out if you ever get stuck.

Aetherspace still needs a bit of work, but it’s definitely on the right track, especially since it’s a breath of fresh air in the genre. Thus, it’s worth a shot if you have a weak spot for TBS games and spaceships.