Lunarsea

There are many games out there that use physics as more than a side gimmick, especially nowadays when the technology is advanced enough to make proper use of a powerful physics engine. Even simple games like Angry Birds managed to get a lot out of a simple gravity/collision simulation, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise when more developers aim for the same.

Lunarsea is an interesting action game with platformer elements and a focus on physics, given the fact that you have to use the force of attraction in order to navigate obstacles and collect coins. In short, the main goal is to use the Moon in order to cause the sea to rise and fall, which in turn allows your ship to ride the waves and avoid all sorts of obstacles along the way.

The story is obviously not very complex, because it doesn’t really affect the game too much. Hence, it presents you with the tale of Cthulhu, who manages to steal the Moon itself and is on the run from the people trying to get it back. Naturally, Cthulhu has the ability to make the Moon appear and disappear at will, which in turn allows him to toy with his enemies.

Your primary goal is to collect all the coins along the way, which in turn reward you with points that allow you to advance through the levels. There are two different game modes to choose from as well, depending on whether you prefer to go through the story in a level-by-level mode, or you just want to see for how long you can survive. Hence, the survival mode is better suited for those aiming for a high score of some sort.

As far as the graphics are concerned, they are nothing to write home about, but they are not horrible either. The physics are what matter the most, on the other hand, and the rising waves work about as well as you would expect. It takes a while to get accustomed to the mechanics, but once you master the basics, it should become easier to navigate the treacherous ocean ahead.

In the end, Lunarsea could feature a lot more variety in terms of level design, but that’s something the developers can work on in the future. Hence, there’s plenty of fun to be had with this little game if you are up with damage.