Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

The galaxy is in turmoil. The Ardor reactor that previously spread love to all corners of space has exploded and caused a rift in space and time. Antilove from another dimension seeps into every galactic nook and cranny and monsters roam freely. It's up to us to travel across the galaxy and locate the four reactor parts that have been sent spinning into different constellations by the explosion. We are accompanied by a hairy little friend and a spacecraft-owning scientist called Doctor Hopsy-Flopsy.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a new creation from Asteroid Base and it's something of a happy pill. The colours are glorious, the effects extremely cosy, the sound marvellous, the graphics beautifully minimalistic, and the 2D design brilliantly crafted. All in all it makes for a great first impression, an impression that lasts throughout your time with the game.

The journey to restore order sees you progress through several different levels across the four aforementioned sections of the galaxy. The different sections and their respective levels offer various challenges to overcome, but they all have a common theme. Some levels are played to the rhythm of a timer, while others let you progress at a much more leisurely pace. Sometimes you have to travel through enemy-infested wormholes and at other times you'll make your way through water-filled cave systems.

Antilove makes itself known in different ways, and you'll collect gems along the way that allow you to upgrade your spacecraft accordingly. These gems have different properties and can be placed in any part of your spacecraft. Perhaps you need a little more power for your engine, a laser beam for your guns, or metal spikes to improve your armour; either way you want to go you've got options.

Controlling the ship is sometimes a bit of a challenge especially when moving around enemy projectiles. There is a lot to keep track of and even if you're helped by your ship pet (or even better, a friend) it can sometimes feel overly challenging trying to keep wave after wave of enemies at bay. At that point the best way forward is to chicken out and retreat. A good thing that the game operates with a silky smooth framerate. The controls are great and it's easy to move around the craft and command your pet. It's just down to making the right decision and managing not to steer yourself into a dead end.

Space is overflowing with antilove-filled creatures who all try to blow you up. Usually they come in packs or appear out of nowhere, most likely as your health is low and you're fleeing another deadly explosion. Each section offers tricky new enemies, some worse than others. Normal difficulty means that certain areas are overflowing with opponents. If you want a lesser challenge there is also a casual mode (it lives up to that name), however, the challenging difficulty is part of the enjoyment here and we can't recommend that you do, even if you need a few tries in order to learn from your mistakes.

This game manages to entertain, though at the same time it can also be quite stressful - it makes for a wonderful mix. The concept is very simple even if the content within that framework feels varied. Start your journey towards a constellation, make it through four levels, and face an end boss that will give you the missing reactor piece. Rinse and repeat with the next constellation. Traditional and predictable, you'll grasp the full scope of this offering within minutes.

We were hoping for some kind of twist, some surprise to emerge from the depths of space, but sadly there was no such moment. We would have liked to have been able to carry on to new parts of the galaxy, fresh adventures. And while you can save all the trapped animals, earn achievements, max out your ship, and break records, once the last caged bird has been set free there isn't much to keep your interest.

That's really the only negative we can find in what is otherwise a very enjoyable game. It's most certainly entertaining, especially in the local co-op, a part of the game that works flawlessly. It's fun, challenging, and requires plenty of communication (or perhaps a telepathic link) if you want to avoid violent altercations. Just the way we like our co-op. Another positive is that your fellow passenger can join at any time during a campaign. You simply start your saved game, log in with your friend, and pick the level you want play; it's as easy as that.

What brings the whole package together is the audio effects and the soundtrack. At times the music pushes you on with electronic beats that match the intensity of battle, only to then slip into more peaceful melodies once you've escaped from danger. Sometimes space is completely quiet and the only thing you hear are the taps of your feet hitting the floor of the spacecraft, or the clanking noise you make when you climb a ladder. During these quiet passages there's almost a meditative sense of calm...