Review : It Came From Space And Ate Our Brains

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It seems like arena style shoot-em-ups are a dime a dozen. My earliest memories of arcades aren’t filled with Donkey Kong or Pacman. Instead, my weekly allowance was pumped into an arena-shooter called Smash TV. It’s a genre that started me on my path to video gaming glory long before my first Game Boy, and while my tastes now desire something more complex, there is a lot to be said for sitting back and shooting a mob of aliens in the face. ICFSAAOB offers a few new ideas, and the active nature of the dev team bodes extremely well for the future of the game. Weapons are a pleasure to use, and you always thirst for the next upgrade. The constant shadows do make the levels feel a bit too similar, but the dependence on your flashlight to spot the aliens is extremely engaging. Does it win out in the end? Let’s shed some light on It Came From Space And Ate Our Brains.

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Whether you play with a friend or all alone, you are sure to encounter more aliens than you can handle. The difficulty of the game will determine the HP and speed of the alien horde. Combos are built by killing large strings of aliens in a row, if you want to maximize your weapon as fast as possible you need to let the aliens converge into a giant horde before splattering them to bits. It seems like a great plan on paper, but in execution this methodical method of maximizing wealth becomes quickly monotonous. The art style is extremely nice, and is determined to shine through the inky shadows that coat every stage. The terror of a mob of pink mouths marching through the dark is visceral. I’ve been telling people for years that pink is terrifying, now they will truly see.

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The replayability of ICFSAAOB is largely thanks to the variety of weapons and upgrades. Lower cost weapons can be maxed out quicker, but will have less power in the long term. The weapon you end up picking should always compliment your style of play. Do you prefer to thin the horde with a rocket launcher? Or pick off the strays with a laser rifle? The choice is yours, and any pick you make will be the right one. There is a great sound to every weapon that can be noticed from the first “pop” of the default pistol. The music is a decent drum and bass track, but I feel like it is a bit too slow to really capture the frantic action that is happening on the screen especially when playing on Insane.

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Overall, It Came From Space And Ate Our Brains is an extremely likeable game with an amazing aesthetic and decent gameplay. Skills are being added to the game slowly, and there is a wishlist thread over on the forums which informs me that Triangle Studios really are dedicated to making the best game possible. The game is extremely affordable at only $10. If you think you might enjoy kiting a horde while mowing them down with a chaingun, and having a friend with a plasma cannon watch your back, there is no excuse not to give this game a try. Big thanks to Triangle Studios for letting us put this game through its paces, and for the fantastic giveaway last week. This one certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Gameplay:

  • Controls- 7/10
  • Fun Factor- 6/10
  • Difficulty- 7/10
  • Replayability- 5/10
  • Innovation- 6/10

Aesthetic:

  • Graphics- 9/10
  • Music- 7/10
  • Sound FX- 9/10
  • Story/Lore- 2/10
  • Level Design- 4/10

Final Score: 62/100 for aesthetic, difficulty, and sound.

Summary: An arena-style shooter with a horde of aliens determined to eat your brain. Fantastic aesthetic.

It Came From Space And Ate Our Brains was released on Steam Mar 19th 2015.

If you enjoyed the review, you can follow me on Twitter, or check out something less wordy via Steam Curator

You can also join my gaming adventures via Lets Play. Hope to see you there!

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