Gravitron 2

Evidently I bought this game before Steam even measured play time. Felt an itch to go back for a bit. And I'm glad I did. This game is an obvious homage to classic games like Gravitar and Thrust, with a glowy neon aesthetic. Controls are a bit floaty and I would not recommend you play this with a keyboard. I used the mouse, which allowed some fairly precise yet speedy spinning required to both shoot at something below you, and then turn around to get some upward thrust going the next moment. As a quick play action game this game brings an old-school challenge and difficulty. Combined with neon vector-like graphics, this is a good thing to jump in for a quick play in. Probably doesn't have the staying power to be your whole month's play. But it certainly will scratch that retro itch. Final thought... this game is a throwback to games considered very retro by the time it released. And I'm writing this review 17 years after it released. Does that make this Retro²?

Pro: * precise controls * interesting level design with lots of moving parts * timeless stylized graphics (if you like that style) * lots of challenge * not unique, but a genre of games with not too many good competitors * fleeing after blowing up the last reactor has some nice intensity. Leaving the planet last second is fun. * inexpensive Contra: * lazer walls instantly kill you * enemies hitting you make you bounce around in small corridors hitting all walls, losing all control, often ending up in cheap death * I don't think it is possible to win this game with keyboard only controls. I play it with mouse and I see that unconventional control scheme necessary to win this game * playing for a high score is a bit of an outdated concept. Nobody cares about scores. * online high score is broken. * no weapon or ship variety, only a single shooty gun