Review for Space Junkies. PC game, the video game came out on 31/12/2018
Analyzing the characteristics proposed by Space Junkies, the conditions for doing well would seem to be all there: a solid technical system, the power of PlayStation VR subservient to gameplay, a good number of maps and weapons.
Unfortunately, however, there is a though. The feature that should be able to represent one of the strong points of the production, that is the cross-play that allows PlayStation 4 owners to play video games together with the PC ones, actually represents one of the greatest limitations. Why? Let's proceed in order.
Ubisoft's binary work is a arena shooter of those who have been missing on the videogame scene for a long time. Frantic and fun enough, Space Junkies asks the gamer very little time so that homo ludens can easily acclimate to the game's control scheme. Unreal Tournament or Quake 3, anyone?
The only device that can be used, and here the left eyebrow arch begins to rise, is Dual Shock 4: yes, no other control tools are currently supported. The two analog sticks of the Sony pad independently manage the directionality of our beloved alter ego, while the ability of our hero to take up two weapons at the same time is translated into action by the triggers on the top of the controller, which offer the user the possibility to shoot using the weapon contained in the left hand, in the right or, possibly, those held by both ends, releasing such a mass of fire that even Grisù would turn pale.
And if it is true that shooting is not a problem, a completely different discourse must instead be poured into need to aim by moving Dual Shock 4 in the desired direction.
And it is precisely then that snuffings abound, pouring copiously towards an unreliable motion tracking technology and the unfortunate decision, by the development team, not to support other peripherals outside the standard PlayStation 4 pad.. By virtue of cross play, it is never difficult to find a game in which to stone your opponent, but if the gamer participates in the game via PS VR, he becomes the predestined target, with PC gamers who, nine times out of ten, manage to catch him repeatedly before even a single shot can touch the cheeks of the smug opponent.
Those who do not play through PlayStation VR, in fact, can enjoy an immensely more precise aiming system and the possibility of tormenting the enemy with the two weapons without necessarily aiming in the same direction. This mismatch in performance means that not only are the matches played on Space Junkies not too fun, but that also the competitive spirit housed in the maze of the binary code of the virtual reality shooter packaged by Ubisoft goes to be blessed. A wasted opportunity, all in all.
Too bad, because even at the level of game modes, available maps and displayable paraphernalia, the target is hit (almost) in full, offering a good variety of playful variations all against all, 2 against 2 and even 1 against 1.
What if. playfully speaking, Space Junkies does not fully convince for some questionable choices, technically - as described at the beginning of the review - it behaves very well, managing to rise in the usually hyper-realistic world of shooters with a decidedly apt cartoonish look. Even motion sickness, always around the corner when it comes to virtual reality, does not create particular problems.
Ultimately, Space Junkies is a good game, tainted by an incomprehensible choice to limit yourself to Dual Shock 4 in the range of applicable control systems and crippled by a cross play that ends up penalizing rather than enhancing the competitive spirit of the game. Graphically delightful and playfully fun, Space Junkies, like Grignani's falcon, convinces but only halfway.
► Space Junkies is a Shooter type game developed and published by Ubisoft for PC, the video game was released on 31/12/2018
