Galak-Z Reviews
Galak-Z does everything it tries to do exceedingly well, but it unfortunately tried very hard to be one of the most challenging shooters out there.
Galak-Z does a great job of proving why arcade shooters can still be quite fun. The crazy flight controls feel good, enemy variety is spot on, and the laser customization really lets you shoot the way you want to.
With perfectly weighted physics that feel nice on the thumbs, tactical combat that allows you to deal with any situation in a number of ways, and a soundtrack that's catchy and euphoric, Galak-Z is one helluva ride. Though the framerate can detract from the experience at times, it makes up for its one notable shortcoming with charm, nostalgia, and by bombarding you with joy.
Galak-Z took the simple, addictive gameplay of an arcade space shooter and built something wonderful out of it. A simple game to get into with an underlying complexity that never gets in the way of the fun of the game.
After what seemed like an eternal wait for the game, 17-Bit Studios' Galak-Z: The Dimensional delivered on every front for me. While it may seem challenging for some, it doesn't disappoint with its space action and strategy, and the presentation is right on the money when it comes to emulating your favorite anime. This is one space adventure that's worth gearing up for.
By letting players use their environments to their advantage, change from a spaceship to a mech, and by giving players the opportunity to let their enemies kill each other off, GALAK-Z manages to separate itself from the rest of the space shooter pack and give fans something fairly unique. If you haven't already picked it up, I recommend you do so as soon as possible.
I'm sure more casual players will still be deterred from taking the plunge, but any fan of roguelikes need not look any longer for their next fix. Galak-Z has style, and it's got it in spades.
Galak-Z pushes the freewheeling buoyancy of 80's anime against a hostile ecosystem of evil empires, insane pirates, and skeevy space bugs. Beneath this veneer of chaos is a shifting alliance of applied skill and honest luck, and muscling toward the former forces the player to fight every fight like it's their last. As roguelikes go, Galak-Z's tireless air of optimism makes a case for its own dimension.
There are moments of absolute joy to be found here, like leading a group of foes into the lair of a beast that will devour them or even juking over an enemy combatant and firing a missile up their exhaust, but they're rare instances, buried deep in the heart of a frustrating grind that doesn't do much to separate itself from the legion of rogue-likes out there. Sadly, in the end Galak-Z is yet another would-be great game undone by a ho-hum execution of ideas that must have sounded great on paper.
Galak-Z is a fun take on the rouge like, and as punishing as they come. Maybe you like that, maybe you don't. Stick with in and Galak-Z will reward you, but it sure isn't going to make it easy.
Unorthodox fun for hardened players
For fans, by fans
Galak-Z is the very definition of awesome. Playing it makes me feel like the badass intergalactic pilot I always dreamed of being as a kid, and I love it even more because it makes me work for that ecstasy.
If you can ride out the learning curve, there's plenty to enjoy in Galak-Z, and it could very well last you for 20 hours, but be prepared to endure a lot of frustration along the way.
It is good for short commutes to and from work and the Nintendo Switch IS both a living room console and a handheld portable. Maybe it will grow on me. But for now, it just leaves me in the Void.
Galak-Z is a fun game with cool ideas at its core, and I really enjoyed playing through the first couple of Seasons. However, a severe lack of variety -- combined with very little sense of consistent progression -- serves to hold it back from greatness.
Like the cartoons that inspired it, there are big ideas displayed within Galak-Z, ideas that are exciting and worthy of deeper exploration. Also like those cartoons, the resulting product feels rushed and indistinct.
Galak-Z makes a fine addition to the indie library of the PS4, showing that old arcade gaming paradigms can be revitalized with fresh mechanics and a modern retro feel. Owners of the console who are also fans of shoot-em-ups owe it to themselves to try it out. PC gamers shouldn't feel left out, as they'll also be able to get in on the action later this year.
Let's be clear, I would not be playing this game if there was not the chance that I could not pilot a giant fighting robot. Spaceships are cool and all, but they don't have beam sabers.
Galak-Z is clearly designed for players who enjoy a challenge, and it offers an impressive mix of frantic combat, long-term planning, tactical planning and anime-inspired looks that will appeal to a lot of fans of the rogue-like genre.