Galak-Z Reviews
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.
Unorthodox fun for hardened players
... the quite solid and engaging story line, the brilliant art-style and voice-over, or the sheer thrill of pulling of an insane maenuver such as grappling one enemy and throwing him into a pressure pipe launching him into a stack of floating gas canisters only for his squad to be flanking for an attack on myself as a chain reaction of explosions and organic spike-bomb plants takes the whole lot out…
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.
Challenging but immaculately calibrated controls power an exciting and enormously rewarding sci-fi roguelike.
There are plenty of upgrades and the way that you can mix and match them to create new attack types is fantastic, but enemies and objectives are locked into a handful of templates, and those dungeon-rocks all start to look the same after a while. Even so, I've had a tremendous time playing. Galak-Z is a smooth, polished and compelling arcade shooter that trades in tension and tactical awareness rather than screen-clearing power-trips.
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.
If you see this game on sale you should absolutely pick it up, trust me it'll be worth it.
While it does occasionally get repetitive, the solid play mechanics and constantly evolving challenge is just reward for those that persevere with it. Plus (and this can't be stressed enough)... it has a ship that transforms into a giant mech.
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.
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.
For all the positives, a game you want to uninstall every time you die just isn't good, and for that reason Galak-Z isn't worth your time.
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.
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 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.
Hopefully the highly hinted at sequel will shore up some of GALAK-Z's weaknesses - namely lack of narrative closure and an unrefined difficulty curve - and I'll be able to more wholeheartedly recommended it.
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.
For fans, by fans
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.
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.