Galak-Z: The Void: Deluxe Edition

Genre: 2D Space Shooter / Roguelike

Players: 1, Online Leaderboards

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Review:

Note: This game is included in Galak-Z: The Void and Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-A-Fide Edition Platinum Pack, along with Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-A-Fide Edition

Galak-Z, originally released as Galak-Z: The Dimensional, is a 2D Space Shooter with Roguelike elements originally released on PC and PlayStation 4 in 2015. The game was packed together with its expansion, The Void, in a release on PC in 2016 under the title Galak-Z: The Void, with this version releasing on PlayStation 4 in 2016. Finally, the game released on Nintendo Switch in 2019 as Galak-Z: The Void: Deluxe Edition, including not only the Void expansion, but also the previously released free Arcade Mode update, along with online leaderboards and a daily challenge. It’s not enough to truly set the Nintendo Switch version apart from earlier releases of the game, but this is nevertheless the definitive version of the original Galak-Z.

The presentation in Galak-Z is mostly excellent. Backed by appropriate cinematic music, players will be navigating a ship through fields of asteroids and cave systems within larger asteroids, and while the gameplay is in 2D, the visuals are fully 3D, with some really nice lighting effects – light will filter through from the background illuminating space dust with light rays, your ship lights up your surroundings with headlights when you face in their direction, and there’s environmental lighting here too. All of this combines to not only look great, but to give the world around you some excellent depth.

By comparison, the ships and characters look… okay. Their 3D designs are fine, but I question the choice to outline these ships with cel shading given the realistic look of the surroundings they find themselves in. This is particularly noticeable in post-level results screens, where you can see your larger home base ship not only outlined the same way, but in a far more exaggerated style that doesn’t look like a cartoon or anything, it’s just plain distracting.

This cel-shaded look is undoubtedly to tie in with this game’s characters, which are also cel-shaded in a cartoony style. While most of these characters are well-voiced and reasonably entertaining, I found myself strongly disliking the game’s main character, A-Tak, who’s one of those insufferable snarky characters who feels the need to make snide comments on everything going on in a voice that makes me want to reach through the screen and punch him in the face.

Thankfully, while I’m not a fan of the protagonist, I found the gameplay to be superb. The decision to make this game a 2D Space Shooter instead of a 2-Stick Shooter means that this game is more difficult to control, especially in tense combat situations. However, players are provided with plenty of movement capabilities, such as a “juke” ability that acts as a briefly invincible dodge move. This doesn’t remove the game’s high challenge level, but gives players ways to soften it, especially if they can master the controls.

The challenge here is further offset by enemies who similarly seem to struggle with their controls and outright panic when they take damage. These sorts of reactions make it all the more satisfying when you turn the tables on a pursuer, whose arrogant radio chatter turns to panic as he swings his ship about wildly to avoid your fire, and it’s particularly delightful when you can finally pin one of them down and take them out with a hail of gunfire.

As you progress through the game, you’ll be able to outfit your ship with an ever-expanding array of abilities, with five different slots for your standard laser blasters to receive upgrades, as well as numerous ways to upgrade your ship’s movement, missiles, shields, booster, and so on, and players can also unlock blueprints to allow access to new upgrades in future runs using the game’s Roguelike elements.

Of course, players who would rather have an easier time playing through the game or who have no interest in Roguelike game design can instead opt for the Arcade mode which will allow you to continue without losing progress. Alternately, those seeking a challenge may want to play the Void mode, which challenges players to get as far as they can in endless play using only one life.

No matter which way you choose to play Galak-Z, this is a rewarding 2D Space Shooter that emphasizes thoughtful, methodical play, with Roguelike elements like randomized upgrades and procedurally-generated maps to keep things varied and interesting. If that sounds like something that appeals to you, this is definitely a game you’ll want to check out.

tl;dr – Galak-Z is a 2D Space Shooter with Roguelike elements. The game’s protagonist is a twerp, and the difficult controls may not appeal to everyone, but those who work to learn those controls will find this is a deep and rewarding game with excellent gameplay.

Grade: B+

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