If you have always dreamed of going into space then look no further than the latest PSN minis game Orbit. Orbit is all about exploring space, its glorious planets and gathering energy deposits to keep mother Earth going throughout the twenty-first century and beyond. The only teeny tiny hiccup is that there is no money left in the world to fund such a mammoth task. This is where Professor Potts and the Institute of Space Research Institutes (yep, that’s what it’s called) steps in. Professor Potts’ plan is to send you into space to collect the floating gold ore in order to help get the Orbit project back on track. Now with no money, the way this exploration is going to start is on very basic terms. And basic means you will be fired out of a cannon while holding your breath and flapping your arms, but the Professor assures you’ll be OK… right?!
As well as flying across the planet, you are also asked to find the floating blueprint pieces and the various relics on the surface. There are 32 pieces of the blueprint, with four on each of the eight levels, which when collected are hoped to unlock a very important design. The relics you can find are identified by a blue ring around them and you collect them by landing next to them. In order to progress, you will need to ‘beat’ the current distance explored. This score is shown when choosing which planet you want to visit. You can also get another piece of equipment which you can upgrade. The only down side is that any money made on previous planets can’t be carried over so you’ll have to start from scratch.
The only way to buy upgrades is by collecting gold ore and finding relics. You also get an ‘Exploration Bonus’ depending on how much of the planet you cover during your flight. There are six upgrades available to you and a one shot boost. The upgrades, which can be one off purchases or be upgraded six times, are engine, rocket, booster, launcher, ore collector, HUD, and wipers.
To get started and play, the main button you’ll be using will be ‘X’. This will be used to control the level of energy used to fire you out of the chosen launcher, use the engine and choose which upgrades and planets you want to explore. When you are able to purchase the one shot boosts, they are activated by pressing ‘Circle’. When you have decided which planet to explore, you are then taken to the ‘Research screen’ where you are given five options to choose from. To go out you choose the rocket, to view and purchase upgrades click on the $ and the cogs shows you how much of the blueprints you’ve collected. The trophy shows if you were able to get any of the 12 very challenging achievements and the return takes you to back to change which planet you are on.
Orbit is one of those random and quirky games that don’t try to over complicate or dress up what it is. The controls are simple and the storyline is to the point. My initial reaction was of doubt because I expected more but once I actually gave the game a chance, I thought it was OK! Something else to sweeten the deal is that it’s compatible with the PSP, so for a mere £2.49 I’d suggest giving this game a punt.
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