Beyond Galaxyland Review – To Infinity or Beyond?

Beyond Galaxyland Review

Although I went into Beyond Galaxyland relatively blind, the little bit I did see ahead of time prepared me for an intergalactic experience with an interesting aesthetic. Self-described as an adventure RPG with exploration and strategic turn-based combat, the title also takes place in a 2.5D perspective. Personally, I tend to keep expectations low for indie titles despite interesting elements or aesthetics, simply because many have failed to meet them. Simply put, while Beyond Galaxyland is not perfect by any means, you can consider the title to have gone beyond my expectations.

Have Guinea Pig, Will Travel

After a short introduction to the game’s universe, you take control of high-schooler Doug as he is transported away from Earth and the threat of The End. Armed with a wooden sword and a guinea pig companion equipped with a gun, Doug must navigate his new surroundings and life post-Earth. While the “Earth being destroyed” narrative isn’t exactly new, Beyond Galaxyland does a nice job of building a relatively interesting universe alongside a narrative that helps to push the player forward. Additionally, I found the game’s writing to be generally humorous, albeit corny at times, with character development also taking a spotlight.

The aforementioned guinea pig with a gun, Boom Boom, and the self-aware robot Marty are some of Doug’s companions who help to bring the story to life. The characters remain a strong point of the story and that is why some of the interactions are so unforgettable in the overall narrative. Regardless of this, the characters have a certain charisma but the entire storyline is still a bit bland and does not really explore the depth of their past, which results in some characters being less developed.

Aside from the main story, the game offers numerous side quests and crafting elements, but the majority of planets are not made full use of. They end up having mostly limited areas and quests that often follow specific patterns. Outside of the narrative and exploration elements, the main gameplay element is the turn-based combat which also includes a monster collection aspect.

Essentially, Doug can capture enemies and set them to fight in his place. This gives players a chance to utilize a bit more strategy as you are also able to control the common ability points for all the party members. However, the combat of the game is a double-edged sword as the mechanics are generally fun but can end up becoming frustrating when the accuracy of attacks continues to fail.

A Book By Its Cover

Pixel art and a side-scrolling perspective have become a staple in indie titles, and Beyond Galaxyland utilizes them to bring its story to life. While I wasn’t a fan of the overall aesthetic at the start of the game, it continued to grow on me over time. This was especially apparent when utilizing the 2.5D elements to bring another (half) dimension to the visuals. At the same time, however, that extra dimension when coupled with certain environments caused a lack of visibility and hindered some exploration and navigation. Additionally, while the music also grew on me over time, I felt that early portions had tunes that absolutely did not fit the setting or mood and maybe even took my interest away for some periods.

Beyond Galaxyland is still among the games that are entertaining and have some charm and mystery which will make players stay. Fans of sci-fi adventures who have an affinity for indie titles should absolutely check out this title. The mixture of an interesting plot, character relations, and a beautifully designed universe makes it a game that is worth exploring even if some portions of the game could use some refinement.

*** Publisher provided a review code ***