A quick stop by Q-games booth allowed me a chance to play their upcoming Pixeljunk Shooter. As the name would suggest it is a shooter, and controls similarly to a twin stick shooter but a press of the right bumper is required to fire. Thus you have one stick to navigate, one stick to control ship direction, a fire button and a grapnel that can be used to interact with environmental elements and pick up survivors.
Levels are divided in to a number of sections that are separated by gates, which you can only open by rescuing all survivors.
In truth the amount of shooting you have to do in nominal, despite the name. The levels I played at the event revolved around maneuvering and solving puzzles rather than gun-play. Puzzles are all related to elements in the world, the levels on show had water, magma, ice and a magnetic-goo all of which either helped or hindered you as you flew your way through. For example shooting through rocks beneath magma will result in the magma pouring down on to whatever lies below, which if it is ice, will melt.
Watch where you're shooting!
The music is sublime. Composed by Alex Paterson of The Orb I suppose it would be described as ambient trance, but what really matters is that its relaxed tones that melds perfectly with the thoughtful pace of play.
Local multiplayer (currently no online) seems set to ruin friendships as stray shots punch through roofs pouring any number of elements down on to unsuspecting partners. Well playing to together though, cooperation is required if you want to be successful. One section I played coop saw my partner, who had picked up a reverse polarity item that repelled the afore mentioned magnetic-goo, having to shepherd my weaker ship through sections of the level as the goo closed in on me. It adds an interesting balancing act to the already solid gameplay.
Though still three months from release it is looking fantastic. It seems set to continue the success of their previous titles and from the demo alone I am already sold on the title and will be picking it up in December when it hits PSN.
