Beyond Galaxyland Review: Towards Infinity or Beyond?

Beyond Galaxyland Review

Although I entered Beyond Galaxyland relatively blind, the little I saw beforehand prepared me for an intergalactic experience with an interesting aesthetic. Self-described as an adventure RPG with turn-based exploration and strategic 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 so many haven't lived up to them. Simply put, although Beyond Galaxyland is not perfect by any means, you can consider that the title exceeded my expectations.

I have a guinea pig, I will travel

After a brief introduction to the game's universe, you take control of high school student Doug as he is transported away from Earth and the threat of The End. Armed with a wooden sword and a gun-equipped guinea pig companion, Doug must navigate his new surroundings and his post-Earth life. While the “Earth is being destroyed” narrative isn't exactly new, Beyond Galaxyland does a good job of building a relatively interesting universe along with a narrative that helps propel the player forward. Additionally, I found the game's writing to be generally fun, if cheesy at times, and character development is also the focus.

The aforementioned guinea pig with a gun, Boom Boom, and the self-aware robot Marty are some of Doug's companions who help 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 plot remains a bit bland and doesn't really explore the depth of their past, resulting in some characters being less developed.

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

Basically, Doug can capture enemies and have them fight in his place. This gives players the opportunity to use a little more strategy, as you can also control the common skill points for all party members. However, the game's combat is a double-edged sword, as the mechanics are generally fun, but can end up becoming frustrating when the accuracy of attacks keeps slipping.

A book for its cover

Pixel art and side-scrolling perspective have become a staple of indie titles, and Beyond Galaxyland uses 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 over time. This was especially evident when 2.5D elements were used to bring another (half) dimension to the images. At the same time, however, that extra dimension, combined with certain environments, caused a lack of visibility and made some exploration and navigation difficult. Also, although I also grew to like the music over time, I felt that the early parts had melodies that didn't fit the setting or mood at all and maybe even took my interest away for some periods.

Beyond Galaxyland remains among the games that are entertaining and have a certain charm and mystery that will make players stick around. Sci-fi adventure fans who have an affinity for indie titles should check this title out. The combination of an interesting plot, character relationships, and a beautifully designed universe makes it a game worth exploring, even if some parts of the game could use some refinement.

***A review code was provided by the publisher***