14 DAY TRIAL // The two shuttles have safely returned to Catalina’s hangar bay, one loaded with resources from the star system, the other bringing in crew saved from a derelict shuttle. I need the resources to improve the ship and the hydroponics section is currently the number one priority. The extra crew will help with the smooth running of our beloved ship.
I already have the engine room calculating a new jump. The Zutopans are hot on our trail and we don’t have the firepower to engage them. But I’m hoping that there’s time for another resource run. In the meantime, I put the ship on Yellow Alert, even if that will make everyone stressed and anxious. Everyone needs to get to their stations, ready for trouble.
While the jump is readied, I move around the ship a little, clicking on people, robots, and one pig. I check on their status and on their traits, thinking if any of them would function better in another department. Efficiency can always be improved, even on a ship that’s always in danger of being boarded.
Jumplight Odyssey is developed and published by League of Geeks. I played a preview version of the game on the PC on Steam. The title mixes resource management, a science fiction theme, and rogue-lite ideas.
Gamers control the spaceship Catalina, on the run from the evil Zutopans, searching for a safe home. The game draws inspiration from classic Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica. The ship needs to be on the move, ahead of the enemy fleet, but it also needs to get resources from the solar systems it visits.
There’s a princess on board, often occupying the biggest chair on the command deck, but players are in control. They will build new rooms, each able to satisfy some of the crew’s needs, and will decide which kinds of items to place where on the ship’s many decks. Each crew member has a series of traits and stats, which players have to take into account before choosing the role that best suits them.
The Catalina can only spend limited time in each star system and a system of away missions, featuring shuttles and fighters, offers options for resource collecting. It’s also possible to save more crew from stranded ships and to investigate other points of interest.
Part of the game’s pleasure is to simply view the crew moving around, attending to their duties, satisfying their needs, and socializing. Genius robots and a pig mascot add variety and extra interactions. The management mechanics are solid and easy to use, although I hope that more options open up as the Catalina survives for longer periods and sees more star systems.
Jumplight Odyssey adopts a retro science fiction style. I like the cartoon touches, the chunky items, and the pig that serves as the ship’s mascot. The building and room management system is easy to understand and use. But I think the game needs to offer more tooltips, especially for resources and crew roles, to make it easier to run the ship. The sound design matches the old-school look, with the music especially effective at adding to the immersion.
Conclusion
Veterans of the genre will find room creation simple. The game does need to offer more detailed information on resources and production chains for newcomers. Jumplight Odyssey is already a fun experience and I really want to see how the 1.0 launch enhances the mechanics and atmosphere.
A preview key was provided by the publisher
