Space Ark (PC)

Space Ark has little reference to neither space nor arks. Instead, this indie title is more of a spin-off of the classic Arkanoid or Pong games that tick an object around. In this case, that object is a cutesy animal and the goal is to collect DNA and fruit in order to get to the exit. It’s a colorfully strange yet fun-looking title on the surface. Yet, it’s also the straightest port job possible that alters virtually nothing onto a whole different platform.

The history of this game starts on Xbox 360. Due to Space Ark’s success, it has now come to Steam but without changing a single thing. As such, menus and controls and all applicable prompts are explained and meant for Xbox 360. Don’t expect custom controls or any of the sort; Space Ark is exactly what you’d get on the console, but now on a PC.

Granted, the gameplay of collecting DNA in strings to gain combos is entertaining. The animal and launch pad can be moved separately, as long as the critter doesn’t fall to the floor. By racking up bigger combos, levels yield more fruits and in turn more points needed to fulfill the final goal. Additionally, the peculiar circular design is quite well-made. All levels are built on a cylinder which warps gameplay a little. It can be a bit annoying to lose track of the animal behind the cylinder’s curve, but visually it certainly pops out; especially with the vibrant colors and transparent blue background.

There's nothing wrong with Space Ark's art style, that's for sure.

Additionally, the game throws some curveballs with a few powerups and secluded bonus games in order to break away from doing the same thing over and over. By collecting bonus letters, players can unlock a small mini-game that helps boost their score. More so, as levels progress and become more difficult, more items and added difficulties get added to each stage. Apart from keeping gameplay fresh by introducing new elements, these items usually also are vital parts of their respective level. Space Ark makes good use of novelties that creates a slight feeling of being a pinball game with its quirky implementations scattered around its universe.

Unfortunately and certainly as levels progress, the biggest issue from its lazy port becomes very apparent and that is its control scheme. Yes, it’s possible to use a keyboard to control both critter and launch pad, but doing so is a recipe for disaster. Controlling 2 separate moving entities differently on a keyboard setup is like trying to draw squares with one hand while drawing triangles with the other. It can be done, but it will never feel intuitive and after that it will still be harder than just picking up a controller. Space Ark only shows button prompts for an Xbox controller, so trying anything else is rated as secondary anyway.

If this game is played with a controller, Space Ark can easily be allotted a few more points. In fact, in that case, feel free to grade it as a solid title, because it really is. Sadly, standard PC setups do not come with controllers and why would anyone go out and mark an additional expense for this title? The review could stop here, because just struggling with trying to control both things becomes an impossibility that destroys the whole game. Let’s for the sake of ease overlook this game-breaking feature to look on as if the controls were sound in both instances.

Another pressing issue is that as levels get harder, so does the simple DNA collecting become less fulfilling. Combos need to be tackled more tactically in order to meet the goal that opens the exit. The critter can’t just bounce around and create whatever super combos it wants any more. This puts a damper on the rainbow of colors and movement that is otherwise associated with the chaos of bouncing around. It does however add more thinking to Space Ark, so it’s not completely without merit. It can be satisfying to figure out how to tackle a level and commandeer an animal towards the correct path.

For those that would want to clear as much content as they can, this will become a necessity. Space Ark has a whole ton of levels prepared, but opening the next one requires a good score in the previous. Therefore, skills need to be honed and that might require some unnecessary repetition, certainly since all levels from an animal need to be redone if the goal isn’t met. This puts additional strain on the game’s otherwise gratifying gameplay. It’s fun to whiz around and collect sparkly objects in a frenzy of colors the first few times, but after that novelty wears off, trial and error will loom its ugly head.

To prevent this a bit, or just to switch things up, Space Ark also features two frantic game modes with Time Attack and Survival. Now, these aren’t the most original game modes, but the medal scores for these are cut viciously short, so players really need to go for gold. There’s an exhilarating sense of urgency paired with trying to get to the next level as quickly as possible. It doesn’t always go as planned, as even the slightest slip up can mean failure, but it is a good alternation from the regular mode.

However, when all is said and done, it’s still a port. Space Ark on PC shouldn’t exist; at least not in this format. The control issues that come from changing virtually nothing at all are too omnipresent. Beyond that, there is a pretty good title there that offers quirky, colorful pinball gameplay. It isn’t perfect in any sense, but it can certainly entertain for a while. It’s just a shame that a controller will be mandatory on a PC game.

Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed. (@Daavpuke)