A Prison Sentence Measured In Millennia
There is something so comforting about settling down with a good sci-fi game. Granted, generally a sci-fi land isn’t a particularly pleasant place to be, as these worlds are usually filled with totalitarian regimes, horrible alien clans, or robots using us as batteries. But there is something about a neon-drenched world of crazy weapons, epic narratives, and beautiful visuals that always hooks me back in.
Luna Abyss is a game that fits perfectly into this mould, mixing a grand sci-fi story with intense bullet hell gameplay. What could be better?
Luna Abyss has an impressive beginning, with an amazing, ominous choral score as the camera pans across space. Luna Abyss is not a person, but a prison set on a red moon above Earth. You play as a prisoner called Fawkes who has a massive 10,000-year sentence to work off. However, she gets an offer from a giant-headed warden to explore the labyrinth underneath the moon. Her task is to search for ancient technology and uncover its mysteries.
Sci-Fi Storytelling At Its Most Wonderfully Unhinged
What’s great about this narrative is that it feels very unique. It is completely bonkers at times, but totally engaging, and it’s delivered with such conviction that you are dragged along for the ride. The narrative evolves wonderfully as you progress, revealing secrets through text logs, cutscenes, and the different wardens you meet along the way. Fawkes (which isn’t her real name) is also a great protagonist to spend time with.
Lost Beneath The Surface Of A Red Moon
The first part of the gameplay focuses on exploration, where you will learn the old favourites like running, jumping, and crouching. The initial area is a maze-like corridor full of pipes and impressive backdrops. Soon enough, the game opens up into bigger arenas and outdoor areas, making it a fun place to explore. You can scan the environment to get an idea of where to go for your objective, as it’s quite easy to get lost out there.
There’s an intriguing element to the gameplay where a ghost outline of yourself appears; you can move into it, and it will do some of the work for you, carrying you over hard-to-reach areas. I am a bit on the fence about this mechanic though; grateful for it at times, but it’s a strange addition.
Dodging Through A Storm Of Bullets
The main draw of Luna Abyss is the bullet hell gunplay, and yes, there is a lot of it here. It starts off simply enough: a press of the left trigger to aim and a squeeze of the right trigger to let off a stream of bullets. Soon, hordes of enemies appear, and the screen flashes with waves of projectiles to avoid. You have dodge abilities to help you survive, and each battle is an exciting encounter that never grows tiring. Good boss battles appear every now and then, and you’ll unlock new weapons, like a shotgun that can break down shield walls during exploration.
You will find different weapons and upgrades as you progress through the world, which can be used to boost your arsenal and your much-needed health. By the time you reach the middle of the game, the gunfights get even better because both you and your weapons are much more buffed. The combat remains focused without overloading you with options, but it offers just enough to keep the action interesting and tactical.
Building A World Through Light, Sound And Scale
Visually, there is a great art style, full of amazing design choices and a good use of its engine. The lighting is superb throughout, and I liked how it contrasted the interior and exterior scenes. Enemy designs can be a bit generic at times, yes, but the wardens themselves are a fantastic visual treat. The illusion of scale is effectively executed, with huge structures looming in the darkness, hinting at hidden possibilities.
The sound design is equally strong. A special mention goes to the audio effects department, which did a great job sampling all the ambient noises of the environments, machines, and enemies. It sounds great with headphones on, and the experience is rounded out by a fantastic soundtrack and solid voice work.
Proof That Big Ideas Don’t Need A AAA Budget
There is a strong argument to be made that the AA game market offers far more unique experiences than its AAA siblings. Luna Abyss falls squarely into that bracket. It might not have the budget of DOOM or Destiny, but it finds clever ways to cut corners to produce something exciting, deeply futuristic, and unashamedly sci-fi. The story is a fun, madcap ride with some nice twists and surprises to discover along the way. While the gameplay starts out a little slow, by the mid-game, it’s absolutely cooking.
If you want a fresh sci-fi adventure, look no further than Luna Abyss.
Important Links
Luna Abyss Drops Into Game Pass – A Fever Dream In Space? – https://www.thexboxhub.com/luna-abyss-drops-into-game-pass-a-fever-dream-in-space/
The captivating mysteries of Luna Abyss are unveiled – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-captivating-mysteries-of-luna-abyss-are-unveiled/
Download from the Xbox Store, via Game Pass if you like – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/luna-abyss/9plbh9j0xgr8
