There’s no two ways about it: Two Parsecs from Earth is yet another Metroidvania, when we could probably do with having one or two fewer each week. But let’s stow away our assumptions, as Two Parsecs from Earth has real ideas. Two Parsecs from Earth launches today on Xbox One. It is already out on PS4, and will be available on Switch and PC via Steam on the 16th October.
The one that catches our eye is the way it employs choice. You know those moments in Metroidvanias where you come across a game-changing ability, like double jumps, climbing walls, or rolling junk around on your sticky green ball? Well, what would happen if you had to choose between which of those abilities you gained? That would be game-breaking right? Surely the game would be impossible to balance? We are fascinated with how Two Parsecs from Earth is going to handle that tension. Hopefully we won’t be looking wistfully at high platforms, wishing we made a different choice.
Then there’s the theme and art style, which both look pretty sweet, and more than we expected from a conventional Ratalaika Games release. You play a robot named Z3-L1 (zeli) who has crash-landed on a planet called Dimidium, and is looking to find a way off. While not new, it feels like a return to Metroid, one of the games that started the whole shebang off. It looks slick, too, with your clunky robot actually looking well animated and pulling off some moves.
As a footnote, the press release mentions that the audio design updates with your choices. We’ll have to see if the change is notable. Ultimately, we’re cautiously excited about this one, and the choices in the abilities could really go either way.
Features:
- 2D Metroidvania style platform exploration
- Choose between 3×2 abilities, but a choice disable another ability until the end of the game.
- 8 ways to finish the game depending on abilities choices.
- Music that adapts to your abilities choices.
- New game + to gain others abilities and reach 100%.
Two Parsecs from Earth is out now on Xbox One and will cost you £7.99. It’s also out on PS4, while Switch and PC via Steam will be launching on the 16th of October. Keep an eye out for our review too.
Game Description:
Robot Z3-L1’s ship has crash landed on an inhospitable planet called Dimidium filled with alien landscapes and hostile surroundings. To escape and return home, Z3-L1 (/zeli/) must gather clues, gain powers and discover artifacts needed to fix a space ship. Explore the planet in this Metroidvania-style exploration game where the environment is your enemy! Like a super-intelligent space robot, Two Parsecs From Earth gameplay is remarkably interactive and adaptive to you! Choose 3 abilities during the exploration and experience your adventure in 8 different ways according to your own decisions, accompanied by music that adapts to your abilities choices. Once the adventure is over, you have the opportunity to do it again differently in the unique “New game+” mode integrated into the story!
