This game is precisely what it sounds like, but way more fun and exciting. Developed by Broadside Games and Published by Ravenscourt, Bears in Space is amazing, so let’s dive right in.

You, Maxwell Adams, one mission away from retirement, were sent to serve aboard a prison transport ship. While transporting a prisoner, a bear named Beartana, you are intercepted by the Bearmada Alliance and left with no option but to jump to hyperspace. During this, you somehow merge bodies with Beartana, becoming a humanoid bear, and beginning your long journey together in a new world filled with danger.

The game starts with a wonderfully detailed cutscene, complete with some amusing little quirks. It is a very different experience from most games when you jump out of hyperspace, also known as the Experimental and Dangerous HyperQuickness, and Max’s body has merged with the bear’s, creating a strong and fearsome warrior. After escaping the crippled prison ship in an escape pod, you find yourself in a new universe filled with danger; a world filled with killer robots, and their only goal is to seek you out and eliminate you. You aim to work through the robot empire to somehow find a way back to Earth, but with the amount of parkour you’ll have to complete, some players may find it difficult. Luckily, this setting can be modified, so you do not have to stress.

There are also many secrets and easter eggs throughout each level, giving you more experience and money to spend elsewhere. You can also collect trading cards as you roam the environments, so if you want to relax and cruise through the game or be a completionist and find every secret, the option is up to the player.

You may even find some additional story arcs as you go, and purchasing a secret finder from the local vendor will help you get there even faster. A Handy Platform Helper mode can also aid you in your searches, making the game a lot more accessible to younger or inexperienced players, as well as those who might otherwise struggle, and once a level is completed, you can always jump back in at a selected checkpoint, letting you have another go at searching for those interesting secrets.

Don’t even get me started on the number of different robots there are. Enemies range from the standard grunts that use basic melee to fast boxer robots that pack a punch, and machine gun robots to the absolutely massive cannon robot. If you want variety, Bears In Space is the place to be, and when it comes to combating them, this theme continues. There are a lot of different ways. You have an arsenal of up to 25 unique guns, with anything from a standard shotgun, to machine guns, rocket launchers, and so much more. My favourite weapon is the square basketball – you throw it at enemies, and it bounces between them for massive damage.

The more you use the weapon, the more experience it gains, letting you level it up and making it even more powerful. Some weapons even have an alternative firing mode, letting you dish out additional damage in more exciting ways, and while they might have a reduced ammo pool, you can always spend your hard-earned cash on upgrading this, and where better to spend this than at the Spend-O Vender? Showing up at specific locations you you can restock your ammo, repair your armour, and buy those ever-important health regens. Plus, we can’t forget to mention the ability to buy new and exciting weapons to unleash on the robot army.

Controls are simple, and there’s a small tutorial at the beginning to show you the basics. Both a mouse and keyboard or a controller are fully supported, so if you want to sit up close or lay back, there’s an option for everyone. In saying that, while the controls are pretty basic, I found that when fighting enemies around a corner, the shots would not register, even with a clear line of sight. It was like there was an invisible wall, and this could get really annoying at points.

The visuals in Bears In Space are immaculate, filled with beautiful effects, and well-designed levels with fantastic lighting. These, combined with flawless shading bring everything to life. Enemies are all unique with stunning designs, explosions fill the screen with fire, offering an overall hands-down impressive viewing experience.

Ambient sounds varying from high to low tones give you the impression of being stuck in space, while a killer soundtrack starts when you trigger a trap or go into a boss fight. Each gun has its own dedicated sound, and enemies scream at you with their robot war cries. It’s even more amusing when you sneak up on them.

Bears In Space is a fantastic game. With only three developers working on the game, and with so much attention to detail, there’s no wonder why it took them roughly seven years to release it, and everyone will enjoy this game. Besides the obstructed shooting angles, which I hope they can address, Bears In Space is a very polished game, and I have enjoyed my time playing.

Written by: TypicalCambieAU