Space Boat Preview: The Cat In The Ha- Suit
Erm, what? Space Boat is developed by one person? What witchcraft is this!? This isn’t exclusive – you’re free to try out this adventure on Steam at this very moment. Put your wallet away; the Steam sales aren’t worth it… yeah, right, I spent a few quid already.
Anyways, you’re Inspector Domino, whether you like it or not, and you work for the Royal Cosmic Narwal Police or RCNP. In the demo, you arrive at Jelly Shore to pursue a jewel thief. The colours and… context sounds a bit madcap, and that’s a good thing. Seriously – is this just one person?!
From a third-person perspective, you guide Domino around the shore, which I have to say is fabulous. I seldom use that term, but it feels appropriate here. There’s an upbeat vibe, the colours are vibrant purple hues, and there’s a constant flurry of fireworks going off in the background. But you know what’s great about Space Boat? And no, we ain’t talkin’ cats – I’m a dog person – with a tail and everything. No, what I like about it so far is the dialogue.
It’s well-written and offers you multiple choices, but you have to select everything for the experience. Domino especially is perfectly cast. The game has the potential for kawaii-like abuse that will make me throw up on my frappuccino, so whoever cast them gets a cookie. Even better, the dialogue doesn’t shift to the next line, allowing you time to digest (and watch the early fireworks).
Note that Domino is an inspector, so they investigate things. A bit like Sherlock Holmes Chapter One, you can eavesdrop on keywords to unlock new clues and new paths, which also happens during conversations. Press R2, and a clue is added to your journal and opens up a new plan of attack.
In many ways, Space Boat is a console-like evolution of the point and click adventure. Yes, this is on Steam, but a controller is recommended here, and it works perfectly. Moving around and interacting with the locals like the Gelatonian, who sounds like Eric Cartman, is a breeze, and I found myself lingering a little too long in areas not because I was perplexed on what to do next but because it was fun to be in this environment.
Remember that this is a demo, so there’s only so much on show, but it’s a nice variety. I forgot that Domino is inside a suit, so when they climb out, and we’re running around a ventilation system (spoiler? On a demo?), it was a bit of a surprise, but entirely welcome. It even showcased some third-person action where you have to dodge environmental hazards, followed by some gorgeous cutscenes.
And that’s when it was time to step off the Space Boat ride as I’d run out of change, and Recombobulator Games was kicking me out. The demo was over, and I had to accept that this is a game in development. I’m only half-serious when I say I can’t wait for this to be completed, but in reality, I understand that there’s a lot of work involved and would rather sit it out. It’s ready when it’s ready.
But is this too much hyperbole? Is it a giant festering hairball that should be ignored? Hell no. As I maintain, all these views are my own, not this Vulgar Knight avatar filling in, so in that context, I’m right. So why not try it for yourself. There’s a demo on Steam (and Itch.io) don’t you know?
