living space traveler is a soul-like game developed by Dino Trnka, a solo developer. Initially announced on December 11, 2022, this game aims to be an action-packed adventure with easy-to-understand combat but brutal challenges that won’t leave you indifferent. Will it leave more than a bloodstain?
In this cyberpunk dystopia (because when isn’t it?) you play as an amnesiac who must travel to different alternate reality dimensions called Lifespaces to…okay, I have no idea. The story is a bit out of the way and it’s up to you to seek it out by interacting with NPCs scattered throughout the map. This is fine, as you can either dive deep into the story and learn why you’re running around with a katana stabbing people, or completely ignore it and kill without a care, but it can get a bit boring having to talk to NPCs multiple times to get all the dialogue before moving on. The story isn’t bad, but there are definitely better ways to tell it.
The graphics are fine, with good lighting reflecting off puddles and the sun shining on the horizon. However, it seems a bit… generic? I’ve played a few cyberpunk games this year and they all have the basics of neon, rain, and dirty streets to run around in, and while it’s not necessarily a complaint, it kind of mixes between them in my mind even though they have very different gameplay. Still, I liked it. The different Lifespaces you pass through have unique layouts and challenges to conquer as you explore and battle them. Environmental puzzles are a nice change of pace from combat encounters.
But enough nonsense, we are here to play. The game controls quite well on a gamepad, and it feels natural to move around and engage in combat even without needing a tutorial to tell me what the controls were, which is a blessing and a curse. You will have to learn fast how living space traveler He doesn’t really hold your hand that much. Your attacks and dodging cost stamina, basic enemies can easily finish you off if you’re not careful, and healing in the middle of a fight will kill you faster. Even the world itself is actively hostile with lasers and gun turrets to watch out for, and that has nothing to say about the bosses you’ll encounter, which can be tests of your combat prowess, a puzzle to solve, or are literal bullet hell depending on the phase. It’s not terribly difficult, there are a lot of checkpoints, but it will keep you on your toes throughout the game. Expect to die a lot. It doesn’t feel fair at times though, with some enemy types stunning you to death.
I have to give a special mention to the music. Although synthwave is not my preferred genre, I liked the melodies that are played over the fights, notably inspired by Hotline Miami and fury. They suit the atmosphere and definitely got me excited during the boss fights. If you want to listen to it at your leisure, all the tracks are officially available on YouTube, or you can buy the album.
About technical performance. I had no real issues with the game, any major crashes or performance drops. I don’t have the best computer, but it ran fine at 60 FPS on Medium settings.
In general, I have nothing more to say about living space traveler other than that it’s good. If you want a game with easy-to-understand combat that will challenge you, living space traveler It’s definitely recommended, especially at its current price. Not entirely for the faint of heart, but it’s one of the few games I’ve played that doesn’t make me angry or frustrated, but instead makes me ready and willing to take on new challenges, katana in hand.
