Affordable Space Adventures (Wii U)

EXPLORING the universe is pretty much what games are made for.

Switching off from the humdrum of everyday life to immerse yourself in alien worlds and fight galactic battles is escapism at its best.

But while most of those kinds of games are created by big studios due to their scale and complexity, this has to be one of the first times a space travel experience has been designed by an indie developer.

The name says it all – Affordable Space Adventures – Swedish studio Nifflas's game is limited in its size and scope but almost flawless in its execution.

In terms of gameplay and immersion, the results are spectacular.

Seemingly set in an alternative 1980s where space travel has been opened up to tourists, you visit 'Spectaculon' in a budget spacecraft.

You explore level by level in the style of old 2D games like Gradius.

But because this is about holidaying and exploration, do not expect any firepower – even when things start to go wrong.

One of the game's main strengths is that it was built to utilise the Wii U's gamepad.

Abilities to control your ship's engine type, speed, heat levels, landing gear and scanner and much more are all just a tap of the screen. You can also tilt your ship by changing the angle of your controller.

It may sound overcomplicated – and it would be if all this was thrown at you at once – but the abilities are gradually unlocked throughout the course of the six-hour game.

The difficulty curve is well balanced and new abilities keep things interesting throughout as the puzzles get trickier but rarely to the point of frustration.

The game also has a wry sense of humour throughout with the artwork between levels filled with kitsch promotional materials and retro manuals.

Affordable Space Adventures shows what is capable from the flourishing indie scene and might change your whole thinking on the gimmickry of the Wii U's gamepad. Out of this world.

RATING: 9/10

DAVID MORGAN