Planetoid Pioneers

Planetoid Pioneers is a prequel of Cortex Command developed in 2012 by the independent studio Data Realms. What makes this title different from its 2D platformer predecessor is that this is an arcade game.

Mechanics

Gameplay of Planetoid Pioneers for PC is inspired by such classic productions as Blast Master from 1988 or Metroid published in 1986. This is a 2D arcade, Metroidvania production. During gameplay, you travel through a small planet filled with traps and surprises. The astronaut the player controls can jump, use the rope (e.g. while jumping over a gap), and make use of a variety of weapons. The hero comes across a number of blueprints which, if combined with scrap and a small 3D printer, can be turned into useful tools and machines. So, you can have a simple combat walker or a rover for quick travels.

Game modes

Planetoid Pioneers features single player and multiplayer (but only locally). The users can walk through the planet by themselves and eliminate AI-controlled opponents. However, they can invite a friend and start a couch co-op mode anytime. The game also offers a PvP game mode.

The creators shared their developer tools which enable the players to modify the way each element looks, or even to create whole new worlds.

Technical aspects

Planetoid Pioneers utilises the Crush2D technology – the engine specialised in realistic physics and damage. Therefore, depending on the material, each element or enemy can be shattered to pieces with weight (e.g. glass) or be broken (planks).

Last updated on February 15, 2018