First Impressions Of Velocity 2X
FuturLab’s Velocity 2X is one of the most deceptively complex games I’ve played in recent memory. At first blush, it is a top-down shooter in the vein of Treasure-developed classics like Radiant Silvergun or Ikaruga. You pilot your ship, the Quarp Jet, through bite-sized levels, dodging obstacles and enemy fire while gathering up as many collectibles as you can in as tight a time limit as possible. It’s flashy and movement is sublimely satisfying, but it’s also a bit standard.
What set the original Velocity apart were its Boost and Teleport mechanics, still used to full effect here. Boosting is less about speeding up your ship and more about actually controlling the pace that the level itself scrolls at, which is essential in nabbing a good time score at the end of a level. Knowing when to Boost and when to ease off can be the difference between life and death, and skilled players can complete even the most complex levels in mere minutes. Teleportation adds a fascinating wrinkle to the core gameplay loop, allowing players to warp through solid matter. This unique mechanic injects a heavy puzzle element into navigation, creating an experience far more cerebral than the average score-chaser.
This core gameplay loop is what made 2013’s Velocity Ultra such a surprise hit when it debuted on the Vita. What makes the sequel so special is how it blends this strong core gameplay style with on-foot, side-scrolling exploration sections that play out like Metroid pushed to 20x the speed. Before long, the game’s compact, charged levels become high-speed spectacles of breakneck shooting, puzzle-solving, and platforming, blurring the lines between genres with an effortlessness that would come across as cocky if it all weren’t so smooth.
Velocity 2X is one of those rare gems that pulses with more ideas in a 5 minute level than most games contain in hours. My 4 hours of play and counting have seen me learning a radical new skill every few levels. There is no wasted space in this game; every new idea is precise and economic, a clockwork punch right to the jaw of sloppy game design. Velocity 2X rivals the best Nintendo games with how well it teaches, giving players breathing room to experiment with a new skill or toy before layering on the complexity and forcing mastery.
One of the highest compliments I can pay FuturLab is that this game is pushing me towards a sense of mastery and an ownership of my own abilities. I am not the type of gamer who plays for a challenge; leaderboards and scores mean little to me and I could care less for bragging rights. This is why it genuinely means something to me that this game keeps nudging me towards perfection, encouraging me to better my scores, to replay a level with the breakneck grace that protagonist Lt. Kai Tana demands.
I want to dominate this game, to get every bit of XP on every stage, and to see that bright gold “Perfect” emblazoned across every results screen. I want to play with every new toy this game gives me and see how the surprisingly well-written science fiction story hurtles towards its conclusion. I want to see more of its slick, explosive art and hear more of its sticky sounds.
In short, this is easily one of the best PlayStation exclusives out there. It’s a lovingly crafted cocktail of high-speed shooting, puzzle solving, and platforming that feels like nothing else in existence and you can play it on a giant screen on your PS4 or under the covers with your Vita. That it is free throughout September for PlayStation Plus members is ridiculous. Welcome to the Futur.
