Space Marshals

Space Marshals
The cover art for the game
Developer(s) PixelBite
Publisher(s) PixelBite
Platform(s) iOS, Android
Release date(s) January 8, 2015
Genre(s) Third-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

Space Marshals is a science fiction top-down third-person shooter video game. In the game, the player is tasked with taking out various criminals and their henchmen. Space Marshals focuses heavily on stealth elements, forcing the player to sneak around enemies to avoid being attacked.

The plot of Space Marshals follows the adventures of Burt, a former Space Marshal, who was released from jail along with two others during a prison breakout. The gameplay centers around their attempts to hunt down criminals across the galaxy.

The game was released by PixelBite for iOS on January 8, 2015. The Android version was released on April 10, 2015. Both versions were generally praised by critics with little criticism. A sequel to the game was released for iOS on August 24, 2016.

Synopsis

The game is set in the "Wild West", and the player is tasked with bringing criminals to justice.[1] The player takes on the role of Burt, the main protagonist.[2] Characterized as "arrogant", Burt is a former space marshal who was stripped of his rank for "inappropriate use of firearms during an interrogation" and thrown into a holding cell aboard the space ship.[3] He and two others free themselves during a prison breakout, during which all the guards and crew are killed, and take control of the space ship, steering it into the lawless reaches of the Backspace.[3][4] The three team up to hunt down fugitives in the galaxy, assisted by an AI known as T.A.M.I.[5]

Gameplay

The main character, Burt, aiming at an enemy with his gun.
The player aims at an enemy who is crouching behind a fence.

Space Marshals is a stealth-heavy, science fiction, third-person shooter video game.[1] There are three chapters in the game, with a total of 28 missions.[6] The player has access to four weapon slots which they can customize with different weapons.[4] Two of the slots are for guns, one is for a distraction device, and the other is for a pipe bomb or grenade. The variety of weapons that can be used in the game ranges from shotguns to crossbows to axes.[7] The player's gear can be customized with different effects based on what is being used.[7]

After the completion of each level, the player gets a ranking from 1-5 "stars" indicating how well they performed.[1] The rating in stars is based on various factors such as the number of player deaths, the number of high-value targets eliminated, and the number of clues found.[4] The more stars a player earns, the more rewards are available for them to unlock at the end of the level.[1] These rewards include weapons, bombs, distraction devices, and armor.

The player can switch between offensive mode and stealth mode.[1] In offensive mode, the player has the advantage of being able to run quickly. In stealth mode, the player cannot be shot when behind a fence, bush, oil can, or other types of objects. However, in stealth mode, the player has to walk at a far slower pace.[4]

The player has access to limited ammunition in the game.[1] Every type of weapon has limited ammunition available, and if the player runs out of ammunition for that specific weapon, then they can no longer use it until they pick up more ammunition which can be found lying in various parts of each level's map.[8] Each type of weapon has a maximum amount of ammunition that can be held for it at any one time.

Development

The development of Space Marshals was first announced on September 18, 2014, with the launch date set for January 8, 2015.[9] Several illustrations of the game and a trailer were released in October[10] and it was released for iOS on the 9th.[11][12] At that point the game contained a single chapter.[13] The second chapter of the game was released as a free expansion on January 27, 2015.[14] The Android version was announced on February 17, 2015,[15] and released on April 10, 2015.[16][17] The third chapter was announced on July 30, 2015,[18] and was released as a free update on August 13, 2015.[19]

Reception

Space Marshals
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic82/100[20]
Review scores
PublicationScore
IGN8.7/10[21]
TouchArcade[1]
148Apps[2]

The game received mostly positive reviews from critics, with a score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic.[20] Many reviewers were impressed by the simplicity of the game's dual-stick controls, and how well they worked with the style and pace of the game.[1] Phone Arena praised the replay value of the game, and how playing it several times over and over was still just as captivating as the first playthrough.[22] Marc Luoma of iPad Insight found the game's graphics to be very smooth, especially for a mobile game.[23] Time called it "an amazingly animated iOS game."[24] A review on website gamer.nl praised the rewards system, as it makes it possible for players who are finding a level too easy to try harder and get better rewards.[8]

Several reviews criticized the game for its lack of length, with only a small number of levels.[1][13]

The game was one of Apple's free apps of the week in April 2015[25] and won editor's choice on the Apple App Store.[26]

Sequel

Space Marshals 2 was announced on August 14, 2015[6] and released in June 2016.[27]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dotson, Carter (January 22, 2015). "'Space Marshals' Review – Some People Call Me Maurice". TouchArcade. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Lawrence, Tre (January 14, 2016). "Space Marshals Review". www.148apps.com. 148Apps. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "SPACE MARSHALS – STORYSETTING". PixelBite. December 10, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lane, Dave (January 22, 2015). "Review: Space Marshals". Pocket Tactics. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  5. ↑ Gaudiosi, John (February 20, 2015). "PixelBite Shoots For Shield Tablet With Space Marshals". Shacknews. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Nelson, Jared (September 4, 2015). "Pixelbite Wants to Know What YOU Want to See in 'Space Marshals 2'". TouchArcade. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Space Marshals is Apple's Free 'App of the Week'". iClarified. April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  8. 1 2 de Boer, Merijn (April 30, 2015). "Space Marshals". gamer.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  9. ↑ Dotson, Carter (December 12, 2014). "'Reckless Racing' Creators Pixelbite Announce New Dual-Stick Shooter, 'Space Marshals'". TouchArcade. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Space Marshals – Release Trailer". Pixelbite Games. January 7, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2016 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Space Marshals (iPhone)". IGN. January 8, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  12. ↑ Riis, Jacob (January 11, 2015). "Pixelbite releases Space Marshals". Nordic Game Community. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  13. 1 2 Priestman, Chris (January 8, 2015). "Space Marshals is a tactical sci-fi western shooter from the Reckless Racing dev, 1st chapter out now". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. ↑ Dotson, Carter (January 28, 2015). "'Space Marshals' Chapter Two Update Coming in March". TouchArcade. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  15. ↑ "SPACE MARSHALS – LAUNCHING IN APRIL ON ANDROID". www.pixelbite.se. PixelBite. February 17, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  16. ↑ "SPACE MARSHALS – NOW AVAILABLE ON ANDROID!". www.pixelbite.se. PixelBite. April 10, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Space Marshals – Android Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  18. ↑ Nelson, Jared (June 25, 2015). "'Space Marshals' Third and Final Chapter Coming this Summer, Will Feature Even More Stealthiness". TouchArcade. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  19. ↑ Priestman, Chris (August 11, 2015). "The third and final chapter of sci-fi western shooter Space Marshals is out this week". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Space Marshals". Metacritic. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  21. ↑ Zampini, Alessandro (January 19, 2015). "Touch Me #90: i giochi per smartphone e tablet della settimana". IGN Italia (in Italian). Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  22. ↑ H., Victor (January 12, 2015). "PhoneArena game of the week: Space Marshals". Phone Arena. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  23. ↑ Luoma, Marc (February 27, 2015). "Game review: Space Marshals for iPad". iPad Insight. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  24. ↑ Aciman, Alexander (January 13, 2015). "The Absolute Best iPhone Games You Should Play This Week". Time.com. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  25. ↑ Ghani, Uzair (April 15, 2016). "Apple's Free App Of The Week Is An Intense Sci-Fi Shooting Game With Excellent Graphics". Wccftech. WCCF PTE. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  26. ↑ Staff (January 20, 2015). "Game review: Space Marshals for iPad and iPhone". Thai Tech. Thaivisa.com. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  27. ↑ Lazarides, Tasos (April 29, 2016). "'Space Marshals 2' Should Release in June, Sequel Will Turn the Stealthyness Up a Notch". TouchArcade. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
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