Developer: 2pt Interactive
Publisher: 2pt Interactive
Release Date: 7th December 2021
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
Reviewed on: PS5
▫️ Code provided by the publisher ▫️
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in space? I certainly have and now, thanks to Heavenly Bodies, we can all get a little taste of the Zero-G dream. Or nightmare. You’ll see what I mean.
A simple premise
Heavenly Bodies is a pretty unique experience and its premise is quite simple, really. You play as an astronaut whose job it is to complete a bunch of tasks in space. The challenge here, however, is that all you control are your arms, hands and legs – all individually. The right and left sticks control your arms, L2/R2 grab things with your hands, and L1/R1 can bend your legs. That’s it. For everything else, you rely on gravity – or rather a lack thereof.
You’ll be navigating your way around space stations while building, repairing, maintaining and generally trying to survive. Nothing can kill you, really, except if you end up floating into space because you ventured outside without being attached to something. This can and will happen, and I can confirm that nobody did indeed hear me scream.
Progressively more complicated
As you make your way through the game’s 7 levels, things keep escalating. Initially, you seem to be doing random tasks, but you’ll later learn that things are actually tied together – all culminating in… something I won’t spoil. There’s no actual story here, just things you piece together using whatever the game tasks you with next.
You will be doing things like assembling a satellite, growing some plants, mining some asteroids, as well as whatever else the optional challenges ask of you. Once you’ve completed the core objectives of any given level, the optional tasks become available, with each level daring you to complete between two and four challenges. There’s always a challenge for completing a level using the most challenging control scheme and for finding some kind of collectible, but beyond that they’re all quite varied. The trophies, too, will add additional tasks if you want to get the most out of the experience – and you definitely should.
Frustrations galore
If there’s one key word I would use to describe this game, it’s “frustrating”. Not because there’s anything wrong with the game, but because it’s designed to be frustrating. It’s designed to test your patience. You can and will be frustrated here and likely quite frequently. I don’t think I’ve ever been quite as angry at a video game as I was playing this.
At the same time, however, it’s because of this that overcoming what seems like a simple task can become immensely rewarding. It simply wouldn’t be the same without these moments (okay, maybe more than mere moments) to put things into perspective – and once you get your head around the controls and start actually pulling off these tasks, it feels pretty amazing. This wouldn’t have happened without this very stark contrast.
I bring this up because I imagine some players may end up rage-quitting and I want you all to know what you’re in for. You will quite likely not have a very good time at first, but stick with it – or try an easier control scheme, and things will get better.
Solo or co-op
You’ve probably realised in the screenshots already, but Heavenly Bodies can be played both alone or with a friend. It’s local co-op only (unless you circumvent using things like Share Play on PS4/5, or Remote Play Together on Steam). I reviewed the game playing it both alone and with a friend and I can say that while some things get easier, other things do not – but I’d definitely give both a go.
When you play solo, nobody gets in your way. That can be quite helpful when you’re trying to do very specific things that you may not be able to explain in the heat of the moment. Or if you’re trying to navigate a tight space where fitting two players simply isn’t as easy. On the flipside, everything rests on your shoulders, so if something goes wrong, nobody has your back. Being able to attach yourself to your co-op buddy, who’s then gripping onto the ship for dear life, might be just the safety net you need. That and of course the added fun of playing with a friend.
So, which option is easier? If you’re both equally patient, co-op is easier and can save you some time too. Just don’t blame your co-op buddy for the lack of gravity in space.
A few pro tips:
1) Use the Square button to rotate the camera as you go, as trying to figure out which arm/hand is left or right in the heat of the moment will likely result in failure (or human error, if you will).
2) If you’re not interested in the in-game challenges or trophies, simply use the Assisted control scheme. This allows you to fully “swim” in space, which removes pretty much all danger and frustration. This makes the game very short, however.
3) For the challenges to complete a level on the hardest control scheme, ALL players must have this selected or it won’t count. You can confirm to see if it says “Restart required” below the challenge, if you’re not meeting the requirement.
Fun to be had
Ultimately, Heavenly Bodies was honestly a little tricky to review. It’s fun, but equally frustrating, and putting a score on that wasn’t easy. I can say this, however; my 4th session of playing the game was a lot more fun than the first three. I spent some more time with it and I acclimated to the challenge. Once you accept the game’s inherent difficulties, you’ll likely have a way better time with it. Just remember; it’s not you, it’s the game. Well, maybe it’s a little you, too.
Verdict
Heavenly Bodies delivers a rewarding experience that will test your patience more than most other games in existence. If you can get past the frustrations, however, there’s a good time to be had – alone or with a friend.
-K.A. Pedersen
