RipTen Review: Galaxy on Fire 2 HD (Mac)

Galaxy on Fire 2 was originally released for the iPhone in 2010, and it met with great success. A hardcore space sim on iOS is quite an achievement, and one that many gamers appreciate. So when I heard that the game was going to make the jump to the Mac App Store, I was thrilled. The game can only be improved by upping the graphics and putting it on a bigger screen, right? I’m glad to say the game not only survived the jump to the big screen, but it flourishes.

Galaxy on Fire is the tale of Keith T. Maxwell, a space pilot who has been thrown 35 years into the future by a hyperdrive accident. In order to get home, you’ll have to travel the galaxy, fighting, making trades, and meeting many interesting characters along the way.

The game starts you off with some standard tutorial missions, which teach you how to fly your ship, mine resources, trade, upgrade your ship, and dogfight. These missions are quickly over, however, and you’re ready to roam the galaxy. There are 20 solar systems in the galaxy, each with multiple space stations in them. There’s plenty to explore, and each solar system has a unique look, and there’s a sense of traveling to a new place instead of the same one with a different texture set. As you travel, you’ll pick up various missions which range from the main story-driven ones, to random side quests which can help you get better upgrades and more cash. You can also mine asteroids for some quick cash if you need it. The gameplay stays varied.

All I can say is, WOW.

Dogfights are handled well, with smart AI that dodges your attacks and manages to slip in behind you fairly often. You have to stay on your toes to survive the combat. Luckily, the controls and interface help you stay in control of the battle. When you find yourself tracking multiple targets and deftly maneuvering between them, it’s a great feeling. At first, the combat is pretty basic, due to your rudimentary ship and lack of upgrades, but as you progress through the game and get better weapons and ships, the combat intensifies.

The upgrades system provides a good incentive to keep going through the game. Upgrades are made available and priced in such a way that you’ll always feel like you’re just a mission or two away from getting that next upgrade, which is a good thing. Upgrading your ship keeps combat interesting, and it’s always fun to try out that new blaster or rocket on enemies. There are 30 different base ships to choose from, and each one is completely customizable. The sheer number of available upgrades means the possibilities are nearly endless, and when you’re working on your ship, there’s a real sense of ownership. Being able to craft your ship and really make it your own is a rewarding experience.

The graphics are, in a word, stunning. Fishlabs has done a complete overhaul of the graphics from the iOS version, and it’s a good thing. While the game looked great on a tiny 3.7″ screen, when played at 1080p resolution you can really appreciate the extra work that’s gone into the game’s visuals. Every texture is detailed, the space backdrops are downright gorgeous, and the sense of scale is enormous. It’s not just upped resolution, however; new OpenGL shaders and post effects really make the visuals pop. From the lens flares to the explosions, the effects are beautiful. Just simply flying through the galaxy is a visual experience, and when you get into combat with lasers and missiles flying, it’s definitely a beautiful game.

If you’re a fan of space sims, you should definitely check out Galaxy on Fire 2 for the Mac. It’s got impressive visuals, addictive gameplay, and a compelling storyline. If you’ve already played the game through on the iPhone, it’s still worth playing the game on the Mac due to the vastly improved visuals. At $19.99, the game is definitely worth the price, so check it out!

Check out the trailer below, and get the game on the Mac App Store.

Here’s The Rundown:

+Gorgeous Visuals

+Vast Galaxy to Explore

+Freedom to create your own ship