Following its PC launch three years, IXION makes its way to consoles. Is this space colonising simulator worth your time? Or should it be jettisoned into outer space for good?
So Long, Sweet Earth
Space, the final frontier. Gamers have loved and marvelled at this setting for decades, imagining the endless possibilities this genre and environment has to offer, but IXION attempts to shake up the formula. Developed by Bulwark Studios and published by Kasedo Games, IXION is billed as a city building simulation game but overall I think it’s truly more of a survival game and this is clearly evident in its narrative. Set in the year 2049, you are the commander and operator of the mobile space station Tiqqun, which was crafted and created by the DOLOS corporation. Whilst testing a new interstellar travel system, the engine in the Tiqqun malfunctions and unbeknownst to the crew and the ship, results in the devastation and destruction of earth itself. Upon returning, the crew discovers the aftermath and sets in motion the main events of the story: it’s time to find ourselves a new hospitable home.
Set across a prologue and six subsequent chapters, the story of IXION is a bit of a mess. Far too often you are introduced to intriguing characters and situations, only for them to be killed off suddenly and bizarrely, which often made me question my own decision making. It works in some aspects, such as highlighting the trials and tribulations the colony is undergoing and the overall fight for survival, but in spite of this, it just felt muddled. It’s an interesting and thought-provoking adventure which needed a little more polish; too often, the game throws the mysterious DOLOS company as key to the core of the tale yet doesn’t elaborate enough to give you a full understanding. Too many subplots go unanswered and the ending felt bizarrely incomplete, leading to real frustration for me.
There is more than enough to capture your imagination but it struggles to fully achieve a smooth landing in a tale of humanity’s survival and struggle in unforeseen circumstances. Speaking of humanity, the tone of the game is relentlessly depressing. It is as if Bulwark Studios felt the need to remind everyone at every corner that humanity is a vastly flawed civilisation. Overly evil characters or organisations seem to appear at every corner and it feels overwhelming at times. Overall, I can really appreciate the developers putting in a lot of effort to add a structure and story for a simulation game like this, but it just feels at odds with itself at times and leads far too many plots and narratives left open. A true mixed bag.
Build, Harvest, Survive And Rotate
Unfortunately, gameplay in IXION, like the narrative, also represents a mixed bag. Billed as a space simulation and construction title, the game plays as veterans of simulation game would expect. The standard top down camera for simulation games is used here, but with a twist. IXION allows you to control the station from three viewpoints: Internal view, External view and the Planetary System Map. Each viewpoint has different tasks and requirements on offer for the player, which adds great variety and helps to keep the game fresh. Whether you are constructing buildings for your colony, researching new technology to help overcome unforeseen threats or buildings ships to travel and explore different planets, everything you want in a space sim is here for you. It’s just unfortunate how chaotic and frustrating the game can be.
The prologue both helps and hinder the experience from the start for the player. I was thrust into a situation with not much information and far too little advice or explanation as to how the basic controls work. It’s a very daunting task for a newcomer to not feel completely overwhelmed by the start and this could really put players off within a very short space of time. However, the prologue does succeed in making one key point very clear- gaining the trust of the citizens and maintaining that trust is the most crucial goal if want to succeed in IXION. Citizens need food, water, shelter and entertainment in order to sustain a positive trust meter in the game and this can prove to be exceedingly frustrating and troublesome as you delve further and further into the campaign.
Construction is also a key element of the core gameplay loop, as you look to build apartments and complexes through the gathering of resources. If you are familiar with simulation games, this is all standard procedure and does nothing to elevate or innovate the formula. The game has a massive dependence on the use of radial wheels which thankfully feel responsive and straightforward to navigate and control. The planetary map system offers great experiences in sending probes and watching your ships travel to uncharted planets but overall, feels underdeveloped and could have been more polished. There is a very fine balance in the gameplay in difficulty where one second you feel as though you’ve mastered the ship, only for a game over screen to appear. This is not for the faint-hearted and for players looking for a real challenge, IXION is for you. It’s a game where you really need to think carefully and thoughtfully about each action you take and the consequences that could follow.
Going Down With The Ship
From a visual standpoint, IXION succeeds. The Tiqqun looks beautiful rotating in space and truly stands out as a unique design in a sea of sci-fi games. Interiors and buildings are nicely designed and look sleek and the excellent lighting makes them stand out even more. Everything looks and feels like it could have been taken from a classic sci-fi film or novel and I can truly appreciate the art style the team at Bulwark were going for. The UI is solid and simple enough to not be an eye sore for players but there are some downsides to the text and images in IXION. When certain narrative events appear or begin, they are shown through text vignettes or images but I found them to be quite ugly and they stood out in all the wrong ways. Overall, the visuals and presentation in IXION succeed in showcasing a unique and alternate sci-fi style and on console it’s one of the better looking simulation games available.
Unfortunately and sadly, audio in IXION is a true mess. Far too often I would be confused as to where the sound had disappeared to in the game. The basic sounds and sights of construction are present, but out of nowhere, there can be almost deadly silence. It’s truly bizarre and I would hope this is a bug only experienced by me and one that can be fixed. The sounds of the ships taking off or landing sound great but again there are too few. The voice acting on display is also quite bizarre; it’s as if the cast had been told to throw out any emotion and act as coldly and heartlessly as they can. This takes away any real empathy or sympathy for these characters. I was also profoundly disappointed with the musical score. The lack of variety on offer kills any chance this score had as it regurgitates four tracks over and over and over again. Get the picture? It’s a bland set of synth space tracks which are truly forgettable. As someone who yearns for memorable scores in gaming, this is a true failure.
Verdict
To sum up, IXION both fascinated and ultimately truly frustrated me. It’s a mixture of a plot that does nothing to further the sci-fi genre, other than showcase how at odds it is in its portrayal of earth and characters. Then there is a gameplay design that at times works well but then out of nowhere spirals into a frustrating convoluted mess. I wanted to love this game and the visuals tried to lull me into a false sense of security but sadly, the terrible audio and bland musical score helped rip me straight out of that. Some simulation veterans will find some fun but overall, it’s a true shame and a tale of what could have been. Back to earth!
