HEAVENLY BODIES PS5: Do You Really Need It? This Will Help You Decide!

Heavenly Bodies is a little, lovely treasure of a game that reminds us of the indie marketplace’s strength. The physics-based puzzle game by 2pt Interactive is focused, beautiful, and frequently irritating. Heavenly Bodies, on the other hand, reimagines what and how a puzzle game might be played by using a defined theme and setting to give depth and complexity to what, on the surface, appear to be simple problems.

Heavenly Bodies, like space, maybe beautiful, terrifying, and humorous all at the same time. There are so many moments in this one- to two-player “tricky physics” simulation game where you can marvel at the station’s endearingly relentless attention to detail, be concerned about drifting out into the wide unknown, or simply get on your fellow cosmonaut’s nerves. Heavenly Bodies is a high-production-value effort from small studio 2pt Interactive, but at its core, it’s about zero-gravity physical comedy, which We adore. Before starting this review, We had no idea what to expect from Heavenly Bodies. The trailer shows cosmonauts doing things like adjusting the position of a satellite dish, watering plants, and navigating a super-long package through a cargo bay, but it’s not as simple as it appears. You have autonomous control of your arms and hands in this game, and even traveling through a tunnel might be difficult. You’ll find yourself whirling, contorting, and squeezing your way in – sometimes on purpose, and more often by mistake. It’s one of those “go with the flow” situations where you have to learn to slow down and breathe. We were expecting some QWOP-style nonsense, but we were surprised at how long it took us to adjust to the way these bodies work. But that’s not a complaint! It’s an enjoyable game to try to master. There are some problematic fits, particularly with unintentional turns, but it never feels frustrating on purpose. While the PC version encourages the use of gamepads (so that each arm can use one analog stick), there are at least a few control modes to choose from, the most basic of which is notably smoother when it comes to traveling from point A to point B. It’s simple to grasp the concept of pulling yourself along to gain momentum. However, panic might set in once you’re “upside down,” and the contextual arm controls essentially shift — or you’re in a dangerous scenario. This results in these vibrant unplanned moments, which are made even funny by the addition of another player. You can annoy each other even if you have good intentions. You can irritate each other with a ferocious co-op rivalry.

Heavenly Bodies is divided into seven scenarios, each with optional objectives to achieve, such as finding and securing a hidden treasure or completing the goal using Newtonian, the most difficult and least forgiving of the three control modes, rather than Classic or Assisted. Most of the levels took 30 to 45 minutes to complete on our first playthrough, and we ended up with a total playtime of roughly five hours, with plenty of room for replayability. The art direction never takes the easy way out, whether you’re mining far-off asteroids, pushing yourself through pitch-black ventilation ducts one hand at a time, or employing crane arms to create a telescope. Basic instructions wouldn’t matter as much in a lesser game, but in Heavenly Bodies, you have a whole reference manual to go over, complete with rich graphics. This not only keeps you engrossed, but it also helps with puzzle-solving because your tasks have a set order and certain tools to find and utilize. It’s easy to access the manual at any time, and the objectives are simple enough that you’ll feel like you’ve earned your keep. We usually had a basic idea of what we wanted to accomplish next but weren’t always sure how to go about it, so there was freedom to experiment, try things out, and communicate. It’s an excellent puzzle design.

Aside from minor nitpicks about control, our primary issue is with co-op. While Heavenly Bodies allows players to split up to some extent, you’re still sharing the same screen space. There were times when We wished the screen could dynamically split to allow us to do our own thing, then circle back and sync up in certain larger/longer rooms. It’s not too distracting as it is – the camera will draw back to display both players within reason — but it would’ve made us play more efficiently. However, getting in your partner’s way unintentionally (or purposely) may be a large part of the charm, so the closeness isn’t all terrible.

Heavenly Bodies is a triumphant puzzle game in general. Its setting and premise are both unique and well-executed. The game’s short 5-7 hour gameplay ensures that it does not overstay its welcome, and the outstanding theming lends a sense of realism to what would otherwise be completely incomprehensible concepts. Heavenly Bodies is a wonderful addition to the independent puzzle field, which is currently thriving.

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