InnerSpace Review

by Vincent Lai | January 18, 2018 9:00 am

Developed by PolyKnight Games
Published by Aspyr
Reviewed on PlayStation 4 (available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Steam)

PolyKnight Games’ InnerSpace is an otherworldly voyage that allows the player to have a relaxing time. It allows the player to fly through fantastic locales full of vibrant terrain. Just by flying, the player explores varied spaces, interacts with unfamiliar entities, and solves puzzles. With its simplicity, enigmatic lore, and beautiful environments, InnerSpace is a captivating flight-based adventure game.

InnerSpace involves exploring the mysterious Inverse following the decline of an ancient civilization. The player controls the Cartographer, a mechanical entity created by the lone Archaeologist. The Cartographer navigates through unexplored territory in order to discover lost relics, past records, and even giant abstract entities. Through the power of flight, the Cartographer gathers the scattered power of Wind and acquires new abilities that facilitate further exploration into the Inverse. By doing so, the Cartographer discovers the mysteries behind the civilization’s downfall and how to honor its legacy.

InnerSpace emphasizes simplicity and freeform exploration, and its familiar controls suit the game’s progression. Almost all of InnerSpace’s movement involves manipulating the analog sticks to pilot the Cartographer. The left stick enables the player to yaw and pitch, and the right stick enables rolling, acceleration, and deceleration. Given that the environments consist of rocky surfaces, caverns, and other walls, it can be easy to crash against surfaces. However, the game easily allows the Cartographer to pull away and continue exploring. As the player progresses through the game, the Cartographer can transition between different modes of transportation, which is also a seamless intuitive process.

InnerSpace’s minimalism drives the journey in an effective way. It lacks a heads up display, and there are no symbols marking important tasks on screen. Instead, rings of light and bright objects designate points of interest in the environment. This method of highlighting important areas is effective and streamlined, and it meshes well with the game’s vibrant visual style. Furthermore, the menus consist of simple boxes and text that are appropriately elegant and functional.

The way the game grants total freedom is enthralling, but it can also occasionally be confusing. The player is free to approach the Architect and ask for a hint, which is always relevant to the next objective. However, it is up to the player to explore areas and figure out exactly where to go. Since the game’s environments are wide open and full of abstract props, it can take a bit of effort and wandering to reach the target destination. In some ways this exploration can feel a bit old school today, but it is nonetheless satisfying to explore and stumble upon relics and discover unfamiliar areas.

InnerSpace’s entrancing imagery creates a remarkable experience. Despite the general simplicity of the game’s textures and terrain, the use of vibrant effects and particles is incredibly compelling. The worlds’ features bear some resemblance to our own, and it can be striking to witness sprawling caverns and water surfaces. Navigating these areas can be breathtaking and even a bit disorienting. Furthermore, the cutscenes are full of spectacular occurrences that can be a joy to behold. InnerSpace’s color scheme is similarly striking. With its use of blues and oranges, InnerSpace provides both a soothing and a visually rich experience.

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However, the game’s performance on PlayStation 4 can occasionally feel inconsistent. The game primarily runs at 60 frames per second, but the framerate can differ depending on the situation. If a lot of objects are on screen or if the player bumps into terrain, the framerate can dip. While these hitches can persist for a little while, they generally are not highly distracting.

Much of InnerSpace’s audio design complements the game’s simplicity. The low intensity ambient tracks are full of soft beats and relaxing melodies, which creates a calming experience as the player flies through the game’s worlds. While colliding with walls results in poignant crash sounds, the audio balance has been tweaked in a way that these sounds are not overbearing or distracting. Many of the sound effects consist of subtle chimes that flow with the game’s relaxing design.

With its blend of simple controls, compelling environments, and free-form exploration, InnerSpace is an exciting adventure. Even though the game may cause players to fly around for extended periods of time, the process of exploration and stumbling upon objects is nonetheless relaxing. The game is a fantastic way to kick off 2018, and it is a beautiful experience that breathes new life into the familiar joy of flight.

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