Love conquers all. Unfortunately, in the case of the 2D shoot-em-up Shenandoah: Daughter Of The Stars, or 1993 Space Machine as it is now known, love conquered the release schedule for the game
1993 Shenandoah was created by a small Swedish team making the game in a bedroom in 1993. The game was nearly finished, but one member of the team fell in love with another, and the feelings were not mutual.
This created fractures and split the team, destroying all enthusiasm for the game, and eliminating any hope of release.
Is it worth the wait?
While originally designed for the Amiga System, the game was finally released 23 years later in 2016 for PC, under the name 1993 Space Machine. And oh yes, it is definitely worth the wait.
Visually, aurally, gameplay-wise, brimming with charm and personality, this game may be a historical artefact but it still packs one hell of a punch.
Although it may look dated, and in many ways it is, the strength of this game lies in the fact it has been untouched by time and meddling, modern human hands and released just as the team originally intended. In all its pixelated glory.
The first thing that hits the player is the game’s appearance
It is low-poly and basic looking. But this ain’t no basic bitch, oh nah, nah, nah.
Pixel art is lovingly, painstakingly crafted, so that even boulders look alien and exotic. Everything looks natural and organic in this space-age world, with colours popping off the screen in their low-bit brilliance.
Ships all look very different from each other, though many do look like male-genitalia. Whether this is a show of unmet needs from some of the development team, who knows?
The explosions put many modern games today to shame, too. Bright and meaty, you can almost feel the heat through your monitor. So don’t get too close!
And the sound?
The soundtrack is, ironically for a game about spaceships shooting at one another, a gorgeous blast from the past. 90s synthesisers soar set the scene perfectly for the space-themed environments. Texturally, the soundtrack is rich and diverse, too.
Alien sound effects bleep, bloop, and sometimes, inexplicably… squelch. So there is always surprise and depth to the soundscape of this interstellar adventure.
But a soundtrack is nothing without solid gameplay, I hear you shout!
Well, worry not dear reader, because gameplay is something 1993 Space Machine has in spades.
The way you zoom and shoot around this title’s succinctly and creatively designed levels is its strongest element.
Levels present wildly different biomes, from a mining planet to a dense forest and a high-tech experimental weapons facility. Colours, designs of environmental objects, and how they all interact with the player, add so much to the immersion in a way that many games today just don’t.
When it comes to your main tool for completing tasks, your ship, you have a choice of many. Just be aware, the main difference between these cosmic vehicles is cosmetic.
However, whether you use a large or small ship makes a big difference when dodging objects and especially later in the game, when speed is key.
The real difference between smaller ships comes in the available upgrades
Again, like every other aspect of the game, there is a veritable smorgasbord of choice.
From mini-guns shooting narrow and fast to lasers, to attack drones, all the way up to absolute doomsday machines, the upgrades shop has treats to whet every appetite.
The meat and veg of the game is shooting and dodging enemies, collecting power-ups and money for upgrades. And this is all tightly constructed and exciting. But enemies are not the only destructive element to watch out for.
The environment presents a wide array of hostile and dangerous obstacles; solar flares, mines of various types and many species of angry, thorny flora will try their best to stop you in your path.
Environment and enemies often coalesce in a sweet, syrupy, space-age soda that it’s a joy to slurp down in order to progress to the end of each level.
So this game is perfect, right?
Not quite.
The difficulty may be a bit too high from the outset, even on the Rookie setting, for some younger players used to more accessible titles.
And speaking of difficulty, the bosses are way too easy! Although they get a little introduction, explaining a brief background and their main weapon, they die very quickly. This is a disappointment, especially after working through the whole level.
The final complaint is that there are no defensive upgrades for shields or health. However, this could be included within the ship upgrades, as the shield and health do appear to increase when upgrading the ship itself.
Summary
Satisfying explosions, low-bit graphics with beautiful sprite-work, countless customisation options, and challenging gameplay. Perfect for older players wanting a nostalgia trip, or younger players wanting to taste the gameplay of the 90s.
