Static space lover

Inspired by the likes of VVVVVV and You Have To Win The Game, Animal Well’s flick-screen approach might be unfashionable, but it works beautifully here. Basso says a moving camera didn’t align with his design goals for the game: “There’s lots of benefits to this camera system. One, it makes you focus on the screen and gives you more of an opportunity to let your eyes wander around and think of each screen as a single piece. It’s presenting all the things you have to work with, and lets you [wonder] what could be hidden. Plus, it’s more relaxing for your eyes to focus on things if it’s not moving around.” That has motivated him to add animations, lighting and particle effects to make the world feel more alive: indeed, the smoke produced by a detonation is quite mesmerising.