Trace Vector

by Vexel Games

Vitals:

• Retro Space Puzzler
• Worth the Price ($6.99)
• Approx. 4 hour playtime
• Moderate replay value 

This weeks review harkens back to the days of high speed space action and vector graphics where quick fingers and quicker thinking are the only thing between you and certain disintegration. Trace Vector places you in the cockpit of an interstellar craft lost thousands of light years from home desperately navigating dangerous warp paths on an uncertain course to earth.

Each segment of the game is broken down into hyperspace networks, grids of possible travel the player must navigate across to reach the next area. Along the way fuel cells must be collected in order to keep progressing and dead ends must be dodged in order to avoid sudden explosive death. The levels vary in dynamic and pace; some force the player to fast twitch their way across minefields of hazards as their ship rockets through the area at ridiculous speeds; others slow the craft down providing time to think and plot a course to obtain the most fuel cells possible. Intermittently frustrating and satisfying Trace Vector excels in providing intense challenges and gratifying success even if the mechanisms are somewhat simple.

     The players ship streaks across the black void

The world the game takes place in is purposefully underdeveloped, reinforcing a sense of being lost in the void of space. As the player progresses conversations with the ships AI, dropped in between levels as status updates, take a markedly “2001, A Space Odyssey” turn. This narrative amplifies the sense of urgency and suspense the gameplay already implies upon the player. There are a few more choice moments that impress upon the player but I’ll leave out the spoilers, you’ll just have to play it. The whole game is also set to an original electronica sound track which helps set the mood and tempo for the game and fits in perfectly with the retro futuristic visual design. 

Your only friend on this journey is the ships erratic AI

For the die-hard completionists and high-score hounds out there, Trace Vector provides scoreboards and allows any level to be replayed so you can collect every last fuel cell to attain the perfect score. There is also an endless mode in which the player must navigate a safe route as the ship increases speed across an endless hyperspace network.

For gamers who long for the nostalgia of 1980's arcade gaming Trace Vector is a sure fire hit, providing thrills reminiscent of greats such as light cycles or asteroid. But the game has a lot more to offer than just quick thrills and fond memories.  Trace Vector stands on a pedestal as an exemplification of how a game can, through perfect synergy of parts, provide an incredibly suspenseful and evocative experience using only the most minimalist design.

Trace Vector runs for $6.99 and the main quest will take about 4 hours. With scoreboards, attaining perfect runs and endless mode avid fans will find a decent amount of replay value. Given the high atmospheric quality of the game it’s a title that’s overall worth the price.