What I liked
Players only have to move in a basic up and down wave like motion. But it is this simplicity that makes even the smallest deviation tenfold more dangerous in such a high speed setting. You can’t hide behind sophisticated mechanics to cover any mistakes in operation. It’s all about split second accuracy. The faster it goes, the more control becomes not just an innate reflex, but an art of trajectory management requiring considerable focus. To survive for any length of time, players have to learn to predict the terrain, judge clearances and make their calculations about their moves practically quickly. One move that is too sharp or too slow may destroy the whole rhythm of flying in a fraction of a second. This fosters a perpetual feeling that one might have done better – if only their accuracy had been a bit crisper. With constant practice, players slowly go from a state of chaotic reactivity, to a state of conscious, significantly more consistent control. This is a level of gameplay seldom seen in a product with as simple an appearance as space waves game.
What I didn't like
Overall, space waves game’s control mechanisms make simplicity the basis for a complex and enjoyable test of reflexes.
My overall impression
Its distinguishing element, which gives space waves game its distinctive personality, is the adoption of an exceedingly basic control system. One that, despite its simplicity, challenges the player’s reflexes and spatial awareness to their ultimate limits.
