GUNHEAD | PS5 Review

If it's not broken don't fix it. That's the motto some game developers live by, and rightfully so. Alientrap's follow up to their original 2D space salvaging roguelike is a shining example of this. Borrowing the mechanics of the previous game, Cryptark, this new FPS focused adaptation merely changes perspective and graphics in an attempt to revitalize interests. Carrying over legacy content and characters with the same premise in tow. 

You are basically a mech pilot for hire doing salvaging missions for a xenotech gathering corporation. The payout for objectives being the motivation for your risky efforts. It seems these abandoned salvage vessels are home to hostile aliens and alien borne security tech. Taking out key components on your outings opens up the vessel to the intended salvaging, and ultimately your payday. 

As with Cryptark, missions completed are the key to progress and upgrades in this mech focused FPS title. Armed with up to four guns or offensive extensions, grenades, and defensive add-ons you will fly from your hub of operations to the next vessel to salvage each interior while meeting the laundry list of mission parameters and bonus objectives therein. All as a means of upping the cash payout at the end of a run. Successfully beating a time limit, or taking out specific security targets in a certain order as well as completing the destruction of the power core in a timely fashion are but a few examples of ways to earn more money so that you can further deck out your mech for the more trying tasks ahead.

Tasks, themselves, are a branching effort in the traditional roguelike sense with multiple salvage vessel choices to choose from during each playthrough. Each vessel color coded according to difficulty level, and each with their own mission objectives as well as bonus opportunities. Some being more lucrative than others due to the risk and reward system. This comes on top of a base difficulty selection at the start of the game that goes from easy all the way to several increasingly more difficult settings. Increasing in kind the enemy threat as well as the potential payout.

With a touchpad activated overlay map on hand you'll find marked security components, guard placements, and the location of the power core in each and every vessel you encounter. Your goal per vessel is to kill all aliens in your way while salvaging power-ups, health items, and key cards that will gain you access beyond gated doorways. These vessels are usually small in size, and have access ports connecting to other parts of the sometimes detached vessel for fast tracking progress. 

Of course ammo, grenades, and arm attachments meant for offensive measures do have limitations to some degree, but with four attached to your mech you do have plenty of options with which to deal with security component weak points, and the various aliens that drift by to do you harm. In each mission scenario you will find that all threats are scattered between mainstay vessel components, and key targets. Making taking out certain targets a priority over others. Alarm systems, for example, will call in more alien threats if triggered, and with a limited health/ammo stock for your mech this can be problematic.

Back at the base hub of operations you'll find an onboard licensing venue that acts as your go to for mech upgrades. Some of which will only become available after you've met the required achievements in-game. These extra weapons and armaments shop offerings come at a cost, and that cost is cut from your part of the collective payout for service rendered. You can also find weapons and armament add-ons while out on missions to counteract the high cost. These added hardware bits & baubles will be automatically added if you choose for them to be when prompted to do so. Besides the weapons there's also mech upgrades. You'll be able to buy new more powerful mechs as you progress, but also for a price.

The Verdict ...

Visually and aesthetically GUNHEAD is an upgrade from Cryptark. It may not be a proper evolution in terms of mechanics and features, but the perspective alteration does significantly change the experience. If you enjoyed what Cryptark had to offer then you'll enjoy what GUNHEAD has in store for you as well. It's more of the same, only different. As far as gameplay goes it's fast, fluid, and FPS friendly. Targeting comes with the usual menu adjustments including things like aim assist, and field of view. It does what it does effectively in the FPS sense even in something so layered and complex by design. Navigation is also made easier through highlighted targets, and a quick access map for objective purposes. If any of this sounds interesting to you do note that the game is already out on the PS5, and is ready to buy!