Space/Mech/Pilot
- October 13, 2020
- SKY HOUR WORKS
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"SPACE/MECH/PILOT" is a free idle-RPG clicker game where players simulate being a violent space pilot, accumulating XP and defeating enemies in space. The game features a loop of continuous progress, with the potential for unusual experiences and connections to other universes. Due to its simulated nature, it is not recommended for children under 6.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Charming story with a lovable character, Kato, that players can easily get attached to.
- The game is free and offers a unique blend of idle gameplay and visual novel elements.
- Cute art style and engaging dialogue that adds depth to the idle mechanics.
- Progression can feel slow and grindy, especially towards the end, with limited post-story content.
- The game lacks offline progression, requiring it to be left running to make any progress.
- Controls can be inconsistent, with some menu actions requiring keyboard input while gameplay relies on mouse clicks.
- story176 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is a central element that many players find charming and emotionally engaging, featuring a lovable character named Kato and a bittersweet narrative that unfolds as players progress. However, the pacing is often criticized, as story advancements are tied to idle gameplay, leading to long stretches of waiting that can detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the unique blend of idle mechanics and storytelling, others feel that the gameplay lacks depth and that the story could benefit from more interactive elements and better integration with the idle aspects.
“The heart of this game is its story.”
“I never expected a story-driven idle game, but somehow I got one, and omg it's soooo good!”
“This game has a really great and emotional story.”
“While I'm sure this was intentional, considering the whole point of the game is to discover more of the story and the backstory behind the main character, locking it behind a particularly slow and empty idle game to make progress seems lackluster.”
“The underlying idle game is serviceable as a story conveyor belt, but it doesn't have a single leg to stand on after the story is finished.”
“After the story is completed, the whole reason you upgraded your ship is gone; there is no more story progression, and there is no reason to upgrade further except to get the one achievement.”
- gameplay41 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Space / mech / pilot" is primarily idle-based, featuring simplistic mechanics that often lead to a lack of engagement and depth, with many players noting that the core gameplay is overshadowed by the narrative. While the game offers a charming story and polished presentation, the limited active gameplay and absence of deeper mechanics can make the experience feel repetitive and slow-paced. Overall, it serves as a cozy backdrop for the narrative rather than a compelling gameplay experience, appealing mainly to those who prioritize story over mechanics.
“The idle game mechanics and minimal sound effects really illustrated the loneliness of traveling the cosmos, making the interactions with your friend even more precious, and near the end of the game create some truly heart-wrenching moments of waiting for your points to grow to purchase the navigation pieces to save the friend you have become so attached to.”
“I absolutely recommend this game; it's got a charming little story and narrative mixed in among its gameplay.”
“This is a fun little idle game with easy-to-understand gameplay.”
“Out of my 81 hours of gameplay, only about 7 of them were me doing anything.”
“There are no deeper mechanics or even reset mechanics that I could see, making the game a straight shot to the finish line with little reason to care about upgrading for upgrades' sake.”
“Most of the gameplay content can be discovered within half an hour; after this, it all revolves around wanting to see where things go story-wise.”
- emotional28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of this game is highly praised, with many players expressing that it evoked strong feelings, including tears, through its heartfelt story and lovable main character. Despite being an idle game, it successfully conveys themes of loneliness and connection, making the emotional moments feel impactful. Overall, players find it to be a touching and memorable experience that stands out in the genre.
“My first playthrough almost made me cry with its ending.”
“Without spoiling the story, I can say that it was quite an emotional adventure, with a lovable main character to accompany you through the isolation of space.”
“The very first idle game that made me feel sad after beating it... the story it has is well written and I really cared about the character.”
- music25 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its emotional impact and quality, with many players expressing a desire for more frequent music play throughout the experience. The soundtrack is described as great, enhancing the overall atmosphere and storytelling, leading some players to purchase the OST to support the developers. However, some users noted that music only plays in select areas, which detracted from the experience for a few.
“With some cool music (hey, I wrote that!) to go along, it's a journey unlike any other.”
“I don't buy a game if it's not worth my money; this game is free and has impacted me enough to buy the soundtrack.”
“Overall, I recommend this if you're looking for a simple, fun, and enjoyable story with a nice soundtrack.”
“The game is kind of short but it has a good story and okay gameplay; I just wish the music was playing even when she isn't speaking.”
“As for unasked feedback: I have found options for audio level but no music playing whatsoever.”
“Just in case there isn't in fact any music and I didn't do something wrong, consider letting users embed their own music library or heck, even YouTube; that seems to be all the rage lately.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly towards the end, with many suggesting it can be managed by leaving the game running in the background. While some appreciate the balance of grinding with engaging storytelling and character interactions, others feel that the grind detracts from the narrative experience. Despite the grind, the game's charm and character, particularly Kato, keep players invested.
“This game is a good idle game, not very grindy, with good art and an interesting story.”
“S/m/p is a perfect idle game - not too grindy, with a good amount of itemization and a character I will fight to the death for.”
“Its relatively short but does get a bit grindy towards the end.”
“Due to how the game is structured, with long stretches of grinding and then short exposition, I didn't get into the story at all.”
“This is an idle-RPG clicker game that is built around endless grinding, but with occasional dialog sections with the character in the title art.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of Space / mech / pilot are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that complements its idle game mechanics and dating sim elements. While the visuals are well-produced and thematically appropriate, some players noted the lack of customization options and resolution settings, which limits the overall graphical quality. Despite these limitations, the game's cute art style and engaging soundtrack received positive feedback, enhancing the overall experience.
“Space / mech / pilot is an idle game with well-produced graphics and sound for the scope of the game, and a 'dating sim'-style dialogue mechanic at the core of its gameplay.”
“I really enjoyed the music and the art style of this game; it's sort of a cross between an idle game and a visual novel. I really hope that we see Kato in one of the next games from these developers.”
“It has an amazing art style, is very well written, and the OST is pretty great too.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of Gamemaker Studio is generally viewed negatively, as it is associated with retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs. However, users appreciate that it is free to use and lacks in-app purchases or ads, distinguishing it from many mobile games.
“The game is completely free, and there are no in-app purchases.”
“Gamemaker Studio is often used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
“The game feels like a cash grab with its aggressive monetization tactics.”
“It seems like the developers prioritize profit over player experience with constant prompts to spend money.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game to be quirky and unexpected, with amusing situations such as achievements being tracked despite not playing the Steam version. The presence of a humorous character, described as a "funny twink," adds to the lighthearted tone of the game.
“The funny thing about this is that I never installed the Steam version, but since the version on itch has the Steam app ID and stuff, it still counted the achievements and the hours.”
“I like the funny character.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features a decent story, but players note that it lacks significant replayability, suggesting limited incentives to play through it multiple times.
“Decent story but not much replayability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features impressive character development, particularly notable given its brief length.
“There is excellent character development, especially considering how short the game is.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-crafted, making each character's journey feel meaningful and impactful.”
“I was genuinely surprised by the depth of the characters; their growth throughout the game kept me engaged and invested.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that while resizing the game window can lead to some graphical glitches, many find this acceptable compared to playing with parts of the game cut off on smaller monitors. Overall, stability is generally viewed positively, with minor graphical issues being a manageable trade-off.
“Resizing the game window causes graphical glitches, which can be distracting during gameplay.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it difficult to progress without losing progress.”
“I experienced several bugs that affected my ability to enjoy the game, leading to a frustrating experience.”
