Overall Impressions
I jumped into Remote Life expecting an old-school shooter with a modern feel, and it gave me exactly that—with a few surprises. Made by Next Game Level, this fast, tough 2D shooter takes place inside a giant alien spaceship.
What stood out most was the 360-degree aiming, helpful support turrets, and temporary drones that gave the classic gameplay a fresh twist. Some levels had “open” areas that broke away from the usual straight-line style, adding a fun sense of exploration.
That said, the game’s look can be a bit unclear at times—some enemies blend into the dark backgrounds. Also, there’s no Steam Overlay, which makes taking quick screenshots annoying. Still, Remote Life feels like a mix of R-Type and Gradius, with bold ideas pushing the genre in a new direction.
Gameplay Mechanics
Remote Life keeps your reflexes on edge. You’ll unlock and pilot three ships, each capable of wielding three primary weapons and one powerful special. I especially appreciated how support turrets and drones added strategic layers.
The 360-degree aiming wasn’t just a gimmick—it was essential when enemies swarmed from behind or all directions. Higher difficulties turned the game into a true one-hit kill affair, amplifying tension. Camouflaged enemies caused plenty of rage-quits, but tight hit detection and fluid controls (controller or keyboard) kept things from feeling unfair.
Story and Characters
Let’s be honest: Remote Life isn’t about a complex narrative. You’re humanity’s last hope, infiltrating an alien colossus. The plot takes a backseat to combat, but brief animated cutscenes add just enough context to give boss battles narrative weight.
There’s minimal dialogue and no character depth, but that sparse storytelling style works here. When a boss emerged from a hatch unexpectedly, it was the atmosphere—not exposition—that made the moment pop.
Visuals and Graphics
This game flexes its pixel-art muscles. Each stage feels alive with grotesque, bio-organic textures—giant alien maws, glistening corridors, glowing weak points.
The art style fuses horror and sci-fi in a way that’s both beautiful and unsettling. Unfortunately, the color palette sometimes causes enemies to fade into the background, which feels like an oversight. Still, few indie shmups look this polished and artistically daring.
Sound and Music
The techno soundtrack pulses alongside your every move, keeping adrenaline high. Gunfire, explosions, and alert tones have weight and precision, and the occasional bass drop during boss phases adds real impact.
While there’s no voice acting (thankfully), one drawback is the absence of dedicated sliders for music and FX, which limits sound customization. Volume keybinds exist but are a bit clunky in the heat of battle.
Difficulty and Replayability
This game doesn’t pull punches. I started on Easy to grasp the mechanics, but Normal already demanded serious attention. Very Hard mode becomes full-on bullet hell—requiring almost flawless execution.
A standard playthrough on Normal clocked in at around 7 hours, but leaderboards, achievements, and multiple ship/weapon loadouts keep things fresh. “Open” level structures also add some replay spice. It’s not beginner-friendly, but those with grit will find tons of replay value.
Behind the Scenes Trivia
Launched by the passionate indie devs at Next Game Level, Remote Life made waves for its stylistic confidence and hardcore edge. Patch 1.3 was a game-changer, introducing Easy and Very Hard modes, along with ally AI systems like turrets and drones.
These updates didn’t just tweak balance—they redefined how tactical the gameplay could get in a genre that usually prizes pure reflexes over strategy.
Final Thoughts
Remote Life is a love letter to classic shmups, layered with forward-thinking twists. If you crave screen-filling explosions, twitchy controls, and sci-fi horror vibes, this one’s worth the ride. The lack of accessibility options and visual clarity issues keep it from perfection, but genre purists and high-skill players will find it incredibly rewarding.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
