Space Heads! Review

Those of us that revere Nintendo's Star Fox series are at home when zipping down narrow corridors while dodging moving walls and doors. Space Heads! by Unity Studios re-creates some of that confined space-piloting magic. Ultimately though, it's another 3D endless running/flying game, albeit a polished one.

The setting and character designs for Space Heads! are inspired by "Tekkon Kinkurîto," an anime film about two boys that battle old-world threats like the Yakuza in addition to futuristic foes like alien assassins. Space Heads! attempts to capture "Tekkon Kinkurîto"'s unique whimsy with its large cast of young pilots and cool spaceships - most of which are accessible only after players amass certain rare items or pay exorbitant amounts of money (which can be found in small quantities in-game, but is also purchasable via the in-game store).

Space Heads! plays well. Its controls are responsive, and having to swipe left and right to dodge obstacles in addition to swiping up and down adds an extra dimension of challenge. Players can collect standard endless runner power-ups, including shields, point multipliers, and gem magnets. There's even a black hole that shows up occasionally and whisks players to a happy land full of collectable gems.

Space Heads! also doles out second chances, which don't come often in endless running games. If players clip a wing, they can still fly on. Granted, if they slam face-first into a wall or a door it's still game over.

Herein lies one of the more aggravating problems in Space Heads!. When players pancake against a wall, they're asked if they'd like to spend hard currency (hearts) to pick up their flight from where they left off. The action is paused for a few seconds while the player either taps to resume, or waits for the timer to run out. It's an annoying delay that breaks up the game's pace.

Space Heads! is a decent endless runner, and it features fun, colorful graphics. Kids in particular will love the young cast of space pilots, making it a good choice for a younger sibling or child. There are quite a few purchases that can be made with real-world cash however, so make sure they tread carefully around the in-game store.