The second annual PlayStation Experience was home to a bevy of games coming to PlayStation 4, PS3, and the PS Vita. One of my overall favorite games of the show was Strike Vector EX for PS4. Developed by Ragequit Corporation, Strike Vector was originally released on PC back in January of 2014 to generally positive reviews. The game offered fast paced aerial combat and combined elements from games like Ace Combat and Star Fox all while embracing a style that was reminiscent of Robotech. And it is absolutely gorgeous to look at.
Strike Vector EX is a first or third person aerial combat game with an emphasis on competitive multiplayer action. Before or during a match you are given the option of customizing your load-out. Since this was a preview build, I was given access to all weapons, items, and special abilities. And although my time with Strike Vector EX was short, I got a good taste of what it’d be like to engage in dogfights.
I fought against A.I. controlled enemies and even that proved to be a bit difficult to deal with until I began understanding the control scheme. Before long I had myself equipped with a shotgun and a rocket booster so I could essentially speed in and out of confrontation while dealing heavy close range damage to my opponents. I didn’t spend too much time learning what every special ability did once activated, but I did get to see the aforementioned rocket booster and the Tesla coil. The Tesla coil creates a ring of electricity that damages enemies over time and is perfect to use as a means to shake off pursuers. There was also an EMP weapon that I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to use, but I could imagine it would probably distort your enemies screens and possibly remove key features from the HUD.
Strike Vector EX feels right at home on a PS4 controller, especially since controlling your “Vector” isn’t too difficult. The left analog stick is used to move forward, backward, and strafe from side to side while the right analog stick is used to control the direction in which your Vector is pointing (pitch and roll). The L1 and R1 buttons are used to adjust your elevation vertically up or down respectively. R2 is used to fire your primary weapon, and the cross button (X) is used to activate your special ability.
There’s primarily two modes while piloting your Vector, hover mode and jet mode. While in hover mode, you can perform a few actions that are otherwise unavailable while in jet mode. While hovering, you can perform quick dodges from left to right, do an instant 180-degree turn, and enter a precision aiming mode. On the other hand, in jet mode you’ll be moving at a rapid rate, so naturally, your movement options are much more rigid. In this mode you can check your review to see if you’re being tailed, and perform aileron rolls to dodge incoming missiles.
All-in-all my time with Strike Vector EX was fantastic and I cannot wait to get my hands on the full game. And although there isn’t an official release date, Ragequit Corporation is shooting for a Spring 2016 release.