SLJ 7/2019 by Thomas Knowlton
Pick number one- Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
In its aesthetic, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (Asteroid Base. $19.99; Grade 6 & Up)
draws from the lighter side of anime (think of shows like Sailor Moon), presenting a science fiction universe filled with pinks, purples, and space bunnies- who shoot rainbows out of the chests to open locked gates.
What makes this cooperative, multiplayer video game particularly challenging and fun to play with middle schoolers is the way in which it implicitly demands that players work together to pilot a giant, unwieldy spacecraft through a hostile world.
Although a single player (with a computer-controlled pet) can take on this task, this title shines when four players are communicating and working together completely in sync, warning each other of incoming dangers and cheering when they finally clear a level.
Rather than giving players the feeling of control, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime allows only one player to command each part of the spaceship at a time, by moving their characters to an open terminal. While the ship's abilities can change through upgrades, these are generally split between the engines, laser guns, shield, and powerful Yamato cannon.
An inexperienced team of students may initially argue over roles, but after a mission failure, they will generally begin delegating and volunteering for tasks. For instance, they may begin taking votes on upgrades or talking through the more difficult sequences.
The game excels in presenting players with a problem, which encourages healthy social and emotional interactions, while avoiding a prescriptive or didactic message about the importance of teamwork. That said, it does provide one helpful visual cue in the form of a cartoon cloud that appears when two players try accessing a terminal at the same time.
Interestingly, the awkward and segmented nature of the game's controls ensures that no one player will ever feel complete mastery over the dangers of outer space. Still, this can be an empowering realization for students. Verdict: A fun game that implicitly asks students to work as a team when faced with cosmic dangers.
Pick number two- No Man's Sky
Hello Games launched No Man's Sky ($19.99 to $49.99; Grade 9 & up) to exceedingly high expectations three years ago. This was a game that promised a procedurally generated universe filled with an estimated "18 quintillion planets" to discover. Additionally, each would have its own climate and unique plants and animals to explore on foot.
Many players thrilled at the sense of scale, while others found it expansive but desolate. This was further complicated by the fact that some features seemed to be only partially implemented at release.
Fast-forwarding to the present, the developers have continued to build upon the original game, adding large, free content updates that include base building, vehicles, procedurally generated missions, multiplayer underwater environments, and more varied biomes. Each major update had generated excitement among players and positive reevaluations by critics.
It's latest update, Beyond, an even more immersive universe with a virtual reality mode as well as improvements to the social and multiplayer aspects of the game, all of which will be available as a free download.
Teens who have experience with Minecraft (or similar titles) may immediately gravitate toward the crafting and base-building aspects of the game. Other students will be drawn to recruiting alien allies, documenting the new animals and plants that they discover , or setting up trade routes.
Verdict: A fascinating space exploration game that continues to evolve and expand with each free update.
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