Project X: Light Years

Project X: Light Years is a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up set 30 years after the first battle against an alien menace. The threat has returned, stronger and more relentless, and you pilot advanced spacecraft through enemy zones, fighting waves of foes and towering bosses. You can equip weapons and upgrades, plan your attacks and adapt to the invasion.

Stages and combat

Battle through stages ranging from asteroid fields to hostile alien worlds, each with its own hazards and surprises. Enemies have varied attack patterns and behaviors, from agile fighters to colossal bosses with formidable defenses and devastating attacks. Collect power-ups and ship enhancements to improve firepower, speed and defense; more than 40 randomized power-ups can change each run. You can carry several weapons and switch between them during combat.

The scoring system tracks accuracy, timing and overall performance, rewarding precision and consistency. Difficulty options let you adjust the game for a bullet-hell experience. If you lose a life, you do not lose all your weapons, and you can use allocated credits to continue from where you died. You can also save a session and resume later, or restart from a level you have already beaten.

Modes and difficulty

The game has five modes, including Online Seasons, Arena and Main Story, as well as five difficulty levels. Rookie difficulty is Casual Mode, which gives you 99 credits. Tiny Wings is a special difficulty with fewer waves, no bosses, a game that is 30% shorter, and a lower chance of going down.

Co-op and competition

Local co-op lets two players fight together, coordinate their firepower and support each other. Online leaderboards let you compete for high scores and fast runs. The game also has achievements and hidden secrets, along with unlockable content.

Presentation

The game features high-definition graphics, detailed environments and fluid animations, with refined controls. You can choose between two soundtracks: one that draws on the original game's style and an alternative with a harder, more intense beat. Alister and Chris Brimble return to the franchise.