Released this April, Humble Bundle’sLost Skieslooks like a fairly standard fantasy survival game upon first glance—even its floating archipelago premise is similar to other indie survival titles, like the stylishAloft. But interestingly enough,Lost Skiescould be a surprisingly good fit for fans ofSpider-Mangames, as it boasts similar, perhaps even better, movement systems.
Lost Skiesis currently in early access, exclusively on PC.
Set in a fantastical and dangerous world,Lost Skiestasks players with gathering resources and constructing ever more powerful gear and structures, with whimsical flying ships being the most unique of the bunch. This emphasis on airborne traversal through mystical vessels is presaged by the game’s fundamental movement mechanics, namely a grappling hook that is moreSpider-Manand lessBatmanin its execution: it utilizes in-game physics systems rather than locking the player into an animation. It’s a nice gimmick at first, but extended time with the grappling hook reveals it to be an especially fantastic movement mechanic, perhaps even better than what has been offered bythe likes ofMarvel’s Spider-Man.
Why Lost Skies May Be a Surprisingly Good Fit for Spider-Man Fans
Lost Skies Does Web-Swinging Better Than Most Spider-Man Games
It’s rather surprising, but mostSpider-Mangames don’t quite nail the character’s most important feature: his web-based traversal. In many cases,Spider-Mangameswill opt to simply program web-swinging animations that correspond to the player’s inputs, making the movement mechanic as deep and engaging as in-game walking or running. It can often look nice, to be sure, but the sense of weight, danger, and variable speed inherent to swinging hundreds of feet above the ground is lost. EvenMarvel’s Spider-Man, which many assert features particularly good web-swinging, is guilty of being more animation-based than physics-based, holding the player’s hand to ensure they don’t make any mistakes.
InLost Skies, visual splendorand spectacle play second fiddle to robust and consistent physics; players might not have the grace of a Cirque du Soleil performer while flying through the air, but they are certainly responsible for their actions, both good and bad. Instead of the game deciding the optimal place to shoot a grapple line, players need to target the spot themselves, which adds another layer of skill and quick-thinking, since the placement of these lines determines how the character model will move, and whether they will maintain or build momentum. Once in the air, this degree of control continues, as the position, tilt, and direction of the player-character is determined by the player themselves.
There’s a real sense ofhumanity inLost Skies’web-swinging-adjacent traversal, a reminder that the player-character isn’t a superhuman with years of experience swinging through the skies at breakneck speeds. Such physical limitations are further expressed by the fact that fall damage is turned on by default inLost Skies, meaning that there are actual stakes to the locomotion, and players have to suffer the consequences if they mess up a swing or mishandle their speed.
There’s also astamina system inLost Skies, which adds yet another dimension of challenge and engagement.
Of course, whether these features makeLost Skies' movement mechanics"better" than those of mainstreamSpider-Mangames is completely subjective; many players could very well prefer the more streamlined and safeguarded traversal of something likeMarvel’s Spider-Man, which still manages to be satisfying despite its low skill ceiling. But for those seeking a comparatively robust and challenging gameplay experience, albeit with a bit less visual elegance,Lost Skiescould very well be the way to go.
Lost Skies
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on a high-flying journey through the remnants of ancient civilizations and uncover the mysteries behind their downfall. As you traverse skies teeming with wonder and danger, harness advanced technology to overcome challenges and push the boundaries of human ingenuity.Epic BattlesYou’ll need to explore ancient ruins and utilize Atlas, the mysterious power that keeps the world afloat, to solve puzzles and discover the precious technology left behind by those who came before. However, danger lurks around every corner on both land and in the air. Fight against the ancient turrets and drones that hunt you across the floating islands, and engage in epic sky battles with colossal beings that have been roaming the skies since they brought about humanity’s destruction.BuildIn this vast, open world, your journey will be defined by the skyship you create. This isn’t just your vessel, it’s your home and your weapon. With Lost Skies’ deep ship crafting system, you can place parts freely to construct a flying fortress that’s as unique as your imagination. You’ll need to balance durability, agility, and firepower as you tailor your ship to face the challenges ahead. No two skyships are the same, so let your creativity take flight!Take on the SkiesWhy just fly when you can glide, grapple, and climb your way through the skies? Scale sharp cliff faces or traverse the floating islands of Lost Skies with a physics-based grappling hook, hang glider, and wingsuit that makes every leap and bound exhilarating. Explore seamlessly, moving freely between distant horizons and breathtaking landmarks. This world isn’t just beautiful, it’s yours to conquer, one daring move at a time.Island CreatorLet your imagination run wild with Lost Skies’ intuitive Island Creator. Design and build custom islands, then share them with the community through the Steam Workshop. Download and explore other players’ creations to expand your adventure. The skies are limitless, and so is the creativity of its explorers.
