Lunar Lander Beyond Review

A mysterious universe awaits with the release of Dreams Uncorporated’s Lunar Lander Beyond. This serious glow-up of the classic Atari property certainly looks the part – should players set out to build a new Earth?

Lunar Lander Beyond Review

Joining the ranks of the Pegasus Administration, Lunar Lander Beyond has players setting out into the great beyond as the latest pilot on payroll. 

However, even through players are guided by the AI assistant HARA every step of the way, this gig is far from easy. Not only do players have to contend with one’s ship health and fuel as they rescue crew members and perform adept landings, they’ll also have to contend with stress that can ultimately lead to one going insane – never a fun moment. There’s also something called the “Cosmic Event” that is the talk of the town – never a dull moment to be on the job!

While this may seem like a lot to manage, that’s also the draw. Lunar Lander Beyond is a game of resource management, reflexes, and careful planning. One can easily dial down the difficulty, lean on the Stabilizer, or choose a different pilot or ship – the options are most certainly there for those looking for them. This is also paired with a number of different features that can be equipped, from tractor beams to turboboosts.

However, the real fun of Lunar Lander Beyond comes from true mastery of its system. Momentum is the focal point of this title; truly understanding the way one’s ship moves as you hit the thrusters and use fuel provides a moment of zen; think of it like hitting the race line of a video game.

The same management comes from its crew management. Each character has their own traits, including Elite traits, but there’s also the chance that a bad run out could lead to a demotion – or the aforementioned insanity. It requires careful planning when it comes to who to send out, what ship to bring, and which abilities to equip, adding to a bit of strategy that we absolutely love. Those that fail to do so will be seeing eyeballs and pink elephants, just begging to take a pill.

However, those that do take the time to learn its system will be handsomely rewarded with better medal ranks, additional credits, and even extra pilots. There’s also the occasional curveball thrown in for good measure, like defending a strong point, avoiding a security system, or trying to maneuver around mines. This, in turn, requires players to make a choice between safety and sanity – never an easy ask.

Despite its great gameplay, the presentation of Lunar Lander Beyond could use some work. There are some shining moments to be had with its fully voiced over dialog and animated cutscenes. However, there are also certain design elements that are static, and survivors are depicted as stick men. It can be a bit jarring to see this discrepancy in its world, and did take us out of the experience on more than one occasion.

While Lunar Lander Beyond requires a delicate touch, the feeling that comes from mastering a perfect run and ship-shape crew cannot be beat. For the management fiends and skill-driven fans among us, get ready to kick the tires and light the fires during this Cosmic Event.