Pong is ever enduring and many games are spins on the iconic set-up of trying to get plenty of balls into the other player’s goal. Graviators is a space and gravity-based twist on the formula, with some interesting modes and a great visual aesthetic. If you are looking for pong on steroids, Graviators may be perfect for you.
The main mode of Graviators can be played 1v1 or 2v2 with decent bots filling any slots you’d like. Each player takes on a ship and has either a black hole or a goal to protect from a meteorite, which replaces the ball from a traditional Pong game. Instead of batting the meteorite, each ship has a lasso whip which can grab the meteorite and swing it around the ship. The whip spins around at pace, and as you let it go, the meteorite will fly off following its trajectory. Your ship can crash into the meteorite and nudge it around, but it’s not the fastest or most accurate way to play. You’ll also have to think about how to score a goal. Each goal has five barrier blocks blocking the goal, which require the meteorite to smash them at speed, meaning whipping it is usually the only way to get passed. The goals also have gravity pulling the meteorite in towards it when it gets close, which will cause panic for the defending team.
There are two maps for the main mode. One plays out like Pong with the goals at the edge of each screen., The other has black holes in the lower third of each side of the screen. It is surprising how differently they play as each level has its own nuance or hidden chutes to move around quickly in. What Graviators does need is more variation. What is here is fantastic, but with only two maps, I’d have loved some more layouts to switch things up.
Thankfully, a second mode called Meteor Shower helps. This is a 1 or 2 player co-op mode that asks you to defend your goal from a never-ending meteor shower. If you crash into a meteor, or a meteor breaks through the goal, it’s game over. You’ll need to slingshot meteors into each other, or the bombs and mines being dropped in waves, to clear them. This is the perfect competitive practice mode, as you can’t get far without learning how to finesse the slingshot moves properly. This helps you get competitive in the main versus modes elsewhere. Online servers are available if you aren’t all in the same room, and whilst there is no online community at all, everything still works nicely. I would recommend being in the same room for local play, though, as both modes are visceral and reactionary. The last thing you’d want is lag!
Graviators is a small, but perfectly formed twist on Pong. The gravity physics and lasso whip skillshots are fantastically implemented, and the bold visual style, swirling neon colours, and responsive controls make Graviators a joy to play. This is a slept on gem, that will be an excellent title in your sofa games night with your mates.
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