Can this shooting star shine bright?

You are a shooting star that refuses its fate of disappearing in the ether, to instead go travel space and draw constellations through its journey. Faraway is a one-button game, with a simple set of rules finely balanced to adapt to different playing levels, within an always renewed universe that is procedurally generated in real time – based on score -, resulting in an infinitely replayable game. Like Steph Thirion’s first game Eliss, Faraway is set in a bizarre and lonely outer space, was 100% created – design, coding, music and sound – by one person, and all its graphics are drawn by code, resulting in a rarely personal sensory experience.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I first loaded up Faraway. It’s quite a surreal game as you control a shooting star and guide it into different constellations before you slingshot yourself towards the next one. There’s a bit more to it since you need to map the constellation with your star’s path, but without making the lines cross so it has to have a level of precision to complete it.

There’s a nice narrative to it as well, so it’s more than just a one-button game. I mean it is by design, but it feels deeper than that with its almost philosophical approach.

Visually, it’s very basic but its intriguing at the same time. It also has a great soundtrack and its one of those games where you can just float in space for ages, not even doing anything if you just want to take it easy, chill to the music as you approach the next constellation.

The Verdict

Faraway is a basic idea and is only handled by one button, but its one that works well. Its philosophical approach is interesting, and you’ll spend a decent amount of time just floating between constellations, relaxing with a great soundtrack.

Score: 7.0