ENTER THE CHRONO SPHERE

Dodge, shoot, pause for thought

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Like many a reputable indie production, Enter The Chronosphere had its start in the game jam scene, its creation fuelled by late nights and a sprint-like burst of creative energy. "We had the most productive week of our lives," Effort Star co-founder Rhys van der Waerden says. "And the game was pretty successful." The results of the jam back up this claim. The game's early prototype snagged the top spot in its Scope, Fun and Completeness categories, enough to prompt van der Waerden and fellow Chronosphere creator Ned Kirner to pursue further development.

Lifting the lid on the latest build, many of the core mechanics and components, we're told, remain the same as in the prototype: this is a bullet-hell Roguelike that fuses realtime and turn-based combat. Choosing a character from a rag-tag space crew, you need to fight through the many floors of the Chronospheres' megastructures, hoping to destroy the gooey, beating heart that lies at their centre.