Publisher: E. McNeill
Developer: E. McNeill
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, .NET 4 Framework, XNA 4 Redistributable, Windows Media Player, 1024×768 or higher monitor resolution
Genre: Strategy
ESRB rating: Not rated at press time
Release date: Available now

The problem with large publishers and some of the more prominent development studios is that, despite having the know-how and the resources to make great games, they often prove themselves to have lost touch with the common man. When forced to choose between the reasonable and the unreasonable (but popular with the ignorant shareholders), they tend to reliably go for the latter. The result is a slew of otherwise easily avoidable problems for the end users, which in turn pushes people towards unsavory acts such as piracy. All of this is yet another good reason to look closely at the indie scene, which, while having smaller budgets, is arguably more creative and certainly friendlier to the consumer.

One good example of creativity and friendliness is E McNeill, the one man behind the indie strategy game Auralux. When I first heard about the game, I went to his website and downloaded a demo, which turned out to be pretty neat. My next step was to buy the game, but something went wrong; instead of making a purchase, I ended up complaining about the problem on some forum. You know how that goes, right? We’ve all done it. You complain on the publisher’s/developer’s own site, along with many other people, and…nothing happens. Well, this time it was different. Not only did McNeill find my post on a site that was not even his own, but he also contacted me personally and resolved my problem quickly and efficiently. The thing is, he didn’t know I was a gaming journalist until after he helped me. That’s indie for you.

Auralux is very simple. Each mission has stars that produce little sparks of the same color. The player controls the blue stars, while the opposing orange and green stars are computer-controlled. The rate of production depends on the size of the star, of which there are three. The smallest produces one spark per tick, the medium makes two, and the large generates three. The goal of the game is to take over all of the enemy stars, while preventing the loss of your own. Should you happen to lose a star or two, though, don’t worry—you can always rebuild them, or even repair them while they’re being damaged. Unlike the spores in Eufloria (another indie game that’s also an influence on Auralux), the sparks can be directly controlled by the player.

Each star can be destroyed by having sparks of a different color crash into it. The number of sparks it takes depends on the size of the star. Once a location is vacated, or once you find an empty location, you can build your own star by sending sparks into the star-spot. It takes the same number to build a star as it takes to destroy it, so there’s a 1:1 spark ratio. The same proportion also holds true in spark vs. spark combat. If sparks of different colors touch each other, then they mutually annihilate. That’s it so far as the rules and mechanics go. The fun part is devising a strategy that allows you to take over the symmetrically designed levels, while preventing the computer (or computers) from doing the same. All of the age-old principles apply; you benefit by playing your enemies against each other and by employing the doctrine of concentration of force.

Visually, Auralux is very simple and yet very pretty. I enjoyed looking at the screen as I was playing, and I also enjoyed the ambient sound effects. There are no orchestral scores or realistic 3D audio, but that’s a part of the appeal. Even though the game is not easy, with many of the levels being incredibly difficult to beat, there is no sense of urgency. A StarCraft spaz has no advantage against a slower, contemplative player, although tarrying too long creates problems down the line. Still, there is always time to think and react. If an enemy is attacking, the attack is not instant, so you can muster a defense. If you see that your own attack is destined to fail, you can always call it off.

I enjoyed my time with Auralux. Aside from being a fun and relaxing game, it’s also a testament to the fact that one doesn’t have to be a gigantic conglomerate with hundreds of employees, corporate headquarters, and a dozen rabid lawyers on retainer to produce a quality product. Matters are also well-handled outside the game. There is a free demo, so you can try before you buy. There is no DRM, so you don’t have to worry about being punished for purchasing. The price is just $5, so anyone can easily afford it. Most of all, there is an actual person behind this game, someone who cares enough about his art and his customers to go out of his way to help them with whatever issues they might have. This is the type of developer whom we gamers should support, because unlike some, he brings genuine value to the table.

Our Score:

Our Recommendation: