Space Marshals

File:Space Marshals Screenshot.png

Space Marshals is a stealth-heavy, science fiction, top-down third-person shooter video game.{{Cite web |last=Dotson |first=Carter |date=January 22, 2015 |title='Space Marshals' Review – Some People Call Me Maurice |url=http://toucharcade.com/2015/01/22/space-marshals-review/ |access-date=April 30, 2016 |website=TouchArcade}} There are three chapters in the game, with a total of 28 missions.{{Cite web|url=http://toucharcade.com/2015/09/04/space-marshals-2-fan-feedback/|title=Pixelbite Wants to Know What YOU Want to See in 'Space Marshals 2'|date=September 4, 2015|website=TouchArcade|access-date=May 1, 2016|first=Jared |last=Nelson}} The player has access to four weapon slots which they can customize with different weapons.{{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Dave |date=January 22, 2015 |title=Review: Space Marshals |url=http://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-space-marshals/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504135135/http://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-space-marshals |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |access-date=May 1, 2016 |website=Pocket Tactics}} Two of the slots are for guns, and the other two are for throwable weapons like a pipe bomb or grenade. The variety of weapons that can be used in the game ranges from shotguns to grenades to axes.

After the completion of each level, the player gets a ranking from 1-5 "stars" indicating how well they performed. The rating in stars is based on various factors such as the number of player deaths, the number of high-value targets eliminated, and the number of clues found. The more stars a player earns, the more rewards are available for them to unlock at the end of the level. These rewards include weapons, bombs, distraction devices, and armor.

The player can switch between offensive mode and stealth mode. In offensive mode, the player has the advantage of being able to run quickly. In stealth mode, the player cannot be shot when behind a fence, bush, oil can, or other types of objects. However, in stealth mode, the player has to walk at a far slower pace.

The player has access to limited ammunition in the game. Every type of weapon has limited ammunition available, and if the player runs out of ammunition for that specific weapon, then they can no longer use it until they pick up more ammunition which can be found lying in various parts of each level's map. Each type of weapon has a maximum amount of ammunition that can be held for it at any one time.

The game is set in the "Wild West", and the player is tasked with bringing criminals to justice. The player takes on the role of Burton, the main protagonist. Characterized as "arrogant", Burton is a former space marshal who was stripped of his rank for "inappropriate use of firearms during an interrogation" and thrown into a holding cell aboard the space ship.{{cite web |date=December 10, 2014 |title=SPACE MARSHALS – STORYSETTING |url=http://www.pixelbite.se/space-marshals-storysetting-2/ |access-date=May 1, 2016 |publisher=PixelBite}} He and two others free themselves during a prison breakout, during which all the guards and crew are killed, and take control of the space ship, steering it into the lawless reaches of the Backspace.{{cite web |last1=Priestman |first1=Chris |date=January 8, 2015 |title=Space Marshals is a tactical sci-fi western shooter from the Reckless Racing dev, 1st chapter out now |url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPad/Space+Marshals/news.asp?c=63233 |access-date=January 22, 2017 |website=Pocket Gamer}} The three team up to hunt down fugitives in the galaxy, assisted by an AI known as T.A.M.I.{{Cite web |last=Gaudiosi |first=John |date=February 20, 2015 |title=PixelBite Shoots For Shield Tablet With Space Marshals |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/88246/pixelbite-shoots-for-shield-tablet-with-space-marshals |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718125529/http://www.shacknews.com/article/88246/pixelbite-shoots-for-shield-tablet-with-space-marshals |archive-date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=May 1, 2016 |website=Shacknews}}

The development of Space Marshals was announced on September 18, 2014, with the launch date set for January 8, 2015.{{Cite web |first=Carter |last=Dotson |url=http://toucharcade.com/2014/12/12/reckless-racing-creators-pixelbite-announce-new-dual-stick-shooter-space-marshals/|title='Reckless Racing' Creators Pixelbite Announce New Dual-Stick Shooter, 'Space Marshals'|date=December 12, 2014|website=TouchArcade|access-date=May 7, 2016}} Several illustrations of the game and a trailer were released in October{{Cite web|title=Space Marshals – Release Trailer|date=January 7, 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sbfXwt0K3s|accessdate=May 7, 2016|publisher=Pixelbite Games|via=YouTube}} and it was released for iOS on October 9.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/games/space-marshals/iphone-20029798|title=Space Marshals (iPhone)|date=January 8, 2015|website=IGN|access-date=April 30, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://nordicgame.com/pixelbite-releases-space-marshals/|title=Pixelbite releases Space Marshals |first=Jacob |last=Riis |date=January 11, 2015|website=Nordic Game Community|language=en-US|access-date=May 7, 2016}} At that point the game contained a single chapter.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPad/Space+Marshals/news.asp?c=63233|title=Space Marshals is a tactical sci-fi western shooter from the Reckless Racing dev, 1st chapter out now|last=Priestman|first=Chris|website=Pocket Gamer|access-date=May 1, 2016|date=January 8, 2015}} The second chapter of the game was released as a free expansion on January 27, 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://toucharcade.com/2015/01/28/space-marshals-chapter-two-update-coming-in-march/|title='Space Marshals' Chapter Two Update Coming in March|date=January 28, 2015|website=TouchArcade|access-date=May 7, 2016|first=Carter |last=Dotson}} The Android version was announced on February 17, 2015,{{Cite web|url=http://www.pixelbite.se/space-marshals-launching-in-april-on-android/|title=Space Marshals – Launching in April on Android|date=February 17, 2015|website=www.pixelbite.se|publisher=PixelBite|access-date=May 1, 2015}} and released on April 10, 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.droidgamers.com/index.php/game-news/android-game-news/8605-pixelbite-game-flips-the-script-tactical-adventure-space-marshals-coming-to-android-soon|title=[Update: Game Released] Pixelbite Games Flips the Script: Tactical Adventure Space Marshals Coming to Android Soon|date=April 10, 2015|last1=Carter|first1=Jaymes|publisher=Droid Gamers|access-date=January 22, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202021227/http://www.droidgamers.com/index.php/game-news/android-game-news/8605-pixelbite-game-flips-the-script-tactical-adventure-space-marshals-coming-to-android-soon|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pixelbite.sg|title=Space Marshals – Android Apps on Google Play|website=play.google.com|access-date=May 7, 2016}} The third chapter was announced on July 30, 2015,{{Cite web|url=http://toucharcade.com/2015/06/25/space-marshals-chapter-3-screens/|title='Space Marshals' Third and Final Chapter Coming this Summer, Will Feature Even More Stealthiness|date=June 25, 2015|website=TouchArcade|access-date=May 7, 2016|first=Jared |last=Nelson}} and was released as a free update on August 13, 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/Space+Marshals/news.asp?c=66961|title=The third and final chapter of sci-fi western shooter Space Marshals is out this week|website=Pocket Gamer|access-date=May 7, 2016|date=August 11, 2015|first=Chris |last=Priestman}}

{{Video game reviews|title=Space Marshals|MC=82/100{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/space-marshals/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad|title=Space Marshals|website=Metacritic|access-date=May 1, 2016}}|IGN=8.7/10{{Cite web|url=http://it.ign.com/touch-me/92168/review/touch-me-90-i-giochi-per-smartphone-e-tablet-della|title=Touch Me #90: i giochi per smartphone e tablet della settimana|date=January 19, 2015|website=IGN Italia|access-date=May 1, 2016|language=Italian|first=Alessandro |last=Zampini}}|rev1=TouchArcade|rev1Score={{rating|4.5|5}}}}

The game received mostly positive reviews from critics, with a score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic. Many reviewers were impressed by the simplicity of the game's dual-stick controls, and how well they worked with the style and pace of the game. Phone Arena praised the replay value of the game, and how playing it several times over and over was still just as captivating as the first playthrough.{{Cite web|url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/PhoneArena-game-of-the-week-Space-Marshalls_id64700|title=PhoneArena game of the week: Space Marshals|website=Phone Arena|access-date=May 1, 2016|first=Victor |last=H.|date=January 12, 2015}} Marc Luoma of iPad Insight found the game's graphics to be very smooth, especially for a mobile game.{{Cite web|url=http://ipadinsight.com/ipad-app-reviews/game-review-space-marshals-for-ipad/|title=Game review: Space Marshals for iPad|website=iPad Insight|language=en-US|access-date=May 1, 2016|first=Marc|last=Luoma|date=February 27, 2015|archive-date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610170448/http://ipadinsight.com/ipad-app-reviews/game-review-space-marshals-for-ipad/|url-status=usurped}} Time called it "an amazingly animated iOS game."{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3664896/iphone-games-space-marshals/|title=The Absolute Best iPhone Games You Should Play This Week|first=Alexander |last=Aciman|magazine=Time.com|access-date=May 7, 2016|date=January 13, 2015}} A review on website gamer.nl praised the rewards system, as it makes it possible for players who are finding a level too easy to try harder and get better rewards.{{Cite web|url=http://gamer.nl/articles/review/space-marshals/|title=Space Marshals|website=gamer.nl|access-date=May 1, 2016|language=Dutch|date=April 30, 2015|first=Merijn|last=de Boer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601121210/http://gamer.nl/articles/review/space-marshals/|archive-date=June 1, 2016|df=mdy-all}}

Several reviews criticized the game for its lack of length, with only a small number of levels.

The game was one of Apple's free apps of the week in April 2015{{Cite web|url=http://wccftech.com/apples-free-app-week-intense-scifi-shooting-game-excellent-graphics/|title=Apple's Free App Of The Week Is An Intense Sci-Fi Shooting Game With Excellent Graphics|last=Ghani|first=Uzair |date=April 15, 2016|website=Wccftech|publisher=WCCF PTE|language=en-US|access-date=August 26, 2016}} and won editor's choice on the Apple App Store.{{Cite web|url=http://tech.thaivisa.com/review-space-marshals-game-ipad-iphone/2982/|title=Game review: Space Marshals for iPad and iPhone|date=January 20, 2015|website=Thai Tech|publisher=Thaivisa.com|language=en-US|access-date=May 1, 2016|author=Staff}}

Space Marshals 2 was announced on August 14, 2015 and released in June 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://toucharcade.com/2016/04/29/space-marshals-2-should-release-in-june-sequel-will-turn-the-stealthyness-up-a-notch/|title='Space Marshals 2' Should Release in June, Sequel Will Turn the Stealthyness Up a Notch|date=April 29, 2016|website=TouchArcade|access-date=May 1, 2016|first=Tasos |last=Lazarides}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://www.pixelbite.se/category/space-marshals/}}

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Category:2015 video games

Category:IOS games

Category:Android (operating system) games

Category:Third-person shooters

Category:Action games

Category:Science fiction video games

Category:Space Western video games

Category:Stealth video games

Category:Top-down video games

Category:Video games developed in Sweden