Space shooter Hyperwired, developed by Spanish studio Sidralgames, presents a unique challenge: players must keep their starfighter's battery charged by tethering to external power sources, all while battling alien threats. The game, described by its developers as "Plug n' Shoot," puts players in the role of a pilot who, perhaps through oversight, has left their ship's charging cable unplugged before embarking on crucial missions.
In each procedurally generated level of this top-down shmup, players will navigate arenas, firing lasers and missiles at waves of enemies. The core mechanic involves periodically attaching the ship's power cable to solar-powered satellites to replenish the energy bar. This cable has a finite length, establishing a maximum radius while attached, though some limited repositioning of the satellites is possible. If no external power source is available, players can deploy a single, short-lived personal satellite for emergency charging.
Attaching to satellites also serves as the method for unlocking power-ups, which can include incendiary ammunition and shields. The game features a significant amount of customization and progression, with developers citing 40 upgrades for the game's 10 distinct ships and approximately 250 possible bullet modifier combinations. A key default ability allows players to enter a slow-motion state, fueled by collecting fragments from destroyed enemies.
The developers highlight the game's chaotic yet engaging nature, noting that even early demo stages are filled with a mix of harmful and helpful visual cues. Certain weapons can also alter the level layouts. Players can even rescue smaller, NPC fightercraft and attach them to satellites to create mobile allied support.
Hyperwired bears some resemblance to Galak-Z: The Dimensional, noted for its tension and tactical awareness. The full version of Hyperwired is slated for release on July 2nd. A demo is currently available on Steam, and an earlier prototype can be found on Itch.io, indicating the game originated as a game jam project.