In System Status: SuperCritical, you must defend your base by placing towers strategically, forming interconnected systems that depend on one another. Resources are scarce and the threat level is ever-increasing.
The defense is only as strong as its weakest link
Across distinctive planets, each enemy wave grows stronger and stronger, stressing your structures to their very limits and beyond. Each planet sets you different challenges; clear them and you will be rewarded with new, powerful technologies. Use them wisely and show the enemies who's the Boss on this corner of the Universe!
The setting
The game takes place in a distant star system where planets are tiny and their inhabitants are laughably humongous compared to them. Intense resource scavenging by galactic corporations has hollowed many of the planets. Their delicate atmospheres have likely escaped to space, stripping them of organic lifeforms, too. What remains, though, are robots who once mined or protected the resources of the planets. They were left behind the corporations after resources were mostly exhausted, so that it wasn't profitable to mine them anymore. The robots were not happy about being now stranded on mostly dead, tiny planets.
As a player, you are a young commander of pioneer troops. You have been handed a mission to secure the star system for future use, whatever that might be (they didn't tell you, and you didn't ask). The pay is low and your request for supporting forces was denied. But hey, you get to keep the resources that may still be found here and there!
Different planets with their own challenges
Each planet will feature a handcrafted campaign of enemy waves. Enemies utilize routes, spawn points, teleports and other features unique to those planets. In addition to that the cleared waves and/or campaigns will be scored: you will receive bonus points if you have fulfilled wave-specific efficiency ratings and possible limitations, like "clear the wave with under 30% health" or "do not use towers with guided missiles".
Gain technologies
During certain points in the game, you will gain technology points. They can be used to unlock new buildings or upgrade already researched ones. Every spent technology point will make you stronger and broaden your possible strategies. Would you rather research a time tower for slowing down enemies and mow them down with your hex-barrel turrets, or do you prefer unlocking a targeting tower that greatly extends the range of your missiles, enabling you to fire them from the other side of the planet?
Unique geometry
Instead of planar, flat worlds, each planet/level will have interesting 3D geometries: inside or outside of a spherical surface, separate lanes around a point in space, floating islands etc. Enemies' dynamic pathfinding will adapt to changed conditions after a building is placed or destroyed. Use it to your advantage: herd enemies to corridors, place turrets alongside for short-range damage and shoot missiles over them. But beware: aggressive enemies will change their objectives and start demolishing your buildings.
Resource management
Basic towers are cheap to buy and their running costs are low. More powerful ones will, however, cost you money and resources to both buy and operate. It's up to you to land on a balanced setting of defending and resource-producing structures, also accounting for their upgrades. Are you willing to trade firepower for a more robust electricity production?
