What's up! CM Flint here.

As we move past the middle of September, even though we can’t see the night sky clearly, the moon is still shining bright.

Have any of you recently taken a moment to look at the moon?

I realized I haven’t had the chance or the thought to do so lately, and it made me think,

"Wow, I really don’t have much peace of mind right now."

So today, instead of showing you the moon, I’ll be reviewing a game where you explore various planets in the universe.

Since the moon is a satellite orbiting the Earth, and many of us dream of landing on it,

I think this is a fun way to introduce something space-related, don't you think? Haha.

Without further ado, let's dive into today’s game review: The Pair Annihilation!

One of the reasons I love indie games is because they’re always so full of personality.

When big companies develop a project, they usually spend a long time planning, discussing, and calculating the profitability with a specific target audience in mind.

But with indie games, it's often more about making the game the developer(s) want to create.

Their unique creativity and abilities shine through, making it easier for players to feel a deep connection to their vision.

Today's game review is about The Pair Annihilation, an indie game that really highlights the developer's creativity and talent.

The title "Pair Annihilation" refers to a physics phenomenon where particles and antiparticles collide and convert into energy

or light.

This game is a roguelike turn-based strategy set in space, a setting that somewhat reflects the nuances of its title.

While the store page lists the genre as simulation, I found it to have more of a turn-based puzzle feel, which I’ll explain

in more detail shortly.

<The combat field feels a lot like solving a challenging chess puzzle with various unique chess pieces.>

I didn’t expect much in terms of story based on the trailer, but there was more depth than I initially thought.

To summarize the early storyline: the player, as a pilot, has fled after losing a war with a force called Udtmos.

The goal is to gather energy from a star to activate a time-reversal device and undo the defeat.

I haven’t played far enough to dive into the full plot, but it seems to focus on breaking through Udtmos blockades to reach your destination.

<Not entirely sure what’s going on, but let’s get to the star and get the energy for the time-reversal device...>

However, the core part of The Pair Annihilation lies in its systems rather than its story.

Before each stage, you can upgrade the pilots' ships, enhance the core, or power up skills, but everything is determined by random items you acquire.

As a result, the way you play each stage can vary, emphasizing the game's rogue-like nature.

This randomness keeps the gameplay fresh and less repetitive even with multiple playthroughs.

<Random items, random resources, random stages. The gods of chance are watching over you.>

The field combat feels like solving difficult puzzles.

You must command a team of pilots to clear each stage.

Sometimes, you need to close portals, eliminate all enemies, disable satellites, or destroy incubators.

To succeed, it’s crucial to understand each pilot’s abilities.

For example, Melissa is the main damage dealer, Kiiz provides support like recharging shields or stunning enemies, and Ellin deploys machines to deal damage or tank for the team.

Since not all stages require you to eliminate enemies, mastering how to utilize each pilot to meet the stage objectives is key.

This is where the game feels very much like solving a complex puzzle, as I mentioned earlier.

<The early stages are simple to clear, but they grow more complex and challenging as you progress.>

The Pair Annihilation combines several elements well, particularly its rogue-like collection mechanics and puzzle-like strategic combat.

However, these features can be both a strength and a weakness.

Some players will enjoy the satisfaction of clearing stages using their wits, while others may find the increasing complexity overwhelming and not want to replay the game.

Of course, it all depends on the player’s preferences, but this is definitely a game where opinions may differ.

<Not only do you need to manage the ship and pilots,
but the stages also become increasingly complicated. It’s a lot to handle.>

I may have more thoughts after playing further, but after about an hour of gameplay, I believe this game will appeal to a very specific audience.

I’d recommend The Pair Annihilation to indie game fans who enjoy solving complex problems more than simply retrying easy challenges.

The developer seems very passionate about the game, and they’ve been rolling out updates to improve it, so I’m curious to see how it evolves.

If you’re interested in exploring space under the bright September moon, enjoy puzzles, or simply like tackling tough challenges, I highly recommend The Pair Annihilation!

▶ The Pair Annihilation (Store Link)

Thank you!