What starts off as a mediocre and underwhelming Shoot-'Em-Up game improves the further you play into it
The Good: The graphics in this game are pretty awesome and exploration is there but in a way, also quite linear in some regards. The customization is implemented quite well and offer as many possibilities as possible. The problem with the first levels is that you start off with 3 slots (plus an extra slot for special attacks/moves) that make it really hard to customize your ship. Even in later levels when you have 7 slots (and 2 extra special attack slots), it still feels like you are restricted in customizing your ship in a particular way due to fear that the ship will be unbalanced in particular areas and not perform as well. However the customization is still innovative and the more slots and parts that are unlocked, the more enjoyment you will get out of the game. In each level there is an item called a Bucky Ball which are rather hidden in an obscure spot or requires you to resolve a mini puzzle. The latter is actually quite fun and they aren't too difficult to find nor solve so you probably won't need a walkthrough to find them. The boss battles are actually pretty decent as well and are the best part of the game along with the Bucky Ball puzzles. This game also offers a co-op mode and while I played this by myself, I can see that co-op would work well in a game like this and most probably would increase the enjoyability of the game quite a bit.
The Bad: While the graphics are nice in the game, they can get in the way. While a minor complaint, it is still noticeable. Also it can be difficult to collect atoms (which are the games currency) and fight off enemies at the same time, resulting in rather getting hit or missing the atom entirely as you have to be precise to touch it. However this problem is resolved once you get an upgrade that makes atom collected much more easier and enjoyable. The levels are quite repetitive and fighting enemies can get tedious at times. What makes it worse is times where the game punishes you for dying and you have to go all the way back to a checkpoint you reached ages ago. What makes it worse is the fact that every atom you earned from the time you reached the checkpoint and died will be lost. Many times I just avoided and dodged every single enemy and reached the next checkpoint because I couldn't be bothered. But what makes the game even more repetitive and tedious is the fact that you have to repeat levels in order to upgrade your ship to the max, however with this said, it is satisfying obliterating a level you once struggled with due to an under-graded ship.
The Conclusion: If it wasn't for those few problems, this could have been a really great game. However if you aren't able to look past those few problems, you won't be able to enjoy this game. If you enjoyed the demo and give this game a solid chance, you might end up liking it as the game is quite decent despite the problems.