Galak-Z has a huge secret. Developer 17-Bit has debated internally about revealing it -- or not, as the case has been until now -- for a long time. Every time we'd seen the PS4/PC space shooter, it seemed like we knew it inside and out . Its blend of 2D ship combat, Far Cry-inspired stealth/action, and '80s anime aesthetic was enough to sell us. Now 17-Bit has revealed its major, literal game-changing surprise: Your ship doubles as a sword-and-shield-wielding mech robot.

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This is actually pretty significant, in addition to just being cool. The mech form -- which you can switch to and from at any time starting in the second chapter of Galak-Z -- has unique abilities that completely changed my approach to combat. I loved using the grappling hook to grab asteroids, which I'd hide behind until I threw it at an enemy ship directly on the other side of it. The same grappling hook can also pull foes in close for punches and sword-slices. Incoming fire can be absorbed by a temporary energy shield, allowing you to close a gap with relative impunity.The mech is a different kind of powerful, but it's a risk. You can grapple explosives in the environment, but the alert stage that follows may mean you need to get out of dodge in ship form -- strong as it is, the mech form isn't very maneuverable, and when the going gets tough, you need to have an intense understanding of how combat in Galak-Z works.I do not. I died.Developer Jake Kazdal is much better than I am. Check out his high-level play in the video below.

Mitch Dyer is an Editor at IGN. Talk to him about Dota 2, movies, books, and other stuff on Twitter at @MitchyD and subscribe to MitchyD on Twitch