Itching For More: 2000 to 1: A Space Felony

Pip Turner
Jul 28, 2017 · 4 min read

Every week, Itching For More buzzes onto your screens, like a fly coming in through an open window, looking through all your stuff and remarking “hey man this stuff looks cool, mind if I sit on them and rub my hands together a bit?” and you’re like “no dude, get out my room, I didn’t want you in here, go away man” and then the Itching For More fly cackles manically and buzzes about rubbing his hands and being a general nuisance. This week, I got the wonderful opportunity to play a murder mystery courtroom drama set in space: 2000 to 1: A Space Felony.

I loved playing through 2000 to 1: A Space Felony, by National Insecurities. It was a brilliant blend of humorous storytelling and exploration, pushing towards full realisation and understanding of your crime scene. It also has a rather lovely art style, mixing primary colours with space station neon, creating a lovely feel that reminded me of Fulbright’s upcoming game, Tacoma.

When I put it like that, it sounds like a quite serious piece, exploring a murder on a space station. In actual fact, it is silly (in the best possible way) from start to finish. You walk/float around a space station, taking photos of evidence whilst a narrator describes each piece of evidence to you, whilst you watch him, sipping coffee.

Wandering round 2000:1’s space station was a fun exploration of 3D space. It is perhaps the understated star of 2000:1, being easily traversable, yet complex enough for the player to try to find every piece of evidence. There is always a driving force for the player to get to the next area — throughout the exploration of the internals of the ship you usually have the opportunity to look outside, and see the floating dead bodies of now deceased crew members. In doing this, 2000:1 keeps the player intrigued, both wanted to get outside to get the evidence (which in turn usually leads to a funny line from the narrator or MAL, the ship’s AI).

2000:1 is also constantly poking fun at Sci Fi adventures and detective games, as would be expected from a comedy detective game, set on a Space Station where the AI is near identical to 2001’s HAL. No one in the game is particularly clever — whether that be the game’s narrator or MAL. In doing so, everything becomes a punchline. One of my favourite jokes is the narrator apprehensively whistling the 2001 theme, duuuuun duuuuuuun DUN! DUN!. It takes a couple seconds to realise what he is whistling and becomes all the more hilarious because of it.

I know this piece isn’t especially long, but I don’t really have much more to say. 2000 to 1: A Space Felony is a brilliantly funny, short experience that you should check out. I went into it quite sleepy and full of veggie lasagna, and had a brilliant time. Optimum playing conditions are definitely full of lasagna and sleepy. Uhh, anyway, yes. 2000:1 is great and I greatly look forward to National Securities future work!

2000:1: A Space Felony was originally released as a “Humble Original” meaning that if you want to play it, you’ll have to subscribe to Humble Monthly for $12 a month. However, if that isn’t to your taste, it’ll be released elsewhere alongside a remastered version of their older title Disorient On The Murder Express later this year! I’ll let you know when it is : — )

Pip Writes Stuff

Pip Writes Stuff is where Pip Turner used to keep post his ramblings. This is rarely posted on anymore, but feel free to have a browse and relive the good times.

Pip Turner

Written by

Slightly too obsessed with games as an art form

Pip Writes Stuff

Pip Writes Stuff is where Pip Turner used to keep post his ramblings. This is rarely posted on anymore, but feel free to have a browse and relive the good times.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade