Pairing a solid space shoot 'em up with some super-fast-paced action-platforming - and layers of rhythm and puzzle-solving throughout - Velocity 2X is like two great game designs in one.

While initially you can barely do more than move and shoot, by the end of the game each level will have you zipping in and out of airlocks, blasting and teleporting your way through obstacles both on foot and in the cockpit of your Quarp Jet, all without taking your finger off the accelerator.

As a space-faring badass who wakes to find herself captured by a fascist race of aliens intent on discovering the secrets of her teleportation technology, Lieutenant Kai Tana is on a mission to break out, topple an oppressive regime and get home.

Whether you're on foot or flying, the core gameplay sees you moving as quickly as you can to flick switches, collect valuable crystals and rescue friendly escape pods while shooting obstacles and aiming a separate reticle that allows you to instantly teleport to any spot nearby.

That sounds complicated but with practice it becomes second nature, and once you've mastered the art of teleporting through walls at top speed, the game starts throwing in new toys for you to play with, each of which opens up the stages to even trickier and more complex design.

Levels come in three flavours, which require you to emphasise speed, combat or exploration respectively. Regardless, your performance during most levels is ranked according to how quick you were, how many pods you rescued and how many crystals you picked up along the way.

While it's possible to get the best score in each category by playing the level multiple times, the only way to achieve a 'perfect' rank is to hit all your goals in a single run - a feat that requires knowledge of the map and finely honed flying, running and teleporting skills. This gives the game huge potential longevity for those determined to perfect it, and there are few gaming moments more elating than knowing you've completely nailed a run after your 20th try.

One negative thing I could say about Velocity 2X is that the speed-focused critical urgency missions - which lull you into a rhythm-induced zen-like state once you've become proficient enough and are far and away the highlight of the game - are far too infrequent.

I suspect developer FuturLab noticed this as well, as there is already a pack of paid downloadable content available that adds more critical urgency.

It's difficult to explain how all these elements - the interplay of flying and running levels, the puzzles, the stream of gear unlocks, the ranking system - combine to make Velocity 2X so satisfying. It really is something you need to play for yourself. More communicable though is the brilliant art style, charming animation, huge particle-filled explosions and complementary electronic soundtrack that surround the game.

 

The full-screen comic-like panels that tell the (admittedly inconsequential) story along the way are gorgeous and funny, and there's even unlockable diary entries, enemy profiles and scientific background to pore over in between trying to knock that final two seconds off your run time.

Whether at home on a big screen or in your hands on a commute, Velocity 2X consistently offers speed-running space-shooter perfection, with very few stumbling blocks.