Manual Gear

Manual Gear Spaceship is a prototype game for Windows where the player controls a spaceship using acceleration, steering, rolling, clutch input, and manual gear changes. The game does not have a large story campaign with characters, dialogue, or cutscenes. Its main premise is direct: the player has to use the ship’s controls to escape a supernova. The challenge comes from understanding how movement and gear control affect the ship during flight.

Main Objective

The goal is to move the spaceship away from danger before the supernova catches up. The game is not structured like a long adventure with separate chapters. It is closer to an experimental control-based game where the player needs to learn how the ship responds. Instead of simply holding one button to fly, the player must combine acceleration, turning, rolling, clutch use, and gear shifting.

Controls and Movement

Manual Gear Spaceship is designed around controller input, and the official page recommends using an Xbox controller. The left trigger is used to accelerate, while the left stick controls turning. The player can roll the ship with X and B, use the clutch with A, and change gears with the bumpers. These controls make the game focused on handling and timing rather than shooting, collecting items, or fighting enemies.

The game includes:

• spaceship control with manual gear shifting
• acceleration through trigger input
• turning and rolling controls
• clutch use as part of movement
• a supernova escape objective
• Windows download
• prototype status
• controller-focused gameplay

Structure and Progression

The official page does not describe separate levels, unlockable stages, or a mission list. Progression appears to be based on the player’s ability to control the ship and keep moving toward escape. Because it is listed as a prototype, the game is limited in scope. The main experience is learning the control system and using it well enough to survive the situation.

How the Player Advances

To play Manual Gear Spaceship, the player accelerates, turns, rolls, uses the clutch, and changes gears while trying to escape the supernova. The game requires attention to how the ship reacts when the player shifts or changes direction. Manual Gear Spaceship was made by Pretsal as a Games Programming Module project and is available as a downloadable Windows prototype on itch.io.