Space exploration never turns out well in video games. Humanity seems to only find hostile aliens that want to go to war with us or devour us. Why can’t we all just get along with our pixelated friends from game space? Until we find an answer, we have Dark Matter to teach us why we shouldn’t leave our planet.

Dark matter is a sidescrolling survival horror action game with exploration elements and set on a space ship somewhere in space. I’m guessing somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. The developers at InterWave Studios have released its first gameplay video to show the game and explain its base mechanics.

The game has a metroidvania feel to exploring the big hunk of metal you’re trapped in. Though, a lot less action it seems. A lot of focus has been put into the light engine in the game and how it affects gameplay. Certain enemies react to the presence of light or lack thereof. The game also has a crafting system to create ammo or health packs from items you find. Probably a reward for exploration, I’m sure.

While the main site says it’s coming out this year, there isn’t much 2012 left to get the game finished. But a comment in a recent update on their site now puts the game’s release sometime next year.