0RBITALIS
- May 28, 2015
- Alan Zucconi
0rbitalis is a real class act, and one of the best puzzle games in recent memory. Minimalism is achieved without sacrificing sophistication, and for such a small game it has the potential for hours of engrossing gameplay.
Get on Steam"0RBITALIS is an arcade-style single-player game with good mechanics and graphics, where you launch satellites into orbit and navigate through various celestial bodies, competing against rival probes and using features like teleports and bullet time. The Supernova Edition includes 100 levels, 39 achievements, a level editor, a digital art book, and a 12-track soundtrack."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging premise centered around orbital mechanics, providing a fun and addictive experience.
- The minimalistic art style and ambient soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- There is a good variety of levels and mechanics, which keeps the gameplay interesting and challenging.
- The game often relies on trial and error, leading to frustration as players may feel that success is more about luck than skill.
- Performance issues, such as lag and poor graphical settings, detract from the overall experience and can make gameplay cumbersome.
- Some levels can become tedious and repetitive, with a lack of clear progression or intuitive solutions, making it hard to stay engaged.
- gameplay37 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of 0rbitalis is centered around orbital mechanics, offering a mix of trial-and-error puzzles that can be both engaging and frustrating due to its sensitivity to initial conditions. While the game introduces a variety of mechanics and maintains a minimalist aesthetic, many players find it lacks a clear goal and can become repetitive over time. Overall, it serves as a relaxing time-killer for those interested in physics, but may not satisfy those seeking a deeper or more structured gameplay experience.
“Mechanically, the game works well enough, and there is a decent variety of mechanics at play.”
“The minimalist aesthetic and great soundtrack all draw the focus onto the gameplay itself, also being of a minimalistic approach.”
“The levels are grouped into bunches of 4-5, and each group of levels shares similar mechanics and goals, introducing new mechanics and often changing the win-condition of the levels.”
“Gameplay is trial and error prone and approximative.”
“But the gameplay lacks a goal and a feeling.”
“The mechanics of this game allow you to position your satellite such that it won't die within 1 second of launching; beyond that, it fundamentally boils down to luck and/or your willingness to stare at a glorified screensaver long enough to find the right place to click your mouse at the start of the level.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic and simplistic art style, which some players find functional and immersive, while others consider them outdated and lacking in detail. Despite the appealing sound design, many users report framerate issues and poor optimization, particularly at higher settings, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the visuals are described as basic and forgettable, serving their purpose but not impressing graphical enthusiasts.
“The minimalist aesthetic and great soundtrack all draw the focus onto the gameplay itself, also being of a minimalistic approach.”
“Relaxing visuals, and there are few better feelings than getting the perfect orbit.”
“Amusing entertainment with simple but really nice graphics and atmosphere.”
“Level design is generally good, however many levels and menus suffer from framerate issues, and the graphics quality settings have no indication of high vs low settings.”
“The graphics are nothing special.”
“There is nothing here for graphical enthusiasts, audiophiles, or tinkerers.”
- music18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its ambient and relaxing qualities that complement the minimalist aesthetic, while others find it monotonous and lacking in variety. Although it fits the game's atmosphere, many feel it does not stand out and could benefit from more dynamic elements or the option to turn it off. Overall, the soundtrack is described as serviceable but generic, with some comparisons to film scores that evoke a sense of nostalgia.
“Great ambient soundtrack.”
“The music is very ambient and relaxing, and the graphics are reminiscent of the original Asteroids arcade game, but with an almost surreal charm.”
“The minimalist aesthetic and great soundtrack all draw the focus onto the gameplay itself, also being of a minimalistic approach.”
“Oh, and the music is... not great.”
“The 'music' is very monotone, and it would be nice if you could turn off the sound.”
“Cons - for those who expect games to have solid soundtracks, you will not find one here.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is minimal or non-existent, with some players noting a lack of narrative depth, as it primarily focuses on puzzle mechanics and gameplay. Despite this, the base story is still recommended for completion, although some levels may feel prolonged due to random elements. Overall, the experience is described as enjoyable and engaging, even without a strong storyline.
“There are a couple of levels that took way too long due to RNG, but despite this, I highly recommend trying this game and completing the base story.”
“There are a couple of levels that just took way too long due to RNG, but despite this, I highly recommend trying this game and completing the base story.”
“Orbits decay automatically, as if you are experiencing atmospheric drag, which doesn't fit the story.”
“No story in this game (as yet), it's purely a puzzle game.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive quality and appealing graphics, reminiscent of titles like Osmos and Pixel Junk: Eden. However, some players note inconsistencies, such as the automatic decay of orbits that detracts from the narrative experience. Overall, it offers a captivating environment that enhances the puzzle gameplay.
“Although the gameplay is different, atmospherically it reminds me a little of Osmos or Pixel Junk: Eden.”
“Overall: pros - a good quality puzzle game with an immersive atmosphere with regular level and feature updates.”
“Amusing entertainment with simple but really nice graphics and atmosphere.”
“There is no aerobraking when you are deep in a planet's atmosphere.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly at high graphics settings, with limited options for adjusting video settings. Users report that performance problems persist regardless of hardware capabilities, and lowering graphics settings does not effectively resolve these issues.
“You may not have issues with performance at all, but there are much deeper flaws than that.”
“It seems like it's got some serious optimization issues on high-quality graphics settings, but bumping them down doesn't seem to change much except for a distortion effect on the screen.”
“You can't change the video settings in any meaningful way, so if you have any problems with performance, you're stuck with them.”
“The performance issues I've had don't seem to have anything to do with the power of my machine.”
“It seems like it's got some serious optimization issues on high quality graphics settings, but bumping them down doesn't seem to change much except a distortion effect for the screen.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, as certain challenge levels rely heavily on luck rather than skill, while others are described as tedious and time-consuming to complete.
“Some of the challenge levels are completely based on luck, with no skill involved, and many of the levels are just incredibly tedious to complete.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which makes the game feel more like a chore than fun.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for being quick-witted and engaging, complementing its fast-paced and challenging gameplay. Players appreciate the blend of difficulty and comedic elements, enhancing the overall experience.
“Fast, challenging, and funny.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates decent stability, with users noting some lag in controls but reporting no significant glitches.
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
Critic Reviews
0RBITALIS Review
0rbitalis is a real class act, and one of the best puzzle games in recent memory. Minimalism is achieved without sacrificing sophistication, and for such a small game it has the potential for hours of engrossing gameplay.
90%0RBITALIS
0RBITALIS is a fun game, one that you can lose yourself in a while but never quite get completely lost in.
84%0rbitalis Review - Around and Around We Go
0rbitalis is a simple game. It has a minimalist aesthetic and hands off game mechanics, which make the game perfect for casual play. The game is easy to stop playing for a while, but hard to stay away from.
65%
