Aaero
- April 10, 2017
- Mad Fellows
- 5h median play time
Aaero seamlessly blends twin-stick shooting with trance music to create a sensory experience unlike any other.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Aaero" is a single-player sci-fi shooter game with fantastic mechanics and stunning visuals, driven by a marvelous licensed soundtrack from artists such as Noisia, Flux Pavilion, and Katy B. Players trace ribbons of light and battle enemies in sync with the music, requiring a controller with dual analogue sticks for gameplay. Experience unique and innovative gameplay in this micro-studio's standout 'rhythm shooter' game.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Aaero features a unique blend of rhythm and shooting gameplay that is both engaging and challenging.
- The visuals are stunning and match well with the electronic music, creating an immersive experience.
- The game offers a fair challenge, especially on higher difficulties, and has a solid replay value for those looking to improve their scores.
- The song list is limited and may not appeal to everyone, particularly those seeking diversity in music genres.
- The shooting mechanics can feel clunky and frustrating, making it difficult to enjoy the rhythm aspects of the game.
- The game can be short, with some players completing it quickly, leading to concerns about overall content and replayability.
- music240 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in Aaero has received mixed reviews, with many praising its excellent selection of electronic tracks, particularly in the dubstep and drum and bass genres, which align well with the game's visuals and gameplay mechanics. However, some players noted the limited song list and lack of diversity, leading to potential monotony for those not fond of the genre. Overall, while the soundtrack is celebrated for its energetic and immersive qualities, it may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer different musical styles.
“The music tracks are good and they match very well with the visuals, which are awesome too!”
“Aaero is an amazing experience with one of the best soundtracks I ever had the joy to listen to.”
“The soundtrack chosen for the game is excellent - a fine selection of music in the vein of dubstep, electronic, drum and bass etc. Following the ribbons of light will add layers to the music, and every sound effect in the game is quantized to the beat of the rhythm, achieving a state where the game is as much a part of the music as the music is the game.”
“The song list is pretty much the same throughout the entire game and is not to my taste.”
“I won't recommend it to those looking for diversity in the song list.”
“For a music-based game, the sound cuts out randomly. I checked and I know it's the game and not my speakers; it also freezes constantly and crashes frequently.”
- gameplay70 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a unique blend of rhythm, shooting, and dodging mechanics, offering a mix of flying/shooting and "railgrinding" sections that are visually striking and engaging. While the mechanics are initially challenging to master, players often find the experience rewarding as they improve over time; however, some may struggle with the finicky controls and the need to replay tracks to progress. Overall, the game is praised for its solid rhythm integration and enjoyable soundtrack, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its learning curve and occasional frustrations.
“Gameplay-wise, it's a mix of flying/shooting sections and 'railgrinding' type sections all centered around tight rhythm game mechanics.”
“Taking the time to learn the mechanics is important but rewarding, and you quickly start to feel like you're improving with every run.”
“Honestly, this is the best game I've ever played; the gameplay is challenging, but it always feels like it's your fault when you mess up.”
“The game has an unlock system which boils down to requiring 4/5 stars on a track in order to unlock the next one most of the time. Together with a really silly 3-hit health system, it means that you have to play the same three or four tracks for a while until you get used to the finicky mechanics. I wholeheartedly recommend giving up on the game after a couple of tries; I've already spent money on this game, but I don't want to spend time on it as well.”
“The tempo is also difficult to find for the majority of the songs, which makes the whole shooting mechanic basically guesswork, especially when the game forces you to follow a ribbon, lock onto a target, avoid crushing walls, and avoid enemy attacks all at once.”
“The lock-on mechanic is genuinely infuriating, and the game would honestly be way better without it.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their vibrant and distinctive art style, which effectively complements the soundtrack, creating an immersive experience. While some reviewers note that the graphics may not be technically advanced, the overall aesthetic and futuristic design are appealing and contribute significantly to the game's enjoyment. The visuals are described as crisp and eye-catching, making it a standout feature of the rhythm game.
“The graphic artwork style and futuristic design appeal to me and it's one of the main reasons I decided to buy Aaero.”
“Beautiful graphics with funky electronic beats.”
“This is like 'Rez' but on crack, the soundtrack in the game is excellent, the graphics are lush even on my old rig, flawless 60fps throughout.”
“Along with a few things that irk me, like very few graphics options (that don't seem to do much) and a very confusing tutorial, it was just not something I could keep playing.”
“The environments and aesthetics are just... dull.”
“The graphics may not be advanced, but the art style blends so well with the sound that this becomes an amazing experience.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding mechanics in the game are a blend of rhythm-based gameplay and railgrinding, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that reacts to player performance. While the musicality adds an engaging layer, some players find the act of grinding itself lacks excitement, comparing it to other titles but noting a less frantic pace. Overall, the integration of music and gameplay is seen as a strong point, despite some reservations about the thrill of the grinding experience.
“Not the songs themselves, many of them are decent and they're certainly popular tracks in their genre (which consist mostly of dubstep, some feelings of house, things like that) but holding my control stick in a direction to a grinding bass tone is just not exciting.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's a mix of flying/shooting sections and 'rail grinding' type sections all centered around tight rhythm game mechanics.”
“It reminds me a lot of Rez but without as much frantic shooting; the grinding rail aspect of the game, with its musicality, is a great hook.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Replayability varies significantly among players; while some find it high due to leaderboard challenges and personal score improvement, others feel it is limited by the lack of new songs beyond harder difficulties. Overall, the game's unique blend of mechanics and stylish visuals contributes to a substantial replay value for dedicated fans.
“[Unique blend of rhythm, shooting, and dodging gameplay mechanics, refreshingly stylish visuals, substantial amount of replay value.]”
“Replayability is kind of small, as there's only the harder difficulties but no new songs in addition to the harder difficulties.”
“Replayability is dependent on the player; if you're a big fan of leaderboards, then you'll enjoy beating your own scores.”
“It might not take long on normal, but replayability is very high.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique beauty and calming effect, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the combination of a good soundtrack and smart controls, likening it to the feel of "Rez." Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the enjoyment of each level.
“This game is so beautiful, runs out of the box with Proton. The atmosphere it generates is unique; you will calm down and enjoy every second of the level.”
“[Good soundtrack, great atmosphere, feels like Rez, smart controls].”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting frequent sound cutouts, constant freezing, and regular crashes, which detracts from the overall experience.
“For a music-based game, the sound cuts out randomly. I checked and I know it's the game and not my speakers. It also freezes constantly and crashes frequently.”
Critic Reviews
Aaero Review
If you love rhythm games and bass heavy music, this is one you’re going to want to check out. The levels are gorgeous, and the gameplay is straightforward, but challenging especially towards the end.
80%Aaero Review - Invite Me to the Wedding Next Time
Aaero is a competent rhythm game that borrows some elements from other genre greats. It stumbles on its strange design choices a few too many times, but hopefully some improvements can be made in the future
70%Aaero Review
Aaero is a unique beast that will appeal to arcade aficionados the world over. Its loose and unforgiving control scheme takes some getting used to, but those who are able to move to the groove will find a worthwhile game that offers an experience all its own.
70%
