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
- Visually stunning with a great selection of electronic music that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The gameplay mechanics are engaging, combining rhythm-based movement with shooting elements that create a unique challenge.
- Offers a satisfying flow state once players master the controls, making it addictive and rewarding to improve scores.
- The shooting mechanics can feel clunky and frustrating, detracting from the overall rhythm experience.
- Limited song selection and short game length may leave players wanting more content after completing the game.
- Difficulty spikes can be abrupt, making it challenging for players to progress without repeated attempts on earlier levels.
- music113 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the excellent selection of electronic tracks, particularly in the dubstep and drum and bass genres, which complement the gameplay and visuals well. However, some players expressed disappointment over the limited song list and a lack of diversity, suggesting that the soundtrack may not appeal to everyone. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for fans of the genre, those who dislike EDM may find it less enjoyable.
“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 have 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 adds 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.”
“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.”
“The only possible reason I could see someone not enjoying Aaero is if the music isn't quite their taste.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this rhythm-based shooter is a blend of flying, shooting, and "railgrinding" mechanics, requiring players to follow a trail and shoot enemies to the beat of an engaging soundtrack. While the mechanics are initially challenging to master, they become rewarding as players improve, with crisp visuals and a diverse level design enhancing the experience. However, some players find the unlock system and health mechanics frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
“The good things about the game are the environments which add a flavor to the run, secrets, and the diversity of gameplay (follow rhythm and shoot aliens).”
“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.”
“The game has an unlock system which boils down to requiring you to get 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, or just give up on the game after a couple of tries like I did, which I wholeheartedly recommend. I've already spent money on this game, but I don't want to spend time on it as well.”
“The gameplay isn't hard to grasp, but it's not easy to master either.”
“Along with that, the core gameplay is just not fun to me.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their vibrant and distinctive art style, which complements the music effectively, creating an immersive experience. While some reviewers note that the graphics may not be technically advanced, the overall aesthetic and design, particularly the futuristic elements, are considered appealing and enhance the gameplay. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and eye-catching, contributing significantly to the enjoyment 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.”
“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.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding mechanics in the game are intricately tied to its rhythm-based gameplay, enhancing the experience through a well-synchronized soundtrack that reacts to player performance. While the railgrinding sections are engaging and musically immersive, some players find the repetitive nature of holding the control stick to the beat less thrilling compared to more dynamic gameplay elements. Overall, the combination of grinding and music creates a unique hook, reminiscent of titles like Rez, but with a different pacing.
“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.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Replayability varies among players; while some find it high due to the challenge of beating personal scores and competing on leaderboards, others feel it is limited by the lack of new songs beyond harder difficulty levels. Overall, the experience is largely dependent on individual preferences and engagement with the game's competitive aspects.
“It might not take long on normal, but the replayability is very high.”
“Replayability is kind of small, as there are only the harder difficulties but no new songs in addition to them.”
“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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting random sound cutouts, frequent freezing, and crashes, indicating that these problems are inherent to the game rather than related to user equipment.
“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.”
“The game is plagued by stability issues, with frequent crashes and lag that ruin the experience.”
“I can't enjoy the gameplay because it keeps freezing and crashing, making it nearly unplayable.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its unique beauty and calming effect, allowing players to fully immerse themselves and enjoy every moment of gameplay. It runs smoothly with Proton, enhancing the overall experience.
“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.”
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%
