Amaranthine
- April 5, 2016
- Roman Kozhukhov
Get on Steam"Amaranthine" is a single-player action game with a good soundtrack and dynamic horizontal scrolling shooter elements. It features procedurally generated levels, a loot system, and precise mouse controls. With a variety of enemies, legend mode with permanent death, and endless gameplay, players must travel to a distant frozen planet and uncover the mystery behind its distress signal.
Reviews
- Engaging and simple gameplay that is easy to learn but hard to master, providing a fun experience.
- Responsive mouse controls and a good variety of enemy types that require strategic thinking and quick reflexes.
- Great soundtrack and retro-inspired graphics that evoke nostalgia for classic shooters.
- Lack of depth in the loot and weapon system, leading to repetitive gameplay and limited strategic options.
- Technical issues such as blending bullets with backgrounds, making it difficult to track threats during gameplay.
- Overall low visual quality and reliance on outdated pixel art, which detracts from the modern gaming experience.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging and fast-paced mechanics, successfully blending arcade-style reflex challenges with procedural elements and roguelike features. While some players desire more variety in mechanics, the overall experience is described as fun and innovative, making it a standout in the shmup genre despite its unimpressive graphics.
“I'm glad I did, because it delivered what I wanted from a shmup: interesting moment-to-moment gameplay.”
“I do recommend this game, because it's a rare breed of shmup that somehow gets procedural gameplay correct.”
“Fast, fun gameplay.”
“I wish the game had more mechanics - different engine, hull, maybe some bombs?”
“It is all about the gameplay!”
“A short game with simple mechanics.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and energetic soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience. While many players appreciate the variety and quality of the music, some express concerns about its impact on gameplay progression and controls. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“Fun little game, definitely worth the $3 (or $1 on sale), plus a straight banger of a soundtrack.”
“Catchy soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is great, and the ability to find new weapons and improve your ship is awesome.”
“Only complaint is the music.”
“- Stages backgrounds, music, and enemy ships keep changing each time you load the same level; you don't feel the progression very much.”
“Love the art style, the music!”
- graphics11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant and unique retro pixel art style, while others criticize it as outdated and lacking resolution options. Although the clean futuristic presentation appeals to some, many feel the graphics are unimpressive and could benefit from more variety in backgrounds. Overall, the aesthetic is seen as charming by some, but amateurish by others.
“Clean futuristic presentation and graphics.”
“Love the art style, the music!”
“The controls are responsive, the graphics are vibrant and cool.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
“I feel there could be a bit more varied graphics in different backgrounds and such.”
- story5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely considered forgettable and underwhelming, with players noting that it feels like an afterthought rather than a central element. While there is a basic plot involving the collection of antimatter, it fails to engage players, leading many to advise against purchasing the game for its narrative.
“There was a story and you needed to collect antimatter, but I don't remember it anymore.”
“As for story, yeah they tossed in a little bit of a plot.”
“I guess to give the game a little more meaning to it all, but don't buy this game for a story; you might be let down deeply in that area.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to players who enjoy competing for leaderboard positions, with a general consensus rating of 50%.
“Doesn't have much replay value, unless you really like competing for position on the leaderboard.”
“Replayability: 50%”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the option to replay levels for grinding money, which prevents them from feeling stuck in the game. However, many feel that grinding is unnecessary on normal difficulty and may not be worth the time investment.
“I guess that is doable with a lot of grinding and careful play, but I feel this isn't worth my time.”
“You can replay previous levels by pressing the left arrow on the 'audio cassette', so there is a possibility of grinding for money. You can never be really stuck, although I didn't find it necessary on normal difficulty.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
“Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely regarded as funny, with players appreciating its humor and comedic elements.
“This game had me laughing out loud with its clever jokes and witty dialogue!”
“The humor is spot on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its storytelling; it keeps things light and enjoyable!”
