Amaranthine

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features engaging and challenging gameplay, requiring players to constantly assess and prioritize threats on screen.
It has a catchy soundtrack and decent pixel art, providing a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic shooters.
The mouse controls are responsive, allowing for quick maneuverability, and the randomized level design adds variety to each playthrough.

The game suffers from a lack of depth in its weapon and loot system, leading to repetitive gameplay and minimal strategic choices.
Technical issues such as poor graphics options, inability to customize controls, and blending of bullets with backgrounds detract from the overall experience.
Many players found the game unremarkable and frustrating, with a significant portion uninstalling it shortly after purchase.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
13%
The gameplay is praised for its fast-paced, arcade-style mechanics and innovative procedural elements, making it a standout in the shmup genre. While the game features simple mechanics and a roguelike structure, some players express a desire for more variety in gameplay options. Overall, the focus remains on delivering engaging and enjoyable moment-to-moment experiences, despite 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?”
- “A short game with simple mechanics.”
- “What's important is how the mechanics work.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
13%
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 fitting nature of the music, some express minor complaints about its repetitiveness and the lack of progression in the audio as levels are replayed. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, 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.”
- “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.”
- “Catchy soundtrack.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, featuring a retro pixel art style that some players appreciate for its charm, while others criticize it as outdated and lacking in resolution options. While the vibrant and clean presentation is praised, many feel that the graphics could benefit from more variety and modern enhancements. Overall, the visuals evoke a nostalgic feel but may not meet the expectations of players seeking contemporary graphics.
- “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.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
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.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has limited replayability, primarily appealing to players who enjoy competing for leaderboard positions. Overall, it received a low replayability rating of 50%.
- “Doesn't have much replay value, unless you really like competing for position on the leaderboard.”
- “Replayability: 50%”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have the option to grind for money by replaying previous levels, which prevents them from getting stuck in the game. However, many find that grinding is unnecessary on normal difficulty and not 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.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that prioritize profit over quality, leading to a perception of it being a platform for "shovelware" and cash grabs.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with users finding it amusing and entertaining. Overall, it contributes positively to the gaming experience.
- “This game is hilarious and keeps me laughing throughout!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch and adds so much to the experience.”
- “I love how the game incorporates witty jokes and funny scenarios!”