Ampersat

About

Ampersat is a single player and multiplayer arcade hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Gaterooze, Ink and was released on May 6, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

"Ampersat" is a hack-and-slash RPG with handcrafted levels, puzzle-solving, and loot-finding missions. Its unique gameplay features include freeing and capturing letters to progress and grow in power. The game includes an optional endless procedural area, an upgradeable town hub, and a flexible character progression system with hundreds of unique loot items. It can be played solo or in local 2-player co-op mode with split screen.

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 282 reviews

gameplay23 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Ampersat offers a unique and charming premise where players battle ASCII characters to restore language, providing a nostalgic yet fresh experience.
The gameplay is smooth and engaging, with a satisfying progression system that allows players to level up and unlock new abilities and weapons.
The retro-inspired graphics and audio create a fun atmosphere, making it an enjoyable time-killer for casual gaming sessions.

The game can become repetitive over time, with similar mechanics and enemy types leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.
Some players have reported issues with the user interface and controls, which can feel clunky and unpolished at times.
The difficulty curve may frustrate some players, especially with harsh penalties for dying, such as losing a significant amount of gold and experience.

gameplay
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The gameplay is generally smooth and engaging, featuring a blend of traditional dungeon-crawling mechanics with unique elements like text-based aesthetics and twin-stick action. While some players appreciate its simplicity and relaxing nature, others find it repetitive and lacking in depth, suggesting that more advanced mechanics could enhance the experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and challenge, appealing to both casual players and those seeking a nostalgic feel.
- “At its core, the game reimagines traditional dungeon-crawling mechanics through an unusual blend of text-based aesthetics, twin-stick action, and classic role-playing progression.”
- “The gameplay feels like a dance: dodge, cast, loot, and pray someone explains what’s going on.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, with no crashes or bugs at all in my case.”
- “Just a big game with repetitive and bad mechanics.”
- “Gameplay is so slow and unflowing, and not gonna lie, it makes this game so boring and unbearable.”
- “The art style and concept are good, but god is the gameplay awful.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
7%
The game's graphics are a blend of retro 2.5D visuals and ASCII art, creating a unique and charming aesthetic that some players find appealing, while others criticize it as inconsistent and lacking polish. The minimalist design evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs, but opinions vary widely, with some praising its creativity and others deeming it visually weak and poorly executed. Overall, the graphics contribute to the game's quirky identity, though they may not satisfy all players.
- “The game’s world is rendered in colorful 2.5D graphics, while its characters and enemies retain their ASCII forms—letters and symbols come to life as tangible beings.”
- “I love the graphic part, visually attractive, each dungeon is different.”
- “The artstyle is super unique and the gameplay is really tight.”
- “Quirky graphics aside, this is really bad/basic and worst of all super boring.”
- “This very poor quality visual style is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent/interest in doing the graphics properly and trying to disguise it under the name of 'art', or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
- “Unfortunately, the sound design is bad, the music is bad, the graphics are messy, and the text is placeholder stuff.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
66%
10%
The game's story centers on the hero ampersat, represented by the "@" symbol, who seeks to restore language in a world devoid of words due to the villainous lord z. While the narrative is described as charming and original, with unique elements like letter collection, some players feel it lacks depth and could benefit from more engaging characters or mysteries. The combination of abstract storytelling and humor, alongside procedurally generated challenges, adds variety but may not fully satisfy those seeking a more traditional narrative experience.
- “The story follows the titular hero, ampersat—represented, fittingly, by the '@' symbol—who embarks on a journey to restore language to a world stripped of its words by the villainous lord Z.”
- “The combination of abstract storytelling and eccentric humor results in a game that feels personal and earnest, a reflection of its creator’s affection for both classic design and experimental artistry.”
- “The story is charming and the letter concepts are special and aren't like anything I've seen before.”
- “Controls are abysmal, graphics aren't remotely appealing to the eye (most games with a pixel/rough polygon aesthetic are done much better), and no story direction.”
- “It does have some of those classic flaws as well; the main plot gimmick is very silly and takes me out of the story.”
- “In addition to the main narrative missions, the game offers procedurally generated dungeon delves—randomized labyrinths that serve as both an endurance test and a resource-gathering opportunity.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
40%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance the action and atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and occasionally annoying. While the soundtrack is noted for its energetic bursts that match the gameplay, there are suggestions for more variety in the music to prevent monotony. Overall, the audio experience is seen as a blend of enjoyable and frustrating elements, with some players appreciating the nostalgic feel of the soundtrack.
- “The soundtrack complements this aesthetic well, blending atmospheric melodies with occasional bursts of energy that mirror the intensity of the action sequences.”
- “The gameplay is a bit slow but plays really tight, and the music in the game is absolutely amazing!!”
- “From the graphics that take us back to the old 386 days to the Commodore sample soundtrack that serenades you, it feels like you are in a digital shire.”
- “The music occasionally gets annoying.”
- “Music gets a bit too repetitive for my taste; the sounds are quite okay.”
- “The only thing I can say is the music after you die is not the best, gets very tiresome, and is quite loud regardless of the volume you have set.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
22%
67%
Reviews on the grinding aspect of the game are mixed; some players find it tedious and unfulfilling, while others appreciate the grind as a fun and engaging element, particularly in the context of a dungeon crawler. The game offers a range of grinding experiences, from those who see it as a time-consuming slog to others who enjoy it as a satisfying way to earn achievements and progress. Overall, the grinding can be enjoyable for those who appreciate the genre, but it may not appeal to everyone.
- “The pace is not that grindy, thus can be enjoyable with minimal effort.”
- “Very grindy but not satisfying.”
- “I really tried, but 30 minutes was such a tedious slog that I won't waste more time on a decent review.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game exhibits some performance issues typical of the Unity engine, leading to feelings of unoptimization and unfairness at times. However, players on platforms like the Steam Deck report stable 60fps and good battery life, indicating that performance can vary based on the system used. Overall, despite its optimization flaws, the game remains enjoyable and engaging.
- “I'm playing on Steam Deck and the performance is 60 FPS the whole time with good battery life.”
- “Very fun game with a variety of enemies, weapons, and armors, but the game does feel a little unoptimized and unfair at times; however, I would recommend it.”
- “There are some performance issues, as might be expected from the Unity engine, but it's fun.”
- “Very fun game with a variety of enemies, weapons, and armors, but the game does feel a little unoptimized and unfair at times.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a calming and immersive experience, enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack that balances soothing melodies with energetic moments. Players find it ideal for extended play sessions, as its simple mechanics and unique indie charm create a captivating environment.
- “The soundtrack complements this aesthetic well, blending atmospheric melodies with occasional bursts of energy that mirror the intensity of the action sequences.”
- “Ampersat is the perfect game for long, relaxing play sessions; its calming atmosphere and simple mechanics make it easy to lose yourself for hours.”
- “A small but rich indie game with its own special atmosphere and interesting mechanics.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The inclusion of roguelite elements enhances replayability by introducing variety and balancing the linear narrative with engaging challenges, encouraging players to revisit the game for new experiences.
- “The roguelite elements inject variety into the experience and help balance the linear structure of the story with replayable challenges.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the randomization of levels and encounters, making me want to dive back in for more.”
- “The different character builds and choices create a unique experience every time, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making each playthrough feel repetitive and uninspired.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay, as the side quests feel like filler.”
- “The limited character customization options lead to a lack of diversity in gameplay, diminishing replay value.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that "ampersat" offers a unique emotional depth that sets it apart from typical dungeon crawlers, leading to unexpected attachments, even to its font.
- “This underlying theme gives Ampersat a surprising emotional dimension that distinguishes it from other dungeon crawlers.”
- “Now I'm emotionally attached to a font.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of abstract storytelling and eccentricity, creating a personal and earnest experience that reflects the creator's passion for classic and experimental design. Additionally, players appreciate the amusing descriptions accompanying various elements, enhancing the overall comedic tone.
- “The combination of abstract storytelling and eccentric humor results in a game that feels personal and earnest, a reflection of its creator’s affection for both classic design and experimental artistry.”
- “They also have fairly humorous descriptions attached to each one.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report a high level of stability, with no bugs or glitches encountered during gameplay.