Apastron
- August 17, 2020
- Noah Lewin
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreApastron is a retro styled open world FPS set on the planet of Coelho #6. You're a defender reborn every generation. Your overseer restores you (Phoebe Harper) to discover the origins of Coelho's unknown threat.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features interesting level design and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the frantic shooting experience.
- For a one-man project, the game showcases admirable effort and creativity, providing a unique retro feel reminiscent of PS1-era games.
- The gameplay is fluid and entertaining, with a charming aesthetic and a variety of fun weapons to use.
- The game suffers from a lack of challenge due to infinite ammo, slow enemies, and a checkpoint system that diminishes the consequences of dying.
- Level navigation can be frustrating, with confusing layouts and no map, leading to excessive backtracking and aimless wandering.
- The story is hard to follow, and the art style is considered unappealing by some players, detracting from the overall experience.
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story is often described as confusing and hard to follow, with players struggling to understand the plot and navigate the game world. While some appreciate the background narrative and character interactions in hub areas, many find the overall storytelling lacking and tedious, detracting from the gameplay experience.
“Visit hub worlds to continue the story.”
“I wish the plot was easier to understand, but otherwise very solid.”
“There is a bit of downtime between missions, but that is mostly used exploring the small hub town and speaking to the denizens about their day-to-day and their individual goings-on and to collect some currency and spend it at the weapon shop.”
“The movement feels strange, the story is hard to follow, the music is headache-inducing, and the sprite design is a bit of an eyesore.”
“I didn't even bother to try and understand the story; it was way too boring for me.”
“If the gameplay wasn’t as bad, I’d probably go back and pay more attention to the story, but I just can’t see myself doing it.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of innovative mechanics and confusing design choices that can detract from the experience. While some players appreciate the fluidity and retro style, others find themselves frustrated by navigation issues and inconsistent gameplay quality. Overall, the enjoyment of the gameplay seems to vary significantly among players.
“Absolutely love this game, the retro style is so nice and the gameplay is fluid and entertaining.”
“A 'boomer shooter' that entered production before boomer shooters were a thing, consisting of 50% great mechanics and ideas and 50% baffling ideas that make no sense.”
“If the gameplay wasn’t as bad, I’d probably go back and pay more attention to the story, but I just can’t see myself doing it.”
“In an hour and a half of gameplay, most of my time was spent looking for where to go multiple times.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise the fantastic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, others find it headache-inducing and distracting. Overall, the music contributes to the frantic atmosphere during intense moments, but its reception varies among players.
“Interesting level design, fantastic soundtrack, and frantic shooting when in the thick of it.”
“The movement feels strange, the story is hard to follow, the music is headache-inducing, and the sprite design is a bit of an eyesore.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some appreciating the animated weapon sprites and open-world design, while others criticize the overall art style as unappealing. Despite its shortcomings, some players are willing to recommend it for those who appreciate indie titles and are not deterred by its visual presentation.
“Overall, I would absolutely recommend this if this sort of graphical style doesn't put you off at all, and you are looking to support an indie developer who clearly has more that they want to do with this title.”
“I can't recommend this game because, while the weapon sprites are animated with movement, the art style is just bad, not comically bad like Cruelty Squad, just bad.”
“The graphics are disappointing and detract from the overall experience, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
“The visual design feels outdated and lacks the polish expected from modern games, which really impacts immersion.”
