May 18, 2023
TIKIPOD

AQUA KITTY UDX

All told, Aqua Kitty UDX is a simple, satisfying arcade shooter that looks as great as it plays. It takes one concept, offers a few different angles on it, and ensures it fulfills all that it sets out to do. We’d give this one a strong recommendation to anyone looking for a game that’s easy to pick up and play, this is pure, arcade fun. This is also a one trick pony, though, which means that those of you that aren’t big on score chasing games will want to steer clear. Even so, Aqua Kitty UDX is a game that exemplifies the concept of less is more; we’d encourage you to give this one a look.

77%Game Brain Score

music, story

gameplay, graphics

79% User Score Based on 52 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

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About

AQUA KITTY UDX is a single player and multiplayer action game. It was developed by TIKIPOD and was released on May 18, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Aqua Kitty UDX" is an enhanced edition of the original game, featuring submarine action and milk mining kitten defense. The game offers three modes: Classic with four sea areas and a big boss at the end, Arcade with unique twists, and Dreadnought with enormous battleships. Purchase also includes the original "Aqua Kitty - Milk Mine Defender."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

music5 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a charming concept of cat nautical engineers in submarines, which adds a unique and delightful twist to the classic 'Defender' gameplay.
The updated version includes multiple game modes and retains the addictive arcade feel, making it enjoyable for both casual players and bullet hell enthusiasts.
The visuals and music are well-received, contributing to an overall fun and engaging experience, especially on platforms like Steam Deck.

The controls and movement mechanics are criticized for being convoluted and stilted, leading to frustration during gameplay, particularly in later levels.
Many players report issues with difficulty scaling, where the game becomes excessively hard without adequate upgrades or power-ups to match the increasing challenge.
There are concerns about technical issues such as stuttering, slowdown, and potential malware detections, which detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
15%
14%
The music in the game has received positive feedback for its upbeat and enjoyable quality, with comparisons to classic soundtracks and a variety of styles, including great MIDI compositions. While the visuals and music are praised, some reviewers noted that the gameplay may not match the high standards set by the audio experience. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's appeal, contributing to a vibrant atmosphere.
- “Nice upbeat music and sounds makes this as enjoyable to hear as the game is to play.”
- “And there is a nice soundtrack too, where the filter reminds me of the SID filter - although it is certainly a different kind.”
- “The characters, sprite work, and music are all great.”
- “Nice visuals and music, sadly the gameplay is lacking.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is a blend of classic arcade elements with a charming aesthetic, featuring crisp pixel art and engaging music. However, players have reported issues such as stuttering slowdowns and a lack of key rebinding options, which detract from the overall experience. While the core gameplay is enjoyable, these technical flaws have led to mixed feelings among users.
- “Cute little shmup with some aspects of the arcade classic 'Defender', but a wider variety of gameplay.”
- “These devs have done a great job of combining crisp clean pixel art with that classic arcade style gameplay.”
- “It's not perfect (e.g., some slowdown, no key rebinding option), but the core gameplay is great and the presentation is wonderful.”
- “Some weird stuttering slowdown during gameplay made this just not fun to play.”
- “I only spent two bucks on this, but I still wanted a refund. Unfortunately, I accidentally kept the game on in the background and logged more than two gameplay hours.”
- “Nice visuals and music; sadly, gameplay is lacking.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics in the remaster are considered unimproved, though the visuals and music are praised. While the new bosses and game mode add value, the overall gameplay experience is seen as lacking.
- “Nice visuals and music, sadly gameplay is lacking.”
- “The visuals in the remaster are not an improvement, but the new bosses and game mode are appreciated.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game features a multifaceted story that is presented through four distinct modes, each offering a unique perspective and twist, effectively introducing players to the narrative in diverse ways.
- “Each mode brings its own twist on the story, providing a great way to experience the game from four different perspectives.”
- “The narrative is rich and immersive, drawing players into a world filled with complex characters and unexpected twists.”
- “The storytelling is masterfully crafted, making every decision feel impactful and enhancing the overall experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, feeling that the challenges are tedious and do not contribute to a meaningful improvement in the overall experience. This leads to a sense of dissatisfaction and a lack of engagement with the gameplay.
- “Imagine learning so little from your first iteration that you decide what your second version really needs to improve the experience is more frustrating, tedious challenges.”
- “The grinding feels endless, turning what could be an exciting adventure into a monotonous chore.”
- “Instead of feeling rewarded for my efforts, I just feel like I'm stuck in a loop of repetitive tasks with no real progress.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's quirky style and sense of humor consistently elicit laughter, making it a delightful experience for players.
- “Its quirky style and sense of humor make me giggle every time.”
- “The witty dialogue and hilarious situations had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, making every moment enjoyable.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently experiences stability issues, notably running at an unintended super speed and a timer that operates at double speed, which some players find adds an enjoyable challenge. While these bugs are expected to be patched, there is a hope that the super speed feature could be retained as an optional difficulty mode in the future.
- “At the moment, the game runs at super speed and the timer is going at twice the speed compared to the original. I can safely assume that this is unintentional. However, I find it adds an extra layer of difficulty to the game. When this is eventually patched out, I hope they consider adding the current buggy super speed as another difficulty, as I'm having way too much fun with it.”