Arcade Moonlander
- October 25, 2017
- Daniel Paul Griffin
- 1h median play time
In "Arcade Moonlander" , master precision and timing to land your spacecraft on designated pads before running out of fuel. Avoid satellites, space-worms, and other obstacles, with increasing difficulty across 20 levels in Arcade Mode. Adventure Mode expands the challenge with teleport pads, checkpoints, and additional dynamic hazards, offering varied paths for players of all skill levels. High scores and completion times are saved for added replayability.
Reviews
- Simple and fun gameplay that captures the essence of classic Lunar Lander games.
- Challenging levels with a good balance of difficulty, providing a satisfying experience for players.
- Great value for the price, with engaging mechanics and a nostalgic feel.
- The game is quite short, with only a few hours of content available, leading to potential boredom after completion.
- Collision detection can be frustratingly inaccurate, causing unexpected failures during gameplay.
- Lack of variety in levels and game modes may limit replayability for some players.
- music62 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its excellent quality and how well it complements the game's theme and retro aesthetic. While some noted issues with track length and abrupt transitions, the overall sentiment highlights the soundtrack as a significant asset that enhances the immersive experience. Many players found the music to be relaxing and enjoyable, contributing to the game's appeal as a fun and engaging title.
“A very relaxing game, fun and not expensive at all, the soundtrack is excellent and corresponds very well to the theme of the game.”
“The music in this game is absolutely fantastic!”
“Incredible soundtrack and tight, responsible controls.”
“There's a few things that make it stand out as an asset flipper, school project, or meme game, such as no audio and music that awkwardly stops just as it starts.”
“On the audio side of things, the ambient music is serviceable but unremarkable.”
“- the soundtrack skips tracks pretty abruptly.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and minimalist, often relying on black and white pixel art that some players find charming and fitting for the retro theme. While some reviews criticize the visuals as lazy or outdated, others appreciate the aesthetic and detail in the backgrounds, noting that the graphics effectively complement the gameplay. Overall, opinions are mixed, with a consensus that the graphics serve their purpose but may not appeal to everyone.
“The visuals of the game are surprisingly good, simple again, but also detailed at some points.”
“Love the soundtrack, and the retro graphics are perfect.”
“The game's aesthetics are minimalist, relying mostly on defining shapes in black and white, with some levels having grayscale patterns and scenery giving them some extra variety and context.”
“The graphics here are some of the worst, laziest attempts at video game 'art' I've ever seen.”
“It's clear the developer didn't even try to produce any real graphics for the game and just phoned it in.”
“Most of the environments are made of lines that make it seem as if it was made in Microsoft Paint, although some levels have more complicated graphics.”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its fluid mechanics and engaging physics, offering a mix of simple yet challenging levels that encourage exploration and mastery. Players appreciate the variety provided by different modes, including arcade and adventure, though some find the procedural generation less compelling. While the game is enjoyable and nostalgic, it is noted to be relatively short, with some players suggesting improvements to the fuel system and level complexity for a more challenging experience.
“Absolutely awesome, superb levels, fluid gameplay, and a good price.”
“Players not only engage in thrilling lunar landings but also embark on a journey of discovery, delving into the intricate dynamics of celestial mechanics.”
“Arcade Moonlander is a fun casual pick-up-and-play game with an emphasis on gameplay that’s easy to understand and hard to master.”
“Slow gameplay and way too floaty controls makes it way too tedious to play.”
“One of the few complaints I do have about the game is the fuel system because it almost feels useless in the campaign since I had heaps of fuel left when I finished the levels.”
“However, the game is also short and a normal playthrough will likely take less than a single hour if you are comfortable with the game's physics and mechanics.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers some incentive through leaderboards, achievements, and various game modes, many players feel that the core experience is relatively short and lacks substantial replay value beyond improving personal bests. However, the addition of new content and modes has enhanced replayability for some, making it a fun option for those looking to compete for high scores. Overall, it provides enough variety to keep players engaged, albeit with a limited lifespan.
“This is a fun iteration of lunar lander and does have best time records which retains some replay value.”
“As of writing this review, there are thirty short levels in the base game with increasing complexity, an adventure mode which gives the player multiple routes to reach the end platform alongside some new gameplay features and lastly an experimental procedurally generated mode which offers some amount of replayability.”
“The controls are simple and consistent, and trying for high scores and Steam achievements adds replayability to this otherwise short but fun game.”
“When it comes to replayability, it needs a bit more incentive to go back, but I can see it as a time killer.”
“There isn't much replay value apart from bettering your fastest times, but personally I don't even think that's worth it.”
“If not the entire game can be beaten in 15-30 minutes and offers no replay value except for competing on leaderboards.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized, with many users noting the absence of a narrative or meaningful storyline. While some express a desire for a more developed adventure mode with missions and upgrades, the current experience is described as lacking depth and engagement. Overall, the consensus is that the game focuses more on gameplay mechanics than on storytelling.
“It would be cool to see some kind of story mode where you can upgrade your rocket and you have to do different types of missions.”
“Has speedruns, a level and story mode as well as a leaderboard.”
“Adventure mode could be harder and longer, and have some sort of story, but can't be picky.”
“This game has no story.”
“No storylines or open worlds, just a rocket, tight controls, and the goal of landing safely.”
“Adventure mode could be harder and longer, and have some sort of story.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with slow gameplay and floaty controls making it feel overly laborious. While some enjoy the challenge of grinding for leaderboard positions and achievements, others feel it can be excessively grindy at times.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Slow gameplay and way too floaty controls make it way too tedious to play.”
“There are leaderboards and hard achievements like 100 landings which need grinding.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring a funny premise and an incredible soundtrack that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements throughout the 30 unique levels, although some find the presence of unusually low time records to detract from the humor. Overall, it is considered a highly entertaining and challenging game for those who enjoy a good laugh.
“Funny little space game with 30 unique levels.”
“Very funny, incredible soundtrack, very sharp controls, and I'm trying to beat my own time.”
“Congratulations to whoever made this game; it is very, very funny!”
- stability5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Overall, the game runs well on the Steam Deck OLED, providing an enjoyable experience. However, players have reported minor bugs and glitches, with some suggesting that the game has a few stability issues that could be improved.
“Such a fun little game, looks and runs great on Steam Deck OLED.”
“The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs and glitches.”
“There are a few bugs and glitches that disrupt the experience.”
“There are minor bugs and glitches that can be frustrating.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of frustration and acceptance regarding the game's challenges, often attributing failures to either their own mistakes or the game's mechanics. This emotional response highlights the tension between player skill and game design, creating a relatable experience of trial and error.
- monetization1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is praised for its simplicity, as there are no microtransactions, battle passes, or other intrusive monetization strategies.
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without pushing for additional purchases.”
“No microtransactions, battle passes, or any other nonsense.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that should be accessible to everyone.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a relaxing and immersive experience, enhanced by chill atmospheric music that complements the game's environment.
“The chill atmospheric music perfectly complements the game's immersive environment.”
“The ambiance created by the sound design enhances the overall experience.”
“The serene atmosphere draws you in and makes you feel part of the world.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have reported significant optimization issues, particularly noting persistent stuttering that detracts from the gameplay experience, making it challenging to progress through levels effectively.
“Another issue is the constant stuttering; I am surprised how I beat all the levels as quickly as I did with this hindering my progress at times.”