Assault Android Cactus

About

Assault Android Cactus is a vibrant, arcade-style shooter where players control android heroes fighting against waves of robotic enemies. With a variety of distinctive characters, each with unique weapons and abilities, the game offers a dynamic and engaging experience. The game features a campaign mode with high replay value, as well as local co-op for up to four players, making it a great choice for fans of frantic, action-packed gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+15

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,513 reviews

gameplay215 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Fast-paced and addictive gameplay with a unique battery mechanic that encourages aggressive play.
Diverse cast of characters, each with unique weapons and playstyles, adding variety to the gameplay.
Visually appealing with vibrant graphics and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the gaming experience.

The game can be frustratingly difficult, especially during boss fights, which may deter casual players.
Some players may find the battery mechanic limiting, as it requires constant action to avoid running out of power.
Lack of online multiplayer options may limit the experience for those looking for co-op play with friends remotely.

gameplay
525 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The gameplay of "Assault Android Cactus" is widely praised for its fast-paced, addictive nature, featuring tight controls and a variety of unique characters, each with distinct playstyles. The innovative battery mechanic adds a layer of strategy, encouraging aggressive play while maintaining a forgiving death system that allows players to learn and improve without harsh penalties. While some players find the battery mechanic frustrating, the overall consensus highlights the game's engaging mechanics, vibrant visuals, and enjoyable co-op experience, making it a standout title in the twin-stick shooter genre.
- “The gameplay is slick, the soundtrack is amazing, and the level design is beautiful-- all this, along with the ability to choose between nine different androids, makes replaying levels a blast.”
- “Assault Android Cactus excels in every sense from pumping music, great art direction and animation, entertaining characters, and of course some frenetic yet deeply strategic gameplay that's immediately satisfying and only becomes more so as you learn its subtleties, explore the different character playstyles, and improve your game as you forge through the story or return to old levels to break old high scores.”
- “The gameplay is fast, fun, and addictive, having that 'must play one more time' mentality.”
- “The battery mechanic is so bad.”
- “The gameplay loop is really short though, with 15-second intervals between power-ups and time extensions.”
- “Collecting batteries grants you more time, but the problem is that the game doesn't actually explain the mechanics behind battery drops very well, and this can lead to frustration for new players.”
music
337 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The music in "Assault Android Cactus" is widely praised for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, featuring a mix of upbeat techno and electronic tracks that enhance the fast-paced gameplay. Reviewers highlight how the music dynamically adapts to the action, intensifying during critical moments and contributing significantly to the overall experience. Many players express a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately, underscoring its quality and appeal.
- “The soundtrack is so damn good too, with an explosive beat that plays as soon as you get into the character select to get you pumped and ready for action.”
- “Aac's soundtrack is deserving of praise - it amplifies the action, builds up hype for phase changes, & overall just kicks the experience up a notch or two.”
- “The music is fantastically kickass and so is the level design.”
- “The devs have done a brilliant job of updating and improving the game, but they've changed a few things recently like the music, which now has lost all the 'pumped up' vibe and just sounds flat and miserable.”
- “With all the bullets that fly around the screen, the sound effects do tend to drown out the music, so the audio could be better balanced.”
- “The soundtrack can feel repetitive in places, but each zone has its own different style of music.”
graphics
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising its vibrant, colorful art style and smooth performance, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. While some players note that the visuals can feel dated or simplistic, particularly in cutscenes, the charming aesthetic and unique character designs are often highlighted as strong points. Overall, the graphics are considered appealing and well-suited for the game's fast-paced action, despite some criticisms regarding resolution and model quality.
- “The game's visuals are a bit dated when cutscenes play, but when in-game, it looks fantastic.”
- “The graphics are wonderful and cohesive.”
- “The graphics are vibrant and colorful, with an excellent soundtrack.”
- “Graphics are okay but a little low resolution and low poly; this is to cater to the weak capabilities of the Switch and the now superseded PS4 platform.”
- “The visuals are just so outdated, and the character design is also ugly in my opinion.”
- “I would like to see the graphics improved slightly (there doesn't seem to be any anti-aliasing) and support for more widescreen and HD resolutions (like 1366x768), but it is an awesome game.”
story
197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The story in this game is generally viewed as simplistic and serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay, with many players noting that it doesn't detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the charming characters and humorous dialogue, others find the narrative lacking depth and coherence, often describing it as an excuse to facilitate the action. Overall, the story is short and light-hearted, with enough lore and character interactions to keep players engaged, but it is not the main draw of the game.
- “The story is entertaining, the characters and interactions are fun to play through (each different character, which is unlocked as you play, has different interactions with the bosses, so multiple playthroughs give you something to look forward to).”
- “The story itself is very short but the replay value comes from the challenge of getting an S+ rank in each level, which is a combination of a high score, chaining combos perfectly, and dodging everything tossed at you.”
- “The story is light and fun-spirited, with witty commentaries from lovable characters who go through a cheesy, yet interesting narrative, while listening to absolutely fantastic music.”
- “The story is just an excuse to shoot stuff, really more of a series of interludes between levels.”
- “The story is kinda annoying and boring and interrupts the gameplay.”
- “The entire story is told with two goofy cutscenes and around fifteen dialogue boxes.”
replayability
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players praising its diverse cast of characters, each offering unique playstyles and abilities that encourage experimentation. While the campaign is relatively short, the inclusion of various game modes, challenges, and a leaderboard system provides ample opportunities for players to improve their skills and achieve high scores. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay mechanics and character variety ensures that players will find themselves returning for countless hours of fun.
- “Aac is the ideal twin-stick shooter with infinite replayability and infinite room for mastery, elegantly simple AI with endlessly diverse ways to combine the enemies' abilities.”
- “This game is replayable until infinity; you can always try to break your high scores. All playable characters have a unique playstyle, and if you really want to complete this game, it is going to take you hundreds of hours.”
- “The different characters offer a lot of variety and replayability; the levels can be very dynamic, and the combat is nuanced.”
- “While it can be a little repetitive, the game still managed replayability.”
- “The only replay value is getting a higher score and trying out the different characters; each one's score for each stage is counted individually, too.”
- “Although there is a lot of replayability with new character unlocks and trying to get an S ranking on each stage.”
humor
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and charming nature, with many reviewers highlighting the funny dialogues, unique character interactions, and entertaining cutscenes. While some noted that the humor may not be the game's primary focus, it adds a delightful layer to the overall experience, making it enjoyable and engaging. The combination of fast-paced action and comedic elements contributes to a fun atmosphere, appealing to fans of the genre.
- “A gem of the genre with some fun quirky humor.”
- “The story plays out through funny pre-rendered cutscenes; it might be a bit cheesy, but I found them enjoyable.”
- “The characters are unique, it's quite humorous - but frankly, even if the gimmick unlock option doesn't really have much replayability, even as your '5-minute-filler'.”
optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth gameplay, impressive performance, and minimal bugs across various hardware setups. While some players noted variability in performance based on resolution and stage complexity, many experienced excellent frame rates even at high settings. The game is considered well-optimized, making it accessible for a range of systems, including laptops.
- “Framerate and resolution are unlocked, gameplay is buttery smooth, solid graphics and is well optimized (144Hz monitor with GeForce GTX 980 Ti I get more than 200fps at 1440p with max settings).”
- “Excellent optimization!”
- “The iceberg goes pretty deep with skill achievements and S+ rankings even before you get to score optimization, of which I've barely scratched the surface.”
- “Performance/optimization is wildly varying; I was getting more FPS at 1080p medium than 900p medium, and stage variation eats a lot of power.”
- “At the end of each stage, your performance is graded based on how many times you were downed, time to clear the stage, and how big of a chain you were able to pull off.”
character development
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
62%
13%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the unique and charming character designs that enhance gameplay, while others criticize the aesthetics as outdated or unappealing. The individualized playstyles and visual presentation contribute positively to the overall experience, but the lack of deeper character development and the divisive design choices have left some players feeling less engaged. Overall, the character design is a focal point that elicits strong opinions, reflecting a blend of affection and frustration among the player base.
- “Fun character design with unique playstyles.”
- “The character design is cute and the action is fast-paced and exciting.”
- “The character design is also super charming and really adds to the game in a way I didn't expect from this type of game.”
- “I hated the aesthetics, character designs, voice acting, and story.”
- “The visuals are just so outdated, and the character design is also ugly in my opinion.”
- “The character design seems to be an attempt at chibi-style 3D models but looks more like bobblehead action figures.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be both extensive and demanding, often requiring hundreds of hours to achieve all unlocks and high scores. While some appreciate the challenge and excitement of striving for S+ rankings, others feel that the repetitive nature of grinding can become tedious and shallow, particularly in boss battles. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy competitive grinding, but may not satisfy players looking for more varied grinding experiences.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “With low payouts, farming for all the unlocks for the achievements will easily take 400+ games.”
- “It's why over the past couple of years of early access I've dumped about 100 hours worth of 10-minute intervals into this game, where other ostensibly more 'in-depth' grindy titles left me cold.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game demonstrates impressive stability, with users reporting a bug-free experience and smooth gameplay across various hardware configurations, including older systems. Players have noted minimal issues, with only a few minor glitches, and the game runs well even on lower-end machines, indicating strong optimization.
- “It's got good gameplay and game mechanics, and of course it also appears to be rock solid and bug-free; haven't had a single issue.”
- “Game runs great on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS with the latest NVIDIA driver, smooth gameplay and short loading times.”
- “Looks and runs great, even on my very old hardware (ASUS M2V board, 32-bit Windows XP, AMD 64x2 @ 3.0GHz, 4GB DDR2 RAM, ATI Radeon 6770).”
- “Triple-A titles are churned out by publishers in a production-line style fashion, by overworked and underpaid developers who are given impossible deadlines, resulting in releases that are too early, buggy, and of course, filled to the brim with microtransactions, loot boxes, and season passes, only to line the pockets of the publisher's major shareholders.”
- “The game has very few bugs and glitches.”
- “The third one freezes all enemies that are on screen in place for a few seconds; this one even works on bosses, which is nice.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with some experiencing intense feelings that can be overwhelming yet enjoyable. The soundtrack by Jeff Van Dyck enhances the emotional experience, contributing to both epic and poignant moments, making the game feel rewarding on a deeper level.
- “Made me feel physically sick at times, but I enjoyed every second before that.”
- “There's also the soundtrack by Jeff Van Dyck that can get pretty emotional or epic, rad as hell.”
- “It seems more emotionally rewarding, at least to me.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and cute aesthetic, enhanced by upbeat music and bright colors, creating a fun and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the balance of a lighthearted vibe with engaging gameplay challenges, contributing to an overall lively and inviting atmosphere.
- “The game successfully creates a cute atmosphere with good voice and music tracks and playfully bright colors.”
- “This game has a happy, enjoyable atmosphere, and offers some challenging gameplay.”
- “The music is upbeat and adds to the fast-paced atmosphere.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Reviews highlight a growing frustration with the monetization practices in the gaming industry, particularly in 'triple-A' titles, which are often criticized for being riddled with microtransactions, lootboxes, and season passes that detract from the overall experience. In contrast, some games are praised for offering a complete experience without paywalls or additional costs, emphasizing gameplay variety and enjoyment over profit-driven models.
- “Triple-A titles are churned out by publishers in a production-line style fashion, by overworked and underpaid developers who are given impossible deadlines, resulting in releases that are too early, buggy, and of course, filled to the brim with microtransactions, loot boxes, and season passes, only to line the pockets of the publisher's major shareholders.”
- “I presumed it would be another phone app game ported to Steam for a quick cash grab.”

81%Critics’ scoreBased on 21 critic reviews

Buy Assault Android Cactus

17h Median play time

16h Average play time

9-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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