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

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

+14

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 957 reviews

gameplay132 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Fast-paced and chaotic gameplay that keeps players engaged.
Variety of characters with unique weapons and playstyles adds depth and replayability.
Dynamic level design that changes during gameplay enhances the challenge and excitement.

The battery mechanic can be frustrating, as running out of battery results in game over.
Some bosses and enemy mechanics can feel unfair and lead to cheap deaths.
Lack of online multiplayer limits the co-op experience to local play only.

gameplay
328 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The gameplay of "Assault Android Cactus" is characterized by its fast-paced, twin-stick shooter mechanics that are easy to learn but challenging to master, offering a rewarding experience for both casual and hardcore players. The unique battery mechanic encourages aggressive play and adds a layer of strategy, while the diverse cast of characters, each with distinct abilities, enhances replayability. Overall, the game is praised for its tight controls, vibrant visuals, and engaging level design, making it a standout title in the genre.
- “The gameplay is tight, focused, and responsive, and a clear follower of Bushnell's law - easy to learn, hard to master.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and addicting, the sound and level design are top notch, the characters are lovable, and the difficulty level is just perfect in my experience.”
- “All the mechanics are extremely loose.”
- “The battery mechanic could be a stressful mechanic if you miss them, but the added stress isn't a negative.”
- “The gameplay is extremely simple in its concept, just shoot every robot on the screen until you've killed them all and then move on to the next stage to do it again.”
music
222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The music in "Assault Android Cactus" has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the fast-paced gameplay and complements the game's vibrant visuals. Composed by Jeff Van Dyck, the soundtrack features a mix of techno and electronic tracks that dynamically adapt to the action, creating an immersive experience that players find both enjoyable and motivating. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a key reason for their enjoyment, with some even purchasing the OST separately to enjoy it outside of the game.
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal.”
- “The cherry on top of the great gameplay loop is the energizing soundtrack.”
- “The music is fantastically kickass and so is the level design.”
- “The next one is subjective, but I'm not a fan of the dynamic music, and there's no way to turn it off.”
- “So as you're playing, when you're doing badly, or you get knocked down, or there's a lull in the action for some reason, elements of the soundtrack cut out.”
- “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.”
graphics
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant, colorful aesthetic and smooth performance, contributing to an engaging visual experience. While some players note that the visuals may feel slightly dated or simplistic, many appreciate the charming art style and character designs that enhance the overall gameplay. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, effectively complementing the fast-paced action and unique level designs.
- “The graphics are wonderful and cohesive.”
- “The visuals, audio, and performance are all impeccable.”
- “The graphics are vibrant and colorful, with an excellent soundtrack.”
- “The visuals are just so outdated, and the character design is also ugly in my opinion.”
- “My only complaint with the graphics is some early areas are a bit barren and so they look straight out of the PS2 era with bland backgrounds and no enemy fire to distract you.”
- “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
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The story in this game is generally viewed as simplistic and often serves as a backdrop for the action, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of interludes between levels rather than a fully developed narrative. While some appreciate the charming characters and humorous dialogue, others find the plot predictable and lacking depth, with much of the lore relegated to text descriptions rather than integrated into the gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as a light and entertaining addition that complements the gameplay rather than being a focal point.
- “The story is minimal, but it's all it needs to be as it sets the stage perfectly for where you are and why you are fighting hordes of robots.”
- “The story in this game is good as well and there's a surprising amount of lore behind it, even if a lot of it is contained within text descriptions in the menus.”
- “The characters are witty, there are lots of little things that make the game fun, and even an entire section that gives you the backstory on each character, NPC, and enemy.”
- “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
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by a diverse cast of characters, each with unique playstyles and weaponry, as well as various game modes and challenges. Players can continually strive for high scores, unlock new characters, and engage in different gameplay experiences, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy twin-stick shooters. While the campaign is relatively short, the depth of replay value ensures that players can invest significant time refining their skills and strategies.
- “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, getting an S+ rank on every level, then do the same in campaign+ and then you can do the same for all 8 other characters.”
- “The different characters offer a lot of variety and replayability. The levels can be very dynamic, and the combat is nuanced.”
- “It's a great twin-stick shooter that has plenty of replayability.”
- “Overall, Assault Android Cactus is a thoroughly enjoyable gameplay experience, but one that relies heavily on replayability to feel worth the asking price.”
- “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.”
- “I do wish the campaign were a tad bit longer, but there is a ton of replayability to it along with some additional modes.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quality and charm, featuring funny dialogue, amusing character interactions, and entertaining cutscenes. While the story may not be the main focus, it includes humorous elements that enhance the overall experience, making players laugh throughout. The game's creative level design and quirky characters contribute to its lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “The story plays out through funny pre-rendered cutscenes; it might be a bit cheesy, but I found them enjoyable. You can review them any time from the menu.”
- “The humor is great.”
- “The character interactions are quite funny, and you unlock new characters at a fairly good pace.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance and impressive visuals, with many users reporting no bugs or significant issues. However, some players noted that performance can vary based on resolution and stage complexity, indicating that meeting recommended system requirements is crucial for optimal gameplay. Despite these variations, the game is generally well-optimized, running effectively even on lower-end hardware.
- “The visuals, audio, and performance are all impeccable.”
- “Great performance, dazzling colors, smooth gameplay.”
- “However, this is one beautiful game, perfectly optimized, the soundtrack is great.”
- “Performance/optimization is wildly varying (I was getting more FPS at 1080p medium than 900p medium; 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.”
- “If you’re still worried after reading this, the game has a free demo for you to check its performance yourself.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the cute and enthusiastic designs of the characters, while others criticize them as outdated or unappealing. Despite the lack of deep character development, the visuals and overall aesthetic have been praised for creating an engaging experience. The character designs, though controversial, are noted for their charm and attention to detail, contributing to the game's appeal.
- “I think that the visuals, character designs, music, etc. all combine together to create a really aesthetically pleasing impression as you play, and if you're like me you'll find yourself entering flow state in no time.”
- “It clearly has a ton of love and attention poured into it, from the character designs to the level designs to the in-game lore text.”
- “The character design is cute and the action is fast-paced and exciting.”
- “If I had to say anything negative, I'd have to say I'm not really endeared by the quasi-anime character designs.”
- “The visuals are just so outdated, and the character design is also ugly in my opinion.”
- “It's easy to get behind the androids even with the dearth of character development, simply due to how cute and enthusiastic they are.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extensive and time-consuming, with some reporting needing to play over 400 games to unlock achievements. While the repetitive nature of grinding can be tedious, especially in boss battles, it also offers excitement for those who enjoy leaderboard challenges and cooperative play. Overall, the game appeals to fans of grinding, despite its demanding nature.
- “With low payouts, farming for all the unlocks for the achievements will easily take 400+ games.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
Overall, stability in the game is generally praised, with reports of very few bugs and smooth performance even on older hardware. While some users express concerns about the industry's trend of releasing unfinished titles, this particular game is noted for its solid mechanics and reliable performance.
- “Great mechanics, not buggy at all, good tutorial, excellent learning curve culminating in a super difficult boss.”
- “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).”
- “It runs great, it plays great.”
- “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.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game elicits strong emotional responses, with some players feeling physically affected by its intensity, yet they still find enjoyment in the experience. The soundtrack by Jeff Van Dyck enhances the emotional depth, contributing to both epic and poignant moments throughout the gameplay.
- “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.”
- “Okay, so I'm editing my review, but for integrity's sake, I'll leave my initial, more emotional reaction at the bottom.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Reviews highlight a growing frustration with the monetization practices in the gaming industry, particularly in 'triple-A' titles, which are often rushed to market and laden with microtransactions, lootboxes, and season passes aimed at maximizing profits for publishers. In contrast, some games are praised for offering a complete experience without paywalls or additional costs, defying the trend of cash grabs typically associated with mobile game ports.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible for everyone without feeling forced to buy extras.”
- “The in-game purchases are optional and don't affect the overall gameplay experience, which is a refreshing change.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a cheerful and enjoyable atmosphere, complemented by upbeat music that enhances its fast-paced gameplay. Players appreciate the balance between the lighthearted ambiance and the challenging elements of the game.
- “This game has a happy, enjoyable atmosphere and offers some challenging gameplay.”
- “The music is upbeat and adds to the fast-paced atmosphere.”