Assault Spy
- October 2, 2018
- Wazen
"Assault Spy" is a stylish action-comedy game where players can assume the role of either a corporate spy named Asaru or a CIA agent named Amelia. They must infiltrate the Negabot corporation, which has been taken over by terrorists, and battle their way through an army of security robots. The game features high-speed dash combat and dynamic action, with new moves becoming available as enemies are defeated, allowing for increasingly impressive combos. The story unfolds from two perspectives, offering unique playstyles and intertwining narratives.
Reviews
- Extremely charming character action game with a unique premise and enjoyable characters.
- Fluid and satisfying combat system that allows for creative combos and stylish play.
- Great humor and engaging story that keeps players entertained throughout the game.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and performance problems that can disrupt gameplay.
- Some animations and character models are unpolished, leading to a less immersive experience.
- The level design can feel repetitive, with similar enemy types and environments throughout the game.
- story145 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as lighthearted and comedic, often serving as a backdrop for the engaging hack-and-slash gameplay rather than a focal point. Players appreciate the humor and character interactions, though many find the plot to be nonsensical and simplistic, with some recommending the second character's story for a unique perspective. Overall, while the narrative may not be deep or serious, it provides enough entertainment to complement the action, making it enjoyable for those who prioritize gameplay over storytelling.
“The story is full of silliness and humor that don’t take anything seriously, which is refreshing.”
“The characters will keep you interested in advancing the story, and overall it feels great to play!”
“The story is comedic and lighthearted, and the only character who will probably grate against you will be the intended annoying girl, Kanako.”
“The story is unnecessary for it anyway; it's trying to do something with constantly escalating ridiculous super secret corporate espionage, experimental weaponry, and timeline shenanigans. It works with just how ridiculous it gets, but as with many other Asian games, the dialogues are so ridiculously verbose and expository that I couldn't stop myself from skipping a lot of it, just enough to get a hang of the story.”
“If you want a game for story experience, 100% look somewhere else. This game is about suplexing a mobility scooter for SSS combo finish, and I love it for that.”
“The story is a paper-thin excuse to rampage through waves of (mostly cute) robotic enemies, but the characters are entertaining and their interactions are littered with both visually appealing illustrations and the game's peculiar brand of humor, derived from the consistent absurdity of their situation and their rather eccentric personalities.”
- gameplay119 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is widely praised for its fast-paced, engaging mechanics reminiscent of classic hack-and-slash titles like Devil May Cry, offering a satisfying combat experience with a variety of combo possibilities and character-specific playstyles. While some players noted issues with polish and occasional clunkiness, the overall fun factor and depth of the gameplay, including unique mechanics like guard breaks and a berserk mode, make it a solid choice for fans of the genre. However, interruptions from cutscenes and a perceived lack of content for the price point were common criticisms.
“Best hack and slash game I've ever played; I would put it next to DMC5 for the gameplay alone. The story is like a Saturday morning cartoon, which is fine.”
“The gameplay is amazing; the playable characters have mechanics that may resemble a certain character in another hack and slash, with a high skill ceiling for those wanting to master it.”
“The actual gameplay rocks; it's the typical crazy action game stuff of bouncing around like an 8-year-old on crack and juggling killer roombas.”
“Way too overpriced at $19.99 USD is pretty questionable considering the short story, lack of polish, and even the gameplay being okay at best.”
“But it has one major flaw, it loves to cut to visual novel cutscenes way too much, this constantly interrupts the gameplay and makes the game feel much longer than it actually is, also I rarely found the many attempts at comedic relief to be funny.”
“Overall, if you like high-speed beat 'em ups with deep combat mechanics and simple execution, then Assault Spy is your game.”
- graphics47 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique anime-inspired artwork and character designs, while others criticize the low-budget visuals and lack of detail in models and environments. Although the aesthetic may not appeal to everyone, the game's fun gameplay and engaging mechanics often overshadow its graphical shortcomings. Overall, while the visuals are considered mediocre and sometimes unpolished, they are complemented by a charming art style and effective sound design.
“The artwork is extremely well done; it does follow the anime style a lot, but they add a little flair to it that I enjoy.”
“The soundtrack, voice acting, and visuals were all well above my expectations.”
“I really adore the visuals of the game, along with the gameplay.”
“The biggest struggle for this game is probably its aesthetic.”
“The graphics can be a little rough, and you'll be seeing bugs pretty often, but damn this game is way too fun for me to care.”
“Be aware that the game is aesthetically utilitarian, with drab, mostly gray environments and simple character models with little to no texturing, as one might expect given that it was made almost entirely by one guy.”
- music44 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack for its ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during battles. While some noted that it may not be groundbreaking, it effectively complements the action and character interactions, featuring a mix of rock and techno elements that resonate well with players. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The music is good and fits well with the game's style, but it fades out during a boss's death animation then immediately comes back on the 'victory screen.' I don't know where to put this but I like the pause screen's ASCII style posturization effect.”
“The music also deserves a mention, as while I wasn't blown away, it did complement the action on-screen really well, with guitar riffs and fast-paced techno accompanying exhilarating battles.”
“The soundtrack is phenomenal!”
“The music is essentially nonexistent.”
“I cannot even remember any of the music.”
“While the soundtrack might not stand out too much, it definitely doesn't get in the way.”
- humor39 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and silliness, with many reviewers highlighting the entertaining character interactions and absurd dialogue that enhance the overall experience. While the storyline is often described as shallow, it serves as a backdrop for the comedic elements, which include funny cutscenes and quirky character dynamics. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted tone and engaging humor, making it a fun choice for those who enjoy a blend of action and comedy.
“The game is easy enough, you can finish it in less than 4 hours, the storyline is super dumb, it has a lot of funny moments and insane dialogues.”
“The story, such as it is, is a paper-thin excuse to rampage through waves of (mostly cute) robotic enemies, but the characters are entertaining and their interactions are littered with both visually appealing illustrations and the game's peculiar brand of humor, derived from the consistent absurdity of their situation and their rather eccentric personalities.”
“Great action game with great characters and a hilarious story.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including frame drops and stuttering, particularly in combat scenarios. While some players experience solid performance on high settings, others find the game unplayable on older systems, indicating inconsistent optimization across different hardware. Overall, the game's technical performance does not meet the expectations set by its stylish action gameplay.
“The game is powered by Unreal Engine 4 with decent optimization.”
“I constantly have solid performance on max settings without fatal crashes or game-breaking bugs.”
“But if you are selling your game as a 3D stylish action title that requires technical finesse and skill, I expect the technical aspects of program performance to be up to snuff.”
“The optimization is horrible, huge frame drops in the simplest scenes (training stage).”
“The only real issue I had was the pretty poor performance in certain areas; my computer is about 5 years old, to be fair, but be warned you can't run this game on a toaster.”
“It's been over a year since the game left early access and it's still a buggy and stuttering mess.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various modes, including a boss rush and tournament mode, alongside multiple difficulty settings that cater to both completionists and competitive players. With a focus on mastering character kits and achieving high ranks, players are encouraged to replay the game to improve their skills and explore additional content unlocked after completing campaigns. Overall, it provides a rich experience for those seeking to engage with its stylish action repeatedly.
“It's very replayable, especially if you like going for 100% completion.”
“Assault Spy is a short game with about 5 hours of campaign for each character, but my god is this game infinitely replayable.”
“For a stylish action game to be successful, it needs not only replayability but also extensive character kits that provide a ceiling that cannot be physically mastered.”
“Overall, an enjoyable experience that also has decent replay value from the extra modes unlocked after beating one campaign and then two campaigns, as well as the higher difficulty modes.”
“It has a boss rush mode for speedrunners and multiple difficulty settings, so there is a decent amount of replayability.”
- stability11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability remains a significant concern for players, with many reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues even after its full release. While some users note that these problems can be worked around and express hope for future updates, the consensus is that the game still feels unfinished and unpolished, detracting from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
“It's been over a year since the game left early access and it's still a buggy and stuttering mess.”
“Full release still buggy as hell; the cutscenes are horrendous looking, characters still glitch through objects from time to time, mostly Amelia. It had a ton of great potential, the gameplay is still top notch, but everything else is just subpar.”
“Too buggy at this moment in time; needs more work in all honesty but has potential to be great.”
- character development8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by strong voice acting and appealing character designs, contributing to a lighthearted and engaging narrative. Players appreciate the fast-paced storytelling that allows for meaningful growth of the main character amidst a mix of wholesome and twisted events. Overall, the consistent art direction and quality interactions enhance the overall experience, making character development a standout aspect.
“Overall, I genuinely enjoy the heroic anime storytelling style; it’s fast-paced with enough room for main character development, featuring some wholesome and twisted events.”
“The character designs and voice acting are good, and the strange plot doesn't take itself too seriously.”
“Also can't forget to say the character designs and interactions are top-notch.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
“Despite the appealing character designs, the development feels rushed and fails to explore the characters' backgrounds adequately.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game enjoyable due to the fun movesets and the opportunity to creatively experiment with combos, though some feel that unlocking higher difficulty tiers can be overly grindy as it requires playing through stages with both characters. While the normal mode may be easy for genre veterans, the repetitive nature of grinding for skill points can detract from the experience, suggesting a need for more varied incentives. Overall, the game is considered a worthwhile purchase for those who appreciate grinding.
“Only real complaints are that sometimes the camera and lock-on are really wonky, and normal mode is pretty easy if you're familiar with the genre, while unlocking the next tiers of difficulty feels a bit more 'grindy' than necessary since you need to keep clearing with both characters instead of just one.”
“I'd recommend letting us get skill points in the death march and other modes as grinding the stages for skill points can get kind of repetitive and gives a good incentive to dabble in those extras.”
“Definitely worth checking out for twenty bucks if you don't mind a little grinding.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be a compelling mix of adrenaline and heartfelt storytelling, characterized by fast pacing and significant character development. The blend of heroic themes with both wholesome and darker events evokes a strong emotional response, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.
“Overall, I genuinely enjoy the heroic anime storytelling style; it’s fast-paced with enough room for main character development, featuring some wholesome and twisted events.”
“This is heartbreaking, but here it goes:”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its unique and stylish design, featuring intriguing ideas and rich lore that contribute to an immersive experience.
“The game design is great: many interesting ideas, lore, and atmosphere look really unique and stylish.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world and making every moment feel significant.”
“The combination of sound, visuals, and storytelling creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after playing.”