Astebreed

About

Astebreed is a single player arcade shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Edelweiss and was released on May 29, 2014. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Astebreed is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game with a spectacular story, stunning gameplay, and awesome graphics. The Definitive Version includes major updates such as new "Arrange Mode," improved graphics and 3D models, additional episodes and music, and optimized controls, available for PC and priced at $19.99. As Roy Becket, a young pilot, experience a thrilling story with intense shoot-em-up action, beautiful visuals, and a spectacular soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,052 reviews

story137 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

Astebreed features stunning graphics and a unique blend of 2D and 3D gameplay perspectives, making it visually impressive and engaging.
The combat system is dynamic, allowing players to utilize a variety of attacks, including ranged shots and melee sword strikes, which adds depth to the gameplay.
The game offers a fun and fast-paced experience, with a decent challenge that ramps up in difficulty, especially during boss fights.

The story is hard to follow due to the Japanese voice acting and fast-paced dialogue, making it difficult for players who don't understand the language.
The game is relatively short, with a campaign that can be completed in under two hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
Controls can be cumbersome, especially for keyboard and mouse users, as the game is primarily designed for controller play.

story
549 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The story of Astebreed is a fast-paced, anime-inspired narrative that intertwines themes of loss and redemption within a mecha setting, reminiscent of classic sci-fi tropes. However, many players find it challenging to follow due to its delivery during intense gameplay, with Japanese dialogue and small subtitles making comprehension difficult. While some appreciate the effort to include a story, others criticize it as clichéd and incoherent, often overshadowed by the chaotic action of the bullet-hell gameplay.
- “The story doesn't take itself too seriously, but it does attempt to have emotional weight to its more serious scenes.”
- “The story is quite good (like an old sci-fi anime like Gunbuster and the mecha genre in general) but you could still disable the talk during the gameplay.”
- “Astebreed is a bullet-hell style shooter that is driven by a deep and powerful backstory about loss, pain, love, and redemption.”
- “The story is nigh impossible to follow while playing the game, which is a bit of a shame because I found the characters likeable.”
- “The story itself is extremely rushed, and it rushes through super generic mecha story tropes.”
- “The storytelling may also be a bit divisive, as it's told primarily through dialogue--all in Japanese--and the subtitles are very small, and in the corner of the screen, which would make them difficult to read even if the on-screen action wasn't the chaotic jumble it is.”
gameplay
352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
The gameplay in Astebreed is a dynamic blend of shoot 'em up and hack 'n slash mechanics, featuring a mix of ranged and melee attacks that require players to master various techniques for high scores. While the game is visually stunning and offers a fast-paced, chaotic experience, some players find the complexity of mechanics and frequent dialogue distracting, making it challenging to fully engage with the gameplay. Overall, it is praised for its depth, accessibility for newcomers, and rewarding scoring system, though its short length and steep difficulty curve may deter some players.
- “The gameplay is fast-paced, action-packed, and chaotic.”
- “Astebreed features deep and rewarding scoring mechanics on top of all the other great features, so if you enjoy score chasing and leaderboards there is a lot of meat here.”
- “Great mechanics that are easy to learn but hard to master, dynamic gameplay and bosses that allow you to approach in different ways, and an overall challenging and fun experience.”
- “The gameplay is boring even for scrolling shooters, and it's impossible to read the English text and play at the same time, meaning you will not be able to partake in the storyline and play simultaneously.”
- “Looks great, has some interesting anime stuff going on, but the gameplay... it's just like a swarm of bees constantly being thrown at you from every angle.”
- “Not quite what I was expecting - the gameplay fell pretty short in the beginning of the game which made me not even want to continue exploring.”
graphics
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
29%
1%
The graphics in this game are widely praised for their stunning anime-inspired art style, smooth 4K visuals, and dynamic effects that enhance the fast-paced gameplay. Players appreciate the clean and crisp design, which includes detailed enemy models and vibrant backgrounds, making it visually appealing even amidst chaotic action. Overall, the combination of beautiful artwork, engaging cutscenes, and impressive graphical fidelity contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The jaw-dropping visuals only complement the relentless action on screen, and the different attack patterns are so much fun to use according to the situation.”
- “The graphics are some of the best I've seen from an indie game; they're smooth, clean, and incredibly crisp. Despite all the madness that goes on screen, it doesn't deter you away at all; you can always see where your ship is, and most importantly, the backgrounds are eye-dazzling.”
- “A fantastic shooter, great visuals, and awesome music.”
- “Playing around with the game, I found the controls weren't as precise as I'd prefer in a shmup, the visuals and style didn't appeal to me (you may like them), and worst of all, I was bored.”
- “Graphics in Astebreed are not impressive technically, but the art style is amazing and makes this game very cool to look at.”
- “[sometimes the visuals get so chaotic that gameplay suffers as a result, an overall short experience]”
music
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
29%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the fast-paced gameplay and anime-inspired visuals. Many players describe the soundtrack as catchy and exhilarating, perfectly complementing the action and atmosphere, although some note issues with audio balance and occasional forgettable tracks. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal, especially for fans of the shmup genre.
- “A perfect soundtrack and a perfect game for anime and mecha lovers.”
- “The polished visuals and beautiful soundtrack just transport you right into the action.”
- “It's exciting, scintillating hyper dance music with solid tunes, and the final boss music makes everything 100x more badass and was honestly what kept me going when I tried and failed to beat the final boss so many times.”
- “However, one problem I do have is the buggy music audio.”
- “Some sound effects, even when turned down or off, are still louder than the music and dialogue.”
- “Music on the other hand is decent and fits into the game perfectly.”
replayability
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The game offers a mix of replayability through high score challenges, multiple difficulty settings, and achievements, appealing particularly to players who enjoy score-chasing and mastering mechanics. However, its short campaign length (around 50 minutes to an hour) has led some reviewers to feel that replay value is limited, especially for those who prefer a more substantial experience. Overall, while many find it fun and engaging for repeated play, others caution that its brevity may not justify the price for casual players.
- “The game is relatively short and can be beaten in a single sitting (50 minutes to 1 hour) but features extremely high replayability in the form of difficult achievements and online leaderboards to aim for.”
- “Replayability comes in the form of beating all the modes with all the mechs, 1ccing hard mode, and improving your global score.”
- “It's very arcade-y and short (it's less than an hour long for a single run-through) but very replayable.”
- “But it is a bit too short, and replayability is practically zero.”
- “Once again, it's a short game and the only replay value is for beating the scores.”
- “Confusing gameplay, stupid story, no replay value, don't waste your money, buy Crimzon Clover or Ikaruga instead.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and enhancements in the definitive edition, others experience significant issues such as crashes and poor support for resolutions outside of 1080p. Despite some improvements, many users feel that the game remains poorly optimized, particularly in terms of aspect ratios and overall stability.
- “[i]Astebreed: Definitive Edition[/i] offers a major performance overhaul from the original version with a splash of added content that adds another layer of replayability.”
- “Additional cutscenes, and an in-depth art gallery (that includes models, concept art, lore, and timelines), and more optimized resolution and filtering options all enhance this exciting anime-styled bullet hell mech shooter.”
- “Instead, it mitigated its shortcomings (the plot) and optimized what mattered (the unique perspective gameplay).”
- “They dare to raise the price when this 'optimized' update has done no more than mess up the game.”
- “Enjoyed the story, but the game could use some better optimization with a clunky feeling at certain parts.”
- “My only complaint is that it's not really optimized if you aren't using a 1080p monitor.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its witty dialogue and amusing storytelling, which often elicits laughter from players. Many find the combination of humorous character interactions and the chaotic gameplay to be a delightful contrast, enhancing the overall experience. The game's challenging nature adds to the comedic effect, making for a uniquely entertaining atmosphere.
- “This game is hilariously hard.”
- “The ending also had me laughing my ass off.”
- “Storytelling is funny, and I have no idea what the story is because it happens during radio conversations while I play.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it generally runs smoothly at 60 fps, users report significant issues such as audio glitches, particularly with 5.1 surround sound, and frequent crashes that can lead to severe system problems. Many recommend waiting for patches to address these bugs before playing to ensure a more enjoyable experience.
- “The game runs great too, very smooth 60 fps.”
- “This game is so buggy it crashed my Windows and forced me to reinstall Windows!!”
- “However, this game suffers from audio glitches when using 5.1 surround sound with constant crashes... please fix ASAP.”
- “I recommend getting it for later on, but if you'd rather wait, which I would advise, until the glitches and crashes are fixed to enjoy it more.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features an engaging and emotionally resonant story that balances humor with serious themes, although some players find it challenging to follow. Overall, it is praised for its heartfelt craftsmanship and the emotional weight it brings to key scenes, contributing to a memorable experience.
- “The story jumps right into an engaging and emotional narrative, and the mechanics are awesome.”
- “Everything about this game looks and feels like it was crafted very carefully and heartfeltly by people who knew how to make a truly great game.”
- “The story doesn't take itself too seriously, but it does attempt to have emotional weight in its more serious scenes.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly immersive, featuring stunning graphics with lush skies, atmospheric space clouds, and intricately designed enemies. The use of detailed 3D models and advanced particle effects, combined with Japanese mecha aesthetics, creates a captivating environment that enhances the experience of beautiful destruction.
- “Atmosphere is immersive.”
- “With lush skies, atmospheric space clouds and galaxies, and pretty detailed enemy design, there's nothing really wrong with the graphics.”
- “Using lovingly crafted 3D models, cutting-edge particle effects, and Japanese mecha designs, it delivers an unparalleled atmosphere of beautiful destruction.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players note that the game lacks exploration and grinding, making the world feel limited. However, it can provide a challenging experience for those seeking a more intense gameplay mode.
- “Overall, good if you want the teeth-grinding experience of normal mode.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its fantastic visual design and smooth gameplay, complemented by unique ideas and a fun, albeit brief, narrative. The character design is particularly praised, contributing to an engaging overall experience.