ASTRA: Knights of Veda

In "ASTRA: Knights of Veda," players become the new Master of the Book, chosen by the goddess Veda to end the tyranny of the Mad King Magnus and restore Planis, a once-thriving continent now on the brink of oblivion due to a devastating event that turned allies into flesh-eating monsters. Guided by Veda's wings, embark on a brutal and hauntingly beautiful adventure, filled with mystery and allure, to create a grand tale of fate entwined.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,916 reviews

story454 positive mentions

grinding40 negative mentions

The game features stunning 2D visuals and great character design, reminiscent of classic titles like Dragon's Crown.
The combat system is engaging, allowing players to switch between characters, which adds variety to gameplay.
The storyline is captivating, with well-voiced characters and a dark fantasy theme that keeps players invested.

Progression feels extremely slow, with low drop rates for characters and items, making it frustrating for players.
The gacha system is heavily criticized for its low rates and lack of guaranteed pulls, leading to a pay-to-win environment.
Technical issues such as frequent crashes, lag during cutscenes, and problems with controller support hinder the overall experience.

story
708 mentions
64 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, engaging narrative, and beautiful art style, with many players expressing a strong emotional connection to the characters and plot. However, some users noted issues with pacing, bugs, and translation quality that detracted from their experience. Overall, the story is considered a standout feature, making the game worth trying for those who appreciate rich storytelling in RPGs.
- “I can't believe it's free to play, the art, the story, and the characters are beautifully crafted.”
- “The story is captivating enough to make me follow it without skipping.”
- “The story is great, compelling.”
- “The story is alright but it has a pretty weak execution from the poor translation to the lack of expression by the characters, not to mention the current bugs and optimization that the game needs is yet to be fixed.”
- “The characters just talk past one another, they barely ever make real sense, and they use enough ellipses to form a bridge over the plot holes.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, but the story animations are very laggy; I couldn't understand the story anymore, this will need an update for sure.”
graphics
415 mentions
73 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, detailed character designs, and immersive environments, often compared to the works of Vanillaware and reminiscent of classic titles like Dragon's Crown. Players appreciate the smooth animations and vibrant visuals, although some have reported issues with optimization and occasional bugs affecting performance. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a major highlight, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment and atmosphere of the gameplay.
- “The graphics are phenomenal, combined with the retro movement designs it gives the feeling of being inside a Grimm's tale.”
- “The artwork and art style are very stunning and beautifully crafted.”
- “The game is stunning from the graphics to the lore, to the immersive side-scrolling aspect.”
- “Graphic optimization sucks, stuttering, fps drop everywhere, even lowest possible setting cause overheating.”
- “The graphics of this game, despite having a 6.5GB file size, are kind of a letdown for me; there are still many bugs.”
- “Worst graphic game I have ever seen... installed and deleted within the start of the game.”
gameplay
351 mentions
59 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its immersive mechanics, fluid controls, and engaging combat reminiscent of classic titles like Dragon's Crown. However, some users have criticized the game for its slow pacing, clunky mechanics, and frustrating gacha system, which can hinder progression and enjoyment. Overall, while the visuals and story are often highlighted as strong points, the gameplay experience varies significantly among players, with calls for improvements in responsiveness and balance.
- “This game, I've been waiting on one like this for a long time, very immersive, fun gameplay and I absolutely cannot get enough.”
- “The art style, voice acting, and designs are fantastic and the gameplay is fun.”
- “Great gameplay and story so far.”
- “When attempting to play with a controller, the game constantly flips around between controller, touch, and keyboard input modes, causing a ton of hitching in the gameplay and making the game unplayable until this is fixed.”
- “The gameplay holds it back with long, boring stages.”
- “The gameplay is horrible and linear.”
music
52 mentions
71 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players describing it as beautiful, epic, and fitting for the game's atmosphere. The soundtrack, along with the voice acting, is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing to the game's immersive storytelling and engaging gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength, complementing the stunning visuals and compelling narrative.
- “The music in this game is so good!”
- “With its challenging gameplay, stunning visuals, and mesmerizing soundtrack, it's an epic journey not to be missed.”
- “The music and voice acting are just the cherry on top... enjoying it!”
- “Had pretty music but after the recent update this game makes my phone run hot.”
- “The music is hit or miss for me.”
- “Music was heavy.”
grinding
40 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the auto-battle feature and find it less grindy compared to other titles, many express frustration over tedious farming, stingy rewards, and the lack of quality-of-life improvements like a sweep feature. The introduction of new equipment that renders previous efforts obsolete has also contributed to feelings of futility in grinding. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, the grinding experience is often seen as excessive and in need of enhancements.
- “Additionally, they haven't stopped trying to add more stuff that pressures you to pay money to keep up with the game. The update this time added a whole new equipment that could completely replace the old one, which means all the effort farming and upgrading the old ones all came to be worthless with this update.”
- “Tired of grinding for hours only to find trash equipment and heroes simultaneously. I've pulled 3 times 10x draw only to get more and more trash things in the game.”
- “The game is pay-to-win and grindy as hell.”
stability
40 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous reports of crashes, freezing, and glitches affecting gameplay, particularly during cutscenes and combat. While some players have experienced smooth performance, many others have noted that these issues detract from an otherwise enjoyable experience, highlighting the need for urgent fixes to enhance stability and overall enjoyment.
- “The combat runs great at 60fps with real high-quality graphics on my S23.”
- “Not a good start, the game will crash after reaching the first town, making it impossible to advance further. The pause screen tends to show a lot of buggy errors, such as the classic glitches effect you get from screens that are broken. Besides the obvious bugs, the gameplay is great and the story so far is immersive, but I just wish they fix this bug soon.”
- “Truly is a game with lots of potential, but the endless amounts of bugs, glitches, and the recent questionable quality of life changes will be the slow death of an otherwise amazing game.”
- “The game completely glitches out and can't figure out whether you're using a controller or keyboard and keeps lagging/swapping between both.”
character development
36 mentions
72 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by vibrant and detailed character designs that are often described as sexy, cool, and creative, contributing to an immersive experience. While many players appreciate the art style and voice acting, some express a desire for more character customization options and a broader range of character types. Overall, the character designs are praised for their quality, though a few critiques mention issues with originality and the potential for fanservice overshadowing practicality.
- “Character designs are vibrant and detailed.”
- “Beautiful character designs and game design overall.”
- “The character designs are creative and cool as well.”
- “Ah yes, 2D Genshin, not only have you lost a bit of originality in the character designs, but the controls are unresponsive as well.”
- “Not a fan of the character designs, and the animation style combined with the art style gives a strong uncanny valley feel.”
- “Mediocre character design and kit while boasting god-awful rates of 0.25%, filling the entire pull with badly designed weapon gacha, and has no in-game currency.”
optimization
34 mentions
21 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
32 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, FPS drops, and bugs, particularly during cutscenes and when multiple effects are on screen. Many users express frustration over the game's inability to run smoothly even on high-end devices, indicating a pressing need for further optimization to enhance overall gameplay experience. Despite its solid gameplay and story potential, the current optimization problems hinder enjoyment and accessibility for a broader audience.
- “Requires further optimization due to many performance issues while in cutscenes.”
- “The exact areas that have performance issues are like the following: when there are too many particles or effects occurring on the screen, the FPS drops massively, from 60 to 10.”
- “Good game but poor optimization.”
- “Graphic optimization sucks, stuttering, fps drop everywhere, even the lowest possible setting causes overheating.”
- “Good gameplay and story, but the cinematics freeze and stutter when everything else is fine. If the actual story scenes weren't stuttery like the gameplay, it would be great.”
- “Terribly optimized game.”
monetization
22 mentions
14 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
68 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players labeling it as greedy and reminiscent of Genshin Impact's model, but executed poorly. Users express frustration over low gacha rates, forced ad-like story segments, and a general feeling of being manipulated for profit. While some appreciate the absence of constant ads and paywalls, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment in how monetization detracts from the gaming experience.
- “The story is good, but the game's internal systems feel very outdated and weird. Monetization-related stuff aside, the game does not feel like a phone game at all.”
- “Extremely disappointing; the visuals look amazing, but the monetization, clunky gameplay, and very poor gacha rates are major flaws in the game.”
- “Doesn't even try to entice players, just goes straight to monetization.”
- “Extremely disappointing; the visuals look amazing, but the monetization, the clunky gameplay, and the very poor gacha rates are major flaws of the game.”
- “Hiding behind a half-baked game is a shameless cash grab.”
- “You literally copied Genshin's monetization and made it worse.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
42 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gothic tone and intricate visuals, reminiscent of titles like Bloodborne. Reviewers highlight the immersive dark fantasy setting, compelling lore, and the combination of beautiful art with a challenging gameplay experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere significantly enhances the enjoyment and engagement of players.
- “I'm a sucker for visuals and Astra is in my top 3 of the most beautiful games I've ever played, from its dark fantasy setting and atmosphere to its gorgeously intricate medieval fantasy-based characters and monsters.”
- “The game had a great, dark atmosphere and deep lore.”
- “The general atmosphere and theme are dark and gothic.”
- “General atmosphere and theme is dark and gothic.”
- “2D side-scroller RPG, dark and gory atmosphere with a horror element, and the art is mesmerizing and does justice to the atmosphere.”
- “2D side-scroller RPG, dark and gory atmosphere with a horror element, and the art is mesmerizing and does justice to the atmosphere.”
humor
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both hilarious and absurd, with a mix of dark fantasy elements and quirky British accents that enhance its comedic appeal. Players appreciate the absurdity of the plot and the inclusion of amusing achievements like "toast," though some find certain characters painfully unfunny. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the game, despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics.
- “Honestly hilarious, the game is good but the plot is hypnotically European history, and it's a vampire apocalypse for no discernible reason.”
- “This game reminds me of Genshin Impact a lot, but it's much grittier and embraces the darker side of fantasy so well. All the interactable characters have typical British accents, and there is an achievement literally called 'Toast,' which I find hilarious.”
- “The most fun and hilarious thing about the game is that with the automatic combat, you can beat 70% of the game. It's a shame that a game with so much potential was wasted.”
- “She's painfully unfunny and annoying.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be compelling, as it intertwines fun and ecstatic moments with deeper emotional experiences, enhanced by captivating graphics and storytelling.
- “I am so fascinated with the graphics, and the story is fun, ecstatic, and sometimes emotional all at once.”