Astra Protocol 2

About

Astra Protocol 2 is a single player open world simulation game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Slice Bar and was released on December 1, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

In "Astra Protocol 2," pilot a spaceship through a cassette futurism world, using text commands and a 1980s interface to navigate celestial bodies, monitor ship status, scan for survivors, defend against hostiles, and solve the mystery of the Astra Protocol. Command the spaceship's helm, engineering, science, and ordnance modules to complete your mission. This immersive space adventure offers a unique blend of text-based gameplay and detailed space exploration.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

humor2 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Astra Protocol 2 offers a unique and immersive experience that captures the retro-futuristic aesthetic and the complexity of operating a spacecraft through a text-driven interface.
The game rewards players who enjoy methodical problem-solving and technical depth, providing a strong sense of competence and immersion as they learn to navigate its systems.
Players appreciate the atmospheric tension and procedural gameplay, which creates a sense of isolation and uncertainty that enhances the overall experience.

The steep learning curve and lack of tutorials can make the game feel inaccessible and overwhelming, discouraging players from fully engaging with its systems.
The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious due to the need to constantly type commands, which some players find frustrating and cumbersome.
Performance issues, such as slow frame rates and clunky controls, detract from the overall experience, making it difficult for players to enjoy the game as intended.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay of Astra Protocol 2 emphasizes manual ship operation through a complex system of commands, reminiscent of early computer simulations and tabletop games, which may appeal to players who enjoy atmospheric tension and procedural mechanics. However, the parser-based system can lead to frustration due to typos and the repetitive nature of commands, while the clunky ship handling and unclear enemy interactions detract from the experience. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic yet challenging gameplay experience that may not resonate with those seeking fast-paced action or clear guidance.
- “Gameplay revolves around manually operating your ship through a suite of specialized modules, each responsible for a different system.”
- “This design philosophy evokes the experience of early computer simulations and tabletop sci-fi, where mastery came from understanding rules and systems rather than mastering reflex-based mechanics.”
- “Mechanically, Astra Protocol 2 offers impressive depth beneath its spartan presentation.”
- “The minute-to-minute gameplay consists of typing commands, but having to constantly type out every command can feel tedious.”
- “The parser-based gameplay means you'll sometimes make a typo and you'll have to scramble to retype it under pressure, which adds to the tension but can be frustrating.”
- “When I first found it, I thought it was going to be perfect for some nostalgia and deep gameplay, but it won't even give me the information I need to get started.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game's graphics are a striking homage to cassette-futurism, featuring monochrome displays and vector-style visuals that evoke the early 80s computing era. This retro aesthetic, characterized by text-driven gameplay and data-heavy interfaces, successfully immerses players in a nostalgic experience reminiscent of old terminals. Overall, the visual design is praised as a standout element that enhances the game's unique charm.
- “Visually, the game commits fully to its cassette-futurism aesthetic.”
- “What an absolute gem of a game, the aesthetic of 'early computers put to use in serious situations' is totally nailed here and after playing for two hours so far I have barely scratched the surface and I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth in more.”
- “The interface is dominated by monochrome displays, vector-style graphics, and data-heavy readouts that resemble old terminals more than modern cockpits.”
- “Old-school vector graphics, completely text-driven gameplay, and you'll actually need to read the manual.”
- “This brings me back to the early 80's when I had a Hercules graphics card.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The story unfolds as a complex survival mission that evolves from a simple search-and-rescue into a deeper exploration of the mysterious "astra protocol," conveyed through mission context and environmental storytelling rather than traditional narrative methods. Players navigate a calm yet chaotic atmosphere, piecing together information from logs and their surroundings to uncover the truth behind a distress beacon of unknown origin. The understated narrative creates a tense experience, blending elements of exploration and interpretation.
- “You can scan your surroundings for objects, target those objects (planets, moons, spaceships, space lifeforms, asteroids, space mines, etc.) and scan them for information as your mission is to find leads which can help you to discover the meaning of the Astra Protocol, which is an unknown event referred to by a space object - inspection determined it is a distress beacon - from unspecified origin.”
- “The narrative is understated and largely conveyed through mission context, logs, and the situations you encounter rather than overt storytelling.”
- “What initially sounds like a straightforward search-and-rescue mission quickly becomes a tense exercise in survival, navigation, and interpretation of incomplete data.”
- “Feels like a zen koan; everything is so calm, spooky, and at the same time stressful and chaotic, and the mission goals feel almost impossible to accomplish.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its effective sound design, featuring functional audio cues and subtle ambient noise that prioritize immersion and tension over cinematic drama. While this approach creates a rich, atmospheric experience for players who enjoy procedural gameplay, it may feel tedious for those seeking constant action or narrative progression.
- “Sound design complements this approach with functional audio cues, subtle ambient noise, and restrained effects that emphasize feedback and atmosphere rather than cinematic drama.”
- “This rhythm enhances immersion for players who appreciate atmospheric tension and procedural gameplay, but it can feel tedious or opaque to those accustomed to constant action or narrative momentum.”
- “How is the game so atmospheric?”
- “The sound design complements this approach with functional audio cues, subtle ambient noise, and restrained effects that emphasize feedback and atmosphere rather than cinematic drama.”
- “The overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I was hoping for.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is marred by repetitive environments and a lack of engaging visual storytelling.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game enhances immersion through atmospheric tension and procedural gameplay, appealing to those who enjoy a slower pace. However, it can also feel tedious or unclear for those who prefer continuous action or a strong narrative drive.
- “The grinding in this game feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the grinding to be a major chore, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The constant need to grind for resources becomes frustrating and takes away from the fun.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a cheeky, tongue-in-cheek style that complements its unique premise, though it often feels overshadowed by a frustrating interface. Players appreciate the comedic elements, but the execution can detract from the overall experience.
- “There is an interesting spaceship simulator hidden beneath the uncompromising interface and cheek-in-cheek humor.”
- “The premise is cool but it runs hilariously badly.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers surprising depth and replayability, encouraging players to return for new experiences and challenges.
- “It has a depth and replayability that you perhaps might not expect.”