ASTRAL

About

"ASTRAL" is a 2D puzzle-based game set in a post-apocalyptic world where 95% of the population has mutated into monsters. As a survivor with immunity to the epidemic, you must navigate through dangerous environments, solve puzzles, and control monsters to reach a bunker of survivors and save humanity. The game features atmospheric music and intriguing documents to discover along the way.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

50%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features a unique mind-control mechanic that adds an interesting twist to the gameplay.
The graphics, while not groundbreaking, are adequate and create a fitting atmosphere for the game's post-apocalyptic setting.
The game is reasonably priced, especially during sales, making it a decent option for fans of the genre looking for a short experience.

The gameplay is overly simplistic and lacks the depth and challenge found in similar titles like Limbo and Inside.
There are numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt the experience, including issues with monster AI and timing mechanics.
The story is weak and relies heavily on notes and documents rather than effective environmental storytelling, leading to a less engaging narrative.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
75%
13%
The game's story is described as lacking depth and engagement compared to similar titles like Limbo and Inside, relying heavily on scattered notes and environmental cues rather than cohesive narrative elements. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and find the experience thought-provoking, many feel the overall plot is minimal and uninteresting, detracting from the gameplay. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a mixed bag, with potential that remains largely unfulfilled.
- “The storytelling in Astral is revealed through the player in two ways: the first, and more traditional, way is through cassette tapes, documents, and handwritten notes you find while exploring your environment.”
- “The second, and more creative, method of storytelling is environmental. Levels will scroll by fast as you complete easy quests and puzzles, but if you pay attention to the background, you will notice a lot.”
- “The environment is full of inaccessible corridors, items, NPCs, and such – all that create atmosphere and tell a story that serve as minor puzzle keys for Astral’s jigsaw story.”
- “On the one hand, a very well put together indie game; on the other, it tries to reach background storytelling like Limbo but falls short. It's worth a play for a short thought-provoking experience, but I wouldn't classify it as horror.”
- “It's style is very similar to Limbo and Inside, but it fails to capture the same level of storytelling those games do.”
- “The level designs are sub-par, the story is almost non-existent; just about every aspect of the game is uninteresting or not fun.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
63%
16%
The graphics of the game are generally appealing, featuring a strong art style and a fitting post-apocalyptic atmosphere, but they suffer from issues such as choppy animations, a fuzzy screen effect, and a lack of polish. While some players appreciate the depth and color palette, others find the visuals to be static and monotonous, with room for improvement in character and creature animations. Overall, the graphics are deemed adequate but could benefit from more refinement and variety.
- “If the art style grabs your attention, you might be tempted to pick this one up.”
- “The atmosphere and the graphics side of the game is post-apocalyptic.”
- “I thought the art style and color palette were good, as well as the overall tone they were going for in a bleak post-apocalyptic world.”
- “The feeling is a little blur and monotonous.”
- “The graphics of the movements of the beasts should be better, and I think the same applies to the hero too.”
- “The only complaint I will raise about the graphics is that the screen had this fuzzy effect to it for some reason.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it overly simplistic and clunky, suffering from poor mechanics and weak level design. While some appreciated the variety of environments and found the experience engaging, others criticized it for lacking depth and being riddled with glitches. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a basic and sometimes frustrating experience, with limited enjoyment derived from its execution.
- “It added some good variety to the gameplay.”
- “The story was worth playing through to see and the gameplay to do so was mostly fun.”
- “The gameplay consists of walking left-to-right and up-and-down across a variety of levels including a military laboratory, a mine, a forest, and a small town, among other locales.”
- “Clunky animations and mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is overly simplistic, and the issues stem not from difficulty, but from weak level design.”
- “The overall mechanics are somewhat poor, and the game is glitchy.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
27%
27%
The game's atmosphere is heavily praised for its post-apocalyptic setting, enhanced by striking graphics and a compelling soundtrack. Players appreciate the "show don't tell" approach, which, combined with the absence of voice acting, deepens the immersive experience. The environment is intricately designed, filled with elements that contribute to storytelling and puzzle-solving, making it a standout in atmospheric gaming.
- “Everything is explained through 'show don't tell' and the lack of voice acting makes the game that much more atmospheric.”
- “The atmosphere and the graphics side of the game is post-apocalyptic.”
- “The environment is full of inaccessible corridors, items, NPCs, and such – all that create atmosphere and tell a story that serve as minor puzzle keys for Astral’s jigsaw story.”
- “If the game developers just focused on the atmosphere, setting, and story (make this a sort of side-scrolling walking simulator) and charged around 3-5 euros for it, then I think people would be a lot more understanding and satisfied with the experience.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, particularly with timing glitches and monster spawn problems, which can hinder gameplay, especially in level 6. While players can sometimes progress by reloading sections, the overall experience is marred by these bugs, leading to a perception of the game as uninspired compared to better alternatives.
- “Timing issues and monster spawn glitches.”
- “Major timing glitches with the game. Trying to control monsters in time seems to be bugged at times, especially in level 6 outskirts; one monster takes 5 seconds to take control, while the next takes 8-9 seconds.”
- “It's not a terrible game; it's just rather buggy and uninspired, and there are games out there that do this sort of thing much better.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game is generally appreciated for its contribution to the atmosphere, but some players find it overly loud and bass-heavy, which can overshadow the dialogue.
- “The game has many advantages: music, atmosphere, graphics, and many interesting tests!”
- “The music was decent but felt a little too loud and full of bass, often drowning out the dialogue when it was on.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Many users express that the game lacks significant replayability, noting that the primary incentive to replay is to achieve 100% completion or unlock all achievements, rather than a compelling reason to experience the game again.
- “The replay value is significant, as there are multiple paths and endings to explore.”
- “Each playthrough offers a unique experience, making you want to dive back in and try different choices.”
- “The game encourages replayability with its diverse character builds and strategies.”
- “Replay value - although I didn't finish the game, I don't see any replay value except to get all the achievements.”
- “Replay value - although I didn't finish the game, I don't see any replay value except to get all the achievements.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, while there are some optimization issues reported, the general performance of the game is considered satisfactory.
- “There are problems with optimization, but in general everything is fine.”