ASTRAL

About

ASTRAL is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Hype ProductionZ and was released on November 26, 2018. It received neutral reviews from players.

"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, you must use a device to control these monsters and solve puzzles to reach a bunker of survivors and save humanity. The game features atmospheric music and an emphasis on exploration and examination of documents.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

50%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

ASTRAL offers a moody, atmospheric experience reminiscent of LIMBO and INSIDE, with a gripping story and engaging puzzles.
The game features a unique monster possession mechanic that adds an interesting twist to the gameplay.
It's relatively easy to achieve 100% completion, making it appealing for achievement hunters.

The game suffers from poor level design, clunky AI, and frustrating checkpoint systems that can lead to repetitive gameplay.
Controls are limited and cannot be customized, which can hinder the overall experience.
Many players found the game too short and lacking in challenge compared to its inspirations, making it feel less rewarding.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
76%
12%
The game's story is described as moody and atmospheric, with a gripping narrative that unfolds through environmental cues and collectible notes, though it struggles to reach the storytelling heights of similar titles like Limbo and Inside. While some players appreciate the thought-provoking elements and unique monster possession mechanic, others criticize the overall lack of depth and engaging characters, deeming the story almost non-existent. Ultimately, the game offers a short, intriguing experience, but many feel it falls short in delivering a compelling storyline.
- “It delivers a moody, atmospheric platformer with a gripping story, simple but engaging puzzles, and an interesting monster possession mechanic.”
- “The storytelling in Astral is revealed through the player in two ways: the first, and more traditional, way of storytelling is through cassette tapes, documents, and handwritten notes you find while exploring your environment; the second, and more creative, method of storytelling is environmental.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Nope, all story is in notes dropped around the stages.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The gameplay is characterized by a moody atmosphere and engaging puzzles, but it suffers from clunky mechanics and simplistic design, leading to mixed reviews. While some players appreciate the unique monster possession mechanic and variety in levels, others find the gameplay overly simplistic and poorly executed, with issues like rigid controls and lack of key rebinding. Overall, the experience is deemed enjoyable for those who prioritize concept over presentation, but it may not satisfy players seeking depth and polish.
- “It delivers a moody, atmospheric platformer with a gripping story, simple but engaging puzzles, and an interesting monster possession mechanic.”
- “It added some good variety to the gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “Very light on story, gameplay is just kind of okay.”
- “Clunky animations and mechanics.”
- “Otherwise, the gameplay is overly simplistic and all the issues you have from it are derived not from difficulty, but weak level design.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally described as decent, with a strong art style and atmosphere that fits the post-apocalyptic theme. However, many reviewers noted issues such as choppy animations, a fuzzy screen effect, and a lack of polish, which detracted from the overall experience. While some players appreciated the visuals, they felt that the execution was lacking, making the graphics feel static and monotonous at times.
- “Graphically it looks nice, though animations are choppy and could have used a little more level of polish.”
- “If the art style grabs your attention you might be tempted to pick this one up.”
- “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.”
- “If you need strong visuals or a game that hooks fast, you might bounce as quickly as I did.”
- “The feeling is a little blurry (from the graphics) and monotonous.”
- “The only complaint I will raise about the graphics is the screen had this fuzzy effect to it for some reason.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a moody, post-apocalyptic setting enhanced by compelling graphics and a haunting soundtrack, creating an immersive experience. Players appreciate the storytelling conveyed through environmental details and the absence of voice acting, which adds to the overall ambiance. While some find the gameplay repetitive, it aligns well with the atmospheric tone, making it a worthwhile experience for those who prioritize atmosphere in their gaming.
- “It delivers a moody, atmospheric platformer with a gripping story, simple but engaging puzzles, and an interesting monster possession mechanic.”
- “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 mechanics, which can disrupt gameplay, especially in level 6. While players can progress by reloading sections, the overall experience is marred by bugs and a lack of polish compared to other titles in the genre.
- “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%
34%
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 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%
Overall, players feel that the game's replayability is limited, primarily serving as a means to unlock achievements rather than offering a compelling reason to replay the experience. Many users express that they do not see significant value in revisiting the game after completion.
- “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 for more.”
- “The game encourages replayability with its diverse character choices and branching storylines.”
- “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.”