Astral Flux

About

Astral Flux is a single player arcade platformer game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Cosmocat and was released on October 28, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Astral Flux is an action-platformer with roguelite elements. Join two scrappers who are lost in space and find themselves caught up in an intergalactic mystery. Traverse hostile alien planets, discover dark secrets, and face powerful foes in combat. Death is inevitable, but it’s only the beginning. Carve a new path forward using the knowledge from your previous attempts. You’ll need to sharpen you…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

graphics2 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features charming graphics with a vibrant color palette, enhancing the overall aesthetic experience.
Controls are smooth and responsive, making the platforming mechanics enjoyable and engaging.
The game offers a fun and challenging experience, with a mix of roguelite elements and replayability that keeps players coming back for more.

The oxygen mechanic creates a frustrating gameplay experience, as it serves as a strict timer that can lead to instant death without fair opportunities to manage it.
Level design can be random and maze-like, making it difficult to find necessary oxygen refills, which can lead to unfair deaths.
The game lacks significant roguelite features and permanent progression, resulting in limited replay value and a feeling of emptiness in the gameplay loop.

gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay features solid platforming mechanics and an oxygen system that adds a layer of challenge to exploration, reminiscent of the ghost timer from Spelunky but more user-friendly. While the art design and overall vibe are praised, some players feel the game lacks sufficient rogue-lite elements, making it less compelling compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable but may not meet the expectations of those seeking a deeper rogue-lite experience.
- “The oxygen mechanic here is a bit more useful because you do have an oxygen bar, so you can see how far along you are, and you do also have the ability to recharge oxygen during the run (extend the timer).”
- “Really good art design, some exceptionally crispy platforming mechanics, and just a really nice vibe overall.”
- “The platforming is solid, and the oxygen mechanic serves as a way of making thorough exploration challenging.”
- “What I really don't enjoy about this game is the oxygen mechanic.”
- “If you ever played Spelunky, you are familiar with the ghost timer, which was probably the least popular mechanic from that game.”
- “I think the gameplay is fine, if this was a cheap casual platformer I would have no problems with it, but you had to make it a rogue-lite with nearly no rogue-lite elements, literally 1/10 of what most indies will offer.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics in the game are highly praised for their vibrant, saturated color palette and retro style, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- “Love the graphics and the general feel, especially the saturated color palette.”
- “I love the atmosphere and graphics in Astral Flux!”
- “The graphics are retro and the sounds are ambient.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate its roguelike elements that enhance replay value, others feel it lacks sufficient content and features, such as loop modifiers and post-game options, to encourage multiple playthroughs. Suggestions for improvement include adding more upgrade variety and a hub progress system to enhance the overall experience.
- “Features some roguelike elements, great for replayability.”
- “I would say start with adding some type of post-game replay value like loop modifiers, add a bit more upgrade and event variety, maybe some type of hub progress, and if you do enough of that it would be decent.”
- “I played this game for 1.4 hours, which is the entire experience. There is no replay value in terms of unlocking new features or new difficulty modifiers. I missed 2 achievements, and that is about it.”
- “(x) needs more replay value; consider adding loop modifiers.”
- “I would suggest starting with adding some type of post-game replay value, like loop modifiers. Adding a bit more upgrade and event variety, and maybe some type of hub progress, could make it decent.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is praised for enhancing the atmosphere and adding emotional weight, particularly when players experience a shift in tunes upon dying. While the pixel art and gameplay mechanics are also well-received, some users express a desire for more options to customize audio settings.
- “I'm really enjoying the music; it's kind of sad that when I die, the maps change the music. So when you get locked into a certain tune and then die, it makes it that much more painful.”
- “Great pixel art, good action/controls, and the music and sound add a nice atmosphere and pressure to the game.”
- “I wish there was a basic options menu where I could adjust settings like windowed mode and music/SFX volume.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The story unfolds dynamically during gameplay, which many users find engaging, although some note that there is no traditional narrative structure.
- “During the gameplay, the story develops, and that's a cool part.”
- “There is no story to speak of.”
- “The narrative is completely absent.”
- “The game lacks any meaningful storyline.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its impressive pixel art, engaging action and controls, and a compelling soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a sense of pressure and immersion. Players particularly enjoy the combination of graphics and music, contributing to a captivating ambiance.
- “Great pixel art, good action/controls, and the music and sound add a nice atmosphere and pressure to the game.”
- “I love the atmosphere and graphics in Astral Flux!”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, akin to needing a second life to complete it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”