Astral Heroes
- October 19, 2016
- Apus Software
- 8h median play time
Get on SteamAstral Heroes is a Collectible Card Game that's simple to learn, exciting to play, and deep enough to challenge even the greatest strategists. It's the spiritual sequel to our older game, Astral Masters, which still enjoys a loyal following over ten years after its release!
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a fun and engaging core gameplay loop, making it enjoyable to play despite its flaws.
- It has a solid design with good balance and interesting skills, appealing to fans of collectible card games.
- The game is accessible for players with lower-end devices and offers a decent single-player campaign.
- The game suffers from a pay-to-win model, making it difficult for free-to-play players to compete effectively.
- There is a low player population, leading to long wait times for matches and a lack of competitive play.
- Progression can be extremely slow and frustrating, with players losing experience points upon defeat, hindering advancement.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Astral Heroes" is characterized by a fun core loop and accessible mechanics, drawing comparisons to other card-battle games like Spectromancer and Hearthstone. While the campaign mode is engaging and well-structured, some players find the gameplay frustrating due to its grindy nature and certain archaic rules. Overall, the game offers a unique experience with balanced cards, but it may lack the addictive quality and depth that some players seek.
“The core gameplay loop of Astral Heroes is fun and there is no denying that.”
“The fast-paced gameplay and non-pay-to-win style will provide you with hours of fun.”
“Excellent campaign mode: it is both fun and explains the game mechanics well, and has a good mix between repeating cards and introducing you to new cards.”
“However, this mechanic either didn't exist or was extremely well hidden.”
“An excellent card-battle game only hampered by some archaic gameplay rules.”
“The macrogame systems are truly bizarre, with the deck construction being based around point values for each card, a lot of which seem to make little sense and some weird mechanics about upgrading your deck capacity which I found off-putting.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring a single-player campaign with engaging quests and a focus on character interactions, particularly among undead creatures. However, players express frustration with the level-based progression system that requires grinding in multiplayer to advance, often feeling locked out of story content. Overall, while the narrative is compelling, it is somewhat hindered by the game's mechanics and pacing.
“The AI is very smart, allowing you to finish quests and earn more points for your deck while discovering which creatures support each other, especially on the undead side.”
“There is a single-player campaign with daily missions, including several at the start to help you get familiar with the game, but it's fair to say that multiplayer is the core of the experience.”
“This game is fast and easy to learn, featuring a full story campaign that you have to battle through.”
“I was stuck playing these random and repeatable missions unless I took my incoherent mess of a deck into PvP.”
“Story locks you out based on level and forces you to grind in league to level up in order to progress.”
“You gain nothing from a loss and actually lose XP, further slowing your attempt to work through the story.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally described as calming and supportive of gameplay, enhancing the overall experience without overwhelming the player. While some users noted that the graphics could be lacking, they appreciated the focus on tactical gameplay over flashy visuals. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to a less stressful and more enjoyable gaming atmosphere.
“Visuals, sound, and game design all complement each other and create a solid experience, which is surprisingly rare these days.”
“The whole game feels just more fun and less stressful than other games, mainly due to the soft graphics and sound.”
“Graphics and calm ambient which is still meaningful and not boring, but allows you to focus on the tactics, not fireworks and jingles every single step.”
“The graphics suck but the gameplay is fun.”
“The whole game feels just more fun and less stressful than other games mainly due to the soft graphics and sound.”
“Graphics: 7”
- grinding6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; some enjoy it as part of their experience, while others find it excessively tedious and unfulfilling. Many express frustration with the AI's seemingly unfair advantages and the lack of meaningful rewards, leading to a perception that grinding is merely a way to prolong gameplay without adding depth.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“This game is incredibly grindy; all your AI enemies have incredibly meta decks (even the beginner daily quests, mind you). I'm pretty sure the AI controls its card draw, even going as far as to pull wins out of nowhere, and it's incredibly bad with money.”
“It's just a tedious process that serves no actual purpose but to keep you playing more.”
“Maybe there's a lot more depth to it than I encountered in my limited playtime, but I frankly have no incentive to find out because the game was just so tedious.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as soothing and nostalgic, perfectly complementing its old-school high fantasy setting. While some find it a bit repetitive, it remains non-intrusive and enjoyable enough that players often choose to keep it on. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere without overwhelming the gameplay experience.
“The music is very soothing, and the old-school high fantasy setting is nostalgic.”
“The music is nice and relaxing, even if it is a bit repetitive; however, it is not intrusive and this isn't an issue.”
“I usually turn off music in games I play, but not in this case (at least not yet).”
- monetization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a free-to-play model with reasonable in-game monetization, though players aiming for leaderboard positions may need to spend money. While there are no ads and the game features a well-balanced experience with diverse gameplay options, the presence of microtransactions can create a competitive edge for paying players.
“The price is right at free, and the in-game monetization isn't too bad, but if you want to be on the leaderboards, you're going to have to spend money.”
“There are no ads, it has great balance (from what I can tell, at ~30 hours invested), limitless deck options, intelligent AI, an abundance of cards and strategies with them... guilds are brilliant and easy to use and join, and include a variety of new ways to play once you're in one (caravans are dope).”
“A worse version of Spectromancer, plus microtransactions.”
“The monetization model is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by soothing music that enhances the nostalgic feel of the old-school high fantasy setting, creating an immersive experience for players.
“The music is very soothing, and the old-school high fantasy setting is nostalgic.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of another world.”
“Every detail, from the ambient sounds to the visual design, creates a captivating and enchanting environment.”
