Astroloco: Worst Contact
- March 10, 2016
- Hungry Planet Games
Get on Steam"Astroloco: Worst Contact" is a space-themed adventure game with classic 90's gameplay, drawing inspiration from titles like Space Quest, Monkey Island, and Day of the Tentacle. The game features epic train battles in space, witty and humorous writing, and two playable characters. It boasts fully voiced dialogue, with the option to turn it off, and promises a unique blend of comedy and action.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features witty British humor and well-written dialogue that elicits genuine laughs.
- The pixel art style, while simplistic, adds charm to the game and complements its comedic tone.
- Puzzle design is engaging and the game is easy to learn, making it accessible for casual players.
- The game is short, with a playtime of around three hours, leaving players wanting more content.
- Graphics and character sprites are considered poor, even for a game with a comedic focus.
- Some puzzles feel flat and the overall experience can come off as episodic and unfinished.
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring a few standout moments and clever jokes, such as the IKEA assembly gag and commentary on modern issues, but overall it feels inconsistent and sometimes convoluted. While some players found the humor entertaining and effective in lightening tedious tasks, others noted that the self-aware jokes and voice acting lacked polish, leading to a flat experience for some. The humor's political slant may not resonate with everyone, but it does have its share of amusing moments that can elicit genuine laughter.
“It is fairly humorous, voice acting is clearly homemade but entertaining.”
“The IKEA assembly joke was fairly funny.”
“Its main goal seems to be humor, and it made me laugh a lot so it's done its job!”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a pleasant absurdity and self-aware humor, offering a lighthearted narrative about a mechanic and a pilot, though it may come off as convoluted and confusing at times. While the story is fun and engaging, it lacks depth and can feel audiovisually poor, with puzzles that are generally easy but occasionally frustrating. Overall, it provides a quirky experience without overwhelming players with forced humor.
“The pleasant absurdity of the story and situations, void of shoving obnoxious hilarity down your throat, is a refreshingly yummy treat here.”
“It's story-heavy and the puzzles aren't particularly taxing, although I did get stuck at one point because an obstacle wasn't really an obstacle.”
“The story is convoluted and fails to engage the player, making it hard to stay invested.”
“The characters lack depth and development, leaving the narrative feeling flat and uninteresting.”
“The pacing of the story is inconsistent, with long stretches of dull dialogue that detract from the overall experience.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by charming pixel art that evokes nostalgia, with some users appreciating the simplicity reminiscent of 16-bit visuals, even if they are rendered in a 32-bit style. Overall, the graphics are seen as endearing and fitting for the game's aesthetic.
“I can live with the MS Paint graphics, especially given the charm of the pixel art.”
“Best 16-bit graphics that 32-bit can render.”
“The graphics look outdated and lack detail, making the game feel less immersive.”
“The character models are poorly designed and the animations are stiff, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, failing to capture the player's interest.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a witty British point-and-click style, blending humor with space-themed elements such as pirates and trains. Players engage in a lighthearted narrative centered around a mechanic and a pilot, enriched by quirky interactions and pixel art.
“Witty British point-and-click misadventure featuring space mechanics, space pirates, space trains, and space train drivers.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The stability of the game, developed using the AGS engine, has been a point of concern for users, with reports indicating various troubleshooting issues. Overall, players have experienced some instability that may affect gameplay.
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the immersion.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay and hinder progress.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been noted for featuring elements that seem to be borrowed from another point-and-click title, Kyrandia, leading to a perception of a lack of originality in its soundtrack.
“I recognize some in-game music being chopped from the track of another point-and-click game (Kyrandia).”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the inclusion of slight humor in the game alleviates the tedium of grinding, making otherwise repetitive tasks more enjoyable.
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, as the onboard computer delivers information in a monotonous and unemotional tone, which detracts from the overall emotional engagement of the experience.
