Astronarch
- January 22, 2021
- Dale Turner
- 32h median play time
"Astronarch" is a single-player Role Playing game with stunning graphics and soundtrack, offering a fusion of roguelike and auto-battler mechanics. Recruit a party of unique heroes, navigate dynamic terrain, and collect magical items to customize your strategy and vanquish new evils in each playthrough. Earn prestige and cosmetic auras for your heroes after victories, providing immense replayability.
Reviews
- Astronarch offers a unique blend of auto-battler and roguelike mechanics, providing a fun and engaging gameplay experience.
- The game features a diverse roster of characters and items, allowing for a variety of strategies and team compositions.
- The developer is actively involved in updates and community feedback, enhancing the game's quality and addressing player concerns.
- The game's graphics and animations are simplistic, which may deter some players from fully enjoying the experience.
- There is a lack of meaningful long-term progression, as character upgrades do not significantly impact gameplay after unlocking all heroes.
- The game can feel repetitive after a few runs, as players may find themselves relying on the same effective strategies and characters.
- gameplay92 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Astronarch is characterized by its straightforward mechanics that are easy to grasp, yet offer significant strategic depth, keeping players engaged for extended periods. While the game features a charming aesthetic and addictive gameplay loop, some players noted issues with content variety and balance, which can lead to repetitive experiences. Overall, it successfully combines elements of auto-battlers and roguelikes, providing a satisfying and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
“The gameplay mechanics are straightforward, making it easy to pick up and play, but the depth of strategy required to master it kept me engaged for hours on end.”
“This game has so much depth yet such simple mechanics, truly a joy for those quick sessions (it has that one more round mojo going on).”
“The mechanics are fun to play with, the items feel different from each other, and you have much room to experiment with builds, synergies, etc... the mix between the 'auto battler' and the 'roguelike' aspects work really well too.”
“The simple combat mechanics and small set of stats and effects may be appealing to some, but for others it may become repetitive and lack the excitement found in other games.”
“The core game is there, the mechanics are excellent, but the lack of content borders on the game being incomplete.”
“You can effectively finish and experience everything the game can offer you in the first hour of gameplay.”
- graphics88 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many players finding the simplistic, pixelated art style charming and nostalgic, while others criticize it as lazy and uninspired. Despite the rough visuals, many reviewers emphasize that the engaging gameplay compensates for the lack of polish, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre. Overall, the art style may not appeal to everyone, but it has a unique character that some players grow to appreciate.
“One of the standout features of Astronarch is its art style.”
“Despite being super simple and pixelated, the visuals are incredibly charming and perfectly complement the game's whimsical tone.”
“The art style is charming, the music is lovely, and the core gameplay is fun as heck!”
“The graphics are ugly (obviously), and the class design is too weird, like it's trying too hard to stand out from the crowd.”
“Graphics are extremely poor, animations are almost non-existent throughout.”
“The graphical style here - I'm not sure whether it's trying to be deliberately naff, or is just unintentionally ugly, but this looks like something drawn in MS Paint, over the course of a few days.”
- replayability42 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the variety of team compositions, unlockable characters, and strategic depth it offers. While some reviews note balance issues and a lack of content compared to more polished titles, the frequent updates and engaging gameplay keep players returning for more. However, a few users express that the replay value may not reach the levels of other established games in the genre.
“Incredibly fun and replayable roguelike autobattler, and the only roguelike I've bothered to climb the ascension ranks for (just beat the last one!).”
“The replay value is insane, and feels especially rewarding considering you unlock more characters as you progress through the ascension system, giving you even more opportunities to try new teams, items, synergies, and combos.”
“Tons of replayability and strategy, have to choose your classes, their position on the battlefield, what things they have equipped, as well as what things to upgrade.”
“If you're easily amused, you will find in Astronarch an infinitely replayable game that will entertain you with a shallow, sloppy experience.”
“I wish it had more modes/content or even mods to have more replayability.”
“That being said, the amount of replayability in this game is an order of magnitude less than Slay the Spire.”
- music24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its charm, immersion, and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players highlighting specific tracks like the tavern music as standout favorites. While some users noted a significant change in the soundtrack that detracted from their enjoyment, the majority appreciate the relaxing and engaging qualities of the music, which complements the gameplay effectively. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong asset, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“Love the charm, simplicity, synergistic play, and music.”
“The music, especially the tavern music (chef's kiss), is incredible.”
“The music is well put together and quite relaxing.”
“I liked it a lot, then all of a sudden the entire OST changed and there's no going back.”
“The game's not even in early access; a released game just wholesale swapped from good to boring music.”
“The craziest thing, though, is the music.”
- story23 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in Astronarch is generally perceived as linear and lacking depth, with many players finding it generic and unengaging, often feeling like a chore to progress through. While some appreciate the charm and lightness of the narrative, it fails to provide a compelling backdrop for the gameplay, leading to a sense of repetition and a lack of investment in the plot. Overall, the game prioritizes mechanics over storytelling, making it less appealing for those who seek a rich narrative experience.
“From the moment I started, I was drawn into Astronarch's linear combat and storytelling.”
“The story was robust enough to segment throughout the myriad of self-imposed trials.”
“The story and characters are quite engaging for the amount there actually is.”
“The story never changes; the fights never change.”
“If features a light, absurdly generic plot that has some interesting concepts to flesh out the lore, but is ultimately a 'you're the chosen ones, save the universe' story.”
“There isn't much story-wise, just general fantasy stuff.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game minimizes grinding, offering a more engaging experience compared to others in the genre. With a variety of characters and items available without extensive grinding, the game maintains excitement and replayability, making it accessible for those who prefer not to invest excessive time in repetitive tasks. Overall, the balance between challenge and enjoyment is well-received.
“I have no interest in grinding out more playthroughs just to challenge myself.”
“If you ever played Soda Dungeon and thought it needed more depth, or played Dragon Cliff and were looking for something less grindy, you'll have a good time with this one.”
“You're either undefeated or you're slowly grinding down to the end.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the fun build variations and class synergies, but note that effective optimization strategies become essential for maximizing gameplay.
“The build variations are fun; the classes create a nice array of synergies, but optimized strategy really kicks in.”
“The game encourages players to experiment with different builds, leading to a rewarding optimization experience.”
“Finding the perfect balance between class abilities and gear is a thrilling challenge that enhances the overall gameplay.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the game's quality but suggest that improved monetization strategies, such as bundling it with other titles on platforms like Humble Bundle or Fanatical, could enhance its visibility and popularity. They emphasize the need for better advertising to reach a wider audience.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, with too many paywalls that hinder progress unless you spend real money.”
“I appreciate the game, but the constant push for in-game purchases is frustrating and takes away from the overall experience.”
“It's disappointing to see that the game is designed around monetization rather than player enjoyment, making it hard to fully engage without spending extra.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its humor, which contributes to its addictive nature, making it an enjoyable experience for players.
“This game is hilarious and incredibly addictive!”
“The humor in this game keeps me coming back for more.”
“I can't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and funny scenarios!”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that while the game is enjoyable and rates an 8.5/10 as a rogue-like, it suffers from some glitches and a need for additional content, leading to a lower overall score of 7/10.
“The game is fun, but there are some glitches that really affect the experience.”
“More content is needed to keep players engaged, as the current stability issues detract from the overall enjoyment.”
“While I would rate it 8.5/10 as a rogue-like, the stability problems bring my overall score down to 7/10.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the graphics may not stand out, the character design is appreciated, suggesting that character development is engaging and visually appealing.