Auro: A Monster-Bumping Adventure
- April 13, 2016
- Dinofarm Games
Get on Steam"Auro: A Monster-Bumping Adventure" is a turn-based strategy game focused on "Bumping Tactics," where you guide Prince Auro through procedurally generated dungeons, using tactical spells to outmaneuver monsters and bump them off-screen. With deep gameplay, emergent complexity, and nine spells to master, Auro offers a challenging single-player campaign. This polished version, developed by Dinofarm Games, promises a unique gaming experience.
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Reviews
- Auro offers a unique and addictive gameplay experience that combines tactical depth with simple mechanics, making it easy to learn but challenging to master.
- The game features a well-designed single-player ELO system that keeps the gameplay engaging and allows players to improve their skills over time.
- The pixel art and animations are charming, and the game provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment through its strategic challenges and combo systems.
- The game suffers from a clunky user interface and lacks essential features like tooltips and intuitive controls, which can make it frustrating to learn.
- There are occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including freezing matches and unresponsive menus, which detracts from the overall experience.
- While the game is highly strategic, some players may find it too difficult or simplistic in terms of content, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
- gameplay48 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Auro is characterized by short, engaging sessions that emphasize strategic depth without unnecessary complexity or grinding. While the mechanics may initially seem simple, they offer a challenging and dynamic experience that encourages players to discover new strategies over time. Despite some bugs and a clunky UI in the PC version, the game is praised for its innovative design and user-friendly controls, making it a standout in the turn-based strategy genre.
“Auro aims to be a timeless strategy game classic like chess by focusing on a strong core mechanic.”
“The gameplay system is so novel, unique, and dynamic and I can't see myself getting tired of it any time soon.”
“Every piece, every single rule, in the game has been balanced and honed for years to make for one of the best examples we have of a well-designed gameplay system.”
“At first, the strange mechanics of the game make you feel impotent.”
“Gameplay itself is just okay.”
“Hoplite (on mobile) did the same type of gameplay better.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming pixel art and nostalgic style reminiscent of classic consoles like the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. However, others criticize the graphics as painful and uninspiring, noting a lack of variety in arenas despite a diverse range of enemy designs. Overall, while the artwork and sound are generally well-received, the graphical polish varies, particularly in the menus.
“The sound and graphics are a real treat, and do benefit from the PC platform.”
“The artwork and music are excellent and charming to boot.”
“The pixel graphics are cute and expertly drawn and animated.”
“Graphics are painful and the play is uninspiring.”
“The graphics and sound are okay, though art wise there's certainly a large variety of enemies, though unfortunately the same can't be said for arena variety.”
“The menus don't have the same graphical polish as the rest of the game, but for the £6 asking price I'm not too fussed.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as quirky and memorable, complementing the charming artwork and evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo titles. Reviewers appreciate the combination of good music with beautiful pixel art, enhancing the overall experience while contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere.
“The artwork and music are excellent and charming to boot.”
“The music is quirky, but stays with you.”
“The art style and music are very nostalgic; it feels like I'm playing a game on a Sega Genesis or Super Nintendo.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its exceptional replayability, comparable to classic games like chess and Tetris. Players appreciate the randomized elements, such as maps and monsters, which ensure that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making it a rewarding experience that can be enjoyed for years.
“Without a doubt one of the best games I have ever played, and definitely the most replayable single-player game I've come across.”
“Replayability is insane; every game has a randomized map, randomized monsters, and a random combination of spells, but always feels winnable.”
“Auro is just as replayable and continually rewarding as chess, tennis, Tetris, Go, etc. Take half an hour, learn the rules, and the game will reward you for years.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent bugs causing matches to freeze approximately every six games. This forces players to restart or quit, resulting in penalties to their ranking, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
“This game has good gameplay, but it's buggy as heck.”
“The game still experiences a bug that freezes a match every 6 or so matches.”
“When a match freezes, you have no choice but to restart or quit, which deducts points from your rank in the ranking system.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as a strong point, with characters described as lovable and hilarious, contributing to an engaging experience. The combination of humor with beautiful pixel art and good music enhances the overall enjoyment, making the game accessible yet challenging.
“Characters are lovable and hilarious.”
“With a decent, fair learning curve, beautiful pixel art, good music, and a sense of humor, it's easy to pick up, but with enough depth, variation, and challenge to keep it from getting stale.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is characterized by a high skill requirement, which means that grinding is not a necessary or prominent aspect of gameplay. This may make it less appealing to players who prefer games that involve extensive grinding for progression.
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as lacking depth and content, leading reviewers to suggest that those seeking an immersive narrative experience should look for alternatives.
