Biota

About

Biota is a single player casual platformer game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Retrovibe Games and was released on April 12, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Biota" is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game with perfect visuals and masterful music. In 21XX, command the Gemini 2 team to investigate strange events on Frontier Horizon, a mining station in an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter. Fight mutant monsters and deadly traps, and use various crafts including a mech, a sub, and a starship to survive and uncover the truth behind the mysterious "agent" biological organism.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 130 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a charming retro aesthetic with beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Gameplay is engaging with a solid core loop, allowing players to explore, switch between characters with unique abilities, and enjoy a variety of environments and enemies.
The ability to change color palettes adds a fun customization element, and the save system allows for convenient progress management.

Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, particularly with wall jumping and shooting mechanics, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
Some vehicle sections and certain gameplay mechanics, like hidden collectibles behind indistinguishable walls, can detract from the overall experience.
The game lacks a true metroidvania structure, as progression is often linear and reliant on purchasing items rather than gaining new abilities.

gameplay
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The gameplay is characterized by a solid core loop of exploration, item purchasing, and character switching, enhanced by appealing visuals and music. While the platforming mechanics are generally smooth and enjoyable, some alternate gameplay segments, like vehicle sections, received mixed reviews, with certain mechanics feeling inconsistent or frustrating. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a good balance of challenge and variety, though minor control issues detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The general gameplay loop of exploring, teleporting back, and buying items is great, and each character's unique weapons and subweapons make you constantly want to keep switching between them.”
- “The mechanics are intuitive yet deep, allowing for satisfying exploration, strategic decision-making, and thrilling combat encounters.”
- “Gameplay is quick, fluid, and varied.”
- “Vehicle segments were a bit hit-or-miss; I enjoyed the spaceship bits, but the submarine wasn't particularly fun, and the mech was fine but only iterated on the gameplay towards the end of its segment.”
- “While the overall graphical, sound, and gameplay design meet and in many cases exceed expectations, there are too many problems with the controls and mechanics of the game which make it a chore to play.”
- “There are frustrating inconsistencies in the game's mechanics: sometimes you don't shoot, sometimes you can't wall jump, and after a wall jump, releasing left/right doesn't slow you down.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
36%
7%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their charming retro aesthetic, reminiscent of the Game Boy Color era, with vibrant pixel art and customizable color palettes that enhance the visual experience. Players appreciate the stunning visuals and how they complement the game's storytelling and overall atmosphere, making it a standout in the indie scene. While some noted minor visibility issues due to the limited color scheme, the overall artistic design and nostalgic appeal have been highlighted as major strengths.
- “The aesthetic of the game is brilliant, and since I love retro games, I enjoy a lot the game and the fact that the palettes will constantly rotate to always feel fresh.”
- “Graphically, the game is also very nice and a great ode to the 8-bit era. The few colors in the game quickly give you a classic Game Boy Color impression, and I think this is great.”
- “The graphics are highly customizable, with 24 color palettes available from the start, with a further 30 to unlock while playing.”
- “Graphics are 4 colors and the game allows you to choose your favorite palette, which is nice.”
- “Sound, graphics and story are serviceable.”
- “While the overall graphical, sound, and gameplay design meet and in many cases exceed expectations, there are too many problems with the controls and mechanics of the game which make it a chore to play.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
35%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its captivating and nostalgic chiptune soundtrack, which complements the retro pixel art style beautifully. Reviewers highlight the variety in the music, with unique tracks for different bosses and levels, although some note that certain tracks can become repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is described as energetic, fitting the game's atmosphere perfectly, and is considered one of its standout features.
- “The music and atmosphere are captivating, and the ability to customize the color palette to suit your preferences is a thoughtful touch.”
- “The gorgeous pixel art really pops on screen and the chiptune synth soundtrack perfectly accompanies the old-school Game Boy feel.”
- “Offers a challenging metroidvania experience wrapped up in an old-school retro Game Boy aesthetic with solid controller support, fun story campaign, and a rock'n chiptune soundtrack to boot!”
- “The main positive of the game is really just the music.”
- “Music is maddening.”
- “The retro inspired soundtrack is also present and every boss has his own music.”
story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
53%
12%
The story is a blend of cliche yet enjoyable elements, featuring corrupt megacorps and 80s action hero tropes, with a charming retro aesthetic. While some reviews note that the narrative is not deeply engaging, it offers multiple endings and player choices that enhance replayability. Overall, the story is described as simple but effective, providing a fun backdrop for the gameplay experience.
- “It has very well done pixel art and a cliché but fun story about corrupt megacorps and the 80s action heroes that are here to shoot bugs and save the day.”
- “Throughout my journey, I was faced with numerous decisions that had a tangible impact on the story and world around me.”
- “The story is teeming with 80s nostalgia with players taking control of 1 of 8 characters that resemble the badass military heroes of the era.”
- “The story barely exists.”
- “Sound, graphics and story are serviceable.”
- “The story is brief, simple, but quite charming, absolutely capturing that retro feel.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Players find the game highly replayable due to its diverse movesets, meaningful choices that enhance investment in outcomes, and additional modes like a shooting gallery and speedrun. The engaging gameplay, tight controls, and customizable options further contribute to its appeal, making it a solid choice for those seeking an immersive experience.
- “These choices made me feel truly invested in the outcome of the game, adding layers of depth and replayability that kept me coming back for more.”
- “I suppose this could add to replay value if playing through the same game with a different moveset.”
- “Additionally, the game includes extra modes such as a shooting gallery and a speedrun mode, which enhance its replayability.”
- “Hits all the right notes for anyone looking for an immersive retro world with lots of character and replayability.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the need to gather currency for keys can be tedious, the respawning enemies and chests provide opportunities for farming. However, the latter parts of the game are criticized for being overly gimmicky and frustrating, leading to a lack of motivation for post-game content.
- “The grinding can feel a bit repetitive at times, but it also provides a rewarding sense of progression.”
- “While the game has its grindy moments, the experience is balanced with engaging gameplay and meaningful rewards.”
- “Grinding may take some time, but it ultimately enhances the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of leveling up.”
- “Because you don't know the order to buy the keys when you find the vendors, it could be tedious to have to ensure you always have enough currency to buy whatever key you run into.”
- “Plus the back half of the game is overloaded with tedious gimmick segments which tried my patience and put me in a bad mood, leaving me with no desire to try the post-game.”
- “This includes items needed to progress, which means grinding for currency to obtain them.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating music and immersive sci-fi elements, reminiscent of classic alien films. Additionally, the option to customize the color palette enhances the overall experience, making it more engaging for players.
- “The music and atmosphere are captivating, and the ability to customize the color palette to suit your preferences is a thoughtful touch.”
- “The game is very interesting and atmospheric.”
- “Let me start by saying that the sci-fi atmosphere reminds me of alien movies mixed with A-Team.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional investment in the game, highlighting how the mechanics can lead to frustration but ultimately enhance their engagement and replayability. The challenges faced evoke a sense of attachment to the game's outcomes, making the experience feel more immersive and meaningful.
- “These choices made me feel truly invested in the outcome of the game, adding layers of depth and replayability that kept me coming back for more.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's humor is characterized by the juxtaposition of tough, weapon-wielding heroes and their unexpectedly humorous dialogues, creating a comedic contrast that enhances the overall experience.
- “The heroes of the game are real tough guys with huge weapons and hilarious dialogues.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game balances intense action with lighthearted moments that always catch me off guard.”