Cashtronauts
- August 31, 2016
- Simon Prefontaine
Get on Steam"Cashtronauts" is a local multi-player action game featuring single-player and PvP modes with a split screen. The objective is to accumulate wealth in an alternate universe ruled by capitalist dinosaurs through various activities such as bounty hunting, piracy, smuggling, or mining. As you progress, you can unlock Risks that introduce new challenges and dangers, but also grant bonus income. The game features unique space combat and trading gameplay with a stealthy raptor pirate threat and the potential for mammalian competition.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Cashtronauts offers a fun and addictive gameplay loop, where players can enjoy collecting money and unlocking new risks that enhance the experience.
- The game features charming low-poly graphics and a catchy soundtrack, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
- Local co-op support adds to the fun, allowing players to enjoy the game together, making it a great choice for casual gaming sessions.
- The game suffers from a lack of content, with limited ships and a single map, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness after a short playtime.
- Progression can feel slow and grindy, with some mechanics, like purchasing fuel and ammo, being cumbersome and time-consuming.
- Many players feel that the game is more of a demo than a full experience, as it lacks depth and variety in gameplay mechanics.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a solid basic loop enhanced by a unique risk system that introduces new mechanics and challenges, such as civilian transport ships and invisibility cloaks for enemies. While some players appreciate the depth and fun added by these risks, others feel that the overall gameplay mechanics are limited and not particularly engaging. The game successfully combines elements of twin-stick shooters with a roguelike progression, offering a mix of challenge and reward.
“The game features a risk system which changes gameplay in various ways while also increasing the profit earned on each run you do.”
“There are 10 risks at the moment that change the gameplay significantly; these risks can sometimes make the game more challenging by increasing enemy health/damage but also increasing the amount of gold dropped, or will spawn random items around space that you can find and destroy for a big amount of mixed loot.”
“Overall, I think Cashtronauts takes the twin-stick shooter in a challenging and fun direction, and the risk mechanic adds a nice depth to the gameplay.”
“There just isn't much there in the way of gameplay mechanics, and what is there isn't much fun.”
“We've all played twin-stick shooters before, so we know that aspect of gameplay.”
“It's the mechanics built around the shooter.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a charming low-poly, cartoony style that many find appealing, though some users feel the visuals can become repetitive and the backgrounds lack detail. Despite their simplicity, the game struggles to perform well on older hardware, which is surprising given the graphical demands. Overall, the graphics are described as clean and enjoyable, complementing the game's fun atmosphere.
“The low poly cartoony graphics are nice and charming.”
“Cute graphics.”
“Clean graphical look.”
“The visuals are decent for what they are, but they get old fast, especially the lazy background with distorted square shapes.”
“I've had more graphically intense games run a lot better on my old laptop, while this game seems to struggle, even with the simplistic graphics.”
“The graphics are charming, but they lack depth and variety.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its catchy and retro 8-bit style that enhances the overall experience. However, some players note that the limited number of tracks can lead to fatigue by the end of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing positively to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
“Music will put a beat in your step.”
“Love the soundtrack, game mechanics, and the very special controls (Xbox controller).”
“The music is perfect for the game; it really is a lot of fun.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from low replayability due to its lack of memorable content, a weak plot, and significant bugs that disrupt gameplay balance, such as an exploit that generates excessive in-game currency. Additionally, sudden difficulty spikes contribute to player frustration, further diminishing the incentive to replay. Overall, players find the experience lacking in depth and variety.
“I had my fun and it is sort of a decent twin-stick freelancer, but it has no replayability, has major flaws, and is not terribly memorable with no plot, and only the dinosaur theme for the ships for flavor.”
“Also, you'll probably run into a bug that causes you to start generating ridiculous amounts of cash, which basically breaks the game and kills any replayability that may have been left.”
“Little replay value and sudden difficulty jumps only add to the frustration with a game that sounds like it would be fun.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with some expressing a desire to stop due to the perceived lack of progression and the feeling that they are nearing a limit.
“The ceiling is near, and knowing this already makes me want to stop grinding.”
“Grindy.”
