Comet 64

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 131 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • optimization
Comet 64 Game Cover
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Comet 64 is a 3D platformer game that follows the adventure of a robot named Onuray. Onuray must collect cassette tapes scattered across various levels to restore his spaceship and return home. With challenging gameplay and nostalgic visuals, Comet 64 offers a fun and engaging experience for players.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 131 reviews
graphics5 positive mentions
story10 negative mentions
  • The game features great visuals and a nostalgic retro aesthetic that many players appreciate.
  • It offers a unique programming challenge that can be addictive for those who enjoy problem-solving and optimization.
  • The user interface is intuitive and well-designed, making it easy for players to navigate and understand the programming tasks.
  • The programming language has frustrating limitations and inconsistencies that can hinder the coding experience, such as mandatory semicolons and restricted data type operations.
  • There is a lack of a compelling narrative or engaging story, making the gameplay feel disconnected and less rewarding.
  • Many puzzles are considered too simplistic or poorly designed, leading to a lack of challenge and creativity in problem-solving.
  • story23 mentions

    The game's story is largely absent, with many reviewers noting that it consists solely of a series of disconnected programming puzzles without any narrative or thematic cohesion. While some elements hint at a historical context, they do not contribute to a compelling experience, leaving players feeling unengaged and uninterested in completing the tasks. Overall, the lack of a meaningful story or character development is a significant drawback compared to similar games that offer more narrative depth.

    • “Zachtronics games at least have some story and/or humor.”
    • “The tasks in TIS-100 and Shenzhen I/O are, of course, also just programming/engineering tasks, but they are knitted together by just a little sliver of a story element, which is just so much more compelling to me.”
    • “This seems like a narrowly missed opportunity in Comet 64; there are some small pieces of a mystery to discover, but they are just tacked on to the beginning of the end, while the actual puzzles have nothing to do with the story.”
    • “There is no story or any 'flavor' added, just exercises that may as well have come from a textbook.”
    • “This game does not offer any plot or frame narrative, or any build-up to some crowning project that makes use of what you have done before; there are simply 58 programming puzzles that need to be solved.”
    • “The story is lackluster, the problems don't follow any themes, and the problem statements are often poorly written or ambiguous.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics are praised for their retro aesthetics, effectively evoking the charm of classic systems like the C64 and Apple II, with customizable color themes that enhance the nostalgic experience. Users appreciate the overall visual quality and interface design, noting that even a text-based game can offer impressive graphical options. However, some feel that certain graphical levels could be more engaging.

    • “The visuals are great, I really like the way it looks, and there are some small (arguably silly, but in the best way) touches I really appreciate, like the ability to enable keyboard sounds.”
    • “The vibe is 100% in line with TIS-100 and Molek-Syntez with the retro 80s graphics, including the option to customize the colors to match your favorite system from yesteryear.”
    • “Really love the old visuals it portrays as it tries to send you back in time to the C64 or DOS era.”
    • “Nor does the Comet 64 have anything like the real C64's graphics and sound capabilities.”
    • “Or even the graphics capabilities of the Apple II from 1977.”
    • “We need to talk about the fact that a text-based game has better graphical options than some regular games.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The optimization aspect of the game is described as both a rewarding challenge and a source of frustration, with players noting the limited programming language and register set that restrict creative solutions. While some find the optimization goals engaging and reminiscent of other programming games, others feel the tasks lack complexity and humor, making it difficult to achieve full optimization. Overall, the game offers a fun experience for those who enjoy programming challenges, despite its limitations.

    • “You can use a simple programming language to solve puzzles and feel a bit clever, with room for optimization.”
    • “Unlike other programming games, this one allows you to write an infinite number of lines of code, so optimization is a nice challenge rather than a frustrating necessity.”
    • “It's still a challenging and fun game even if you're a programmer, especially to write the solution as optimized as possible.”
    • “The tasks are not complex enough to warrant different approaches for different optimization targets.”
    • “The optimization goals are ripped from Human Resource Machine, but it lacks the humor and cohesive story of that game.”
    • “The language is fairly limited, which doesn't allow for as much creative optimization.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users noting the absence of any music or engaging sound design, which contributes to a feeling of emptiness. Many express a desire for more auditory elements, such as the option to play custom music, to enhance the overall experience.

    • “I wish there were more cosmetic options and maybe some music?”
    • “Or a way to play our own music files but bit crushed as if they were playing out of the comet 64”
    • “There is no story, no music, and no sandbox even upon completion of the game, which feels lacking in comparison with Zachtronics games.”
    • “I wish there were more cosmetic options and maybe some music.”
    • “Or a way to play our own music files but bit crushed as if they were playing out of the Comet 64.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its perfect capture of a retro vibe, contributing to an engaging and enjoyable experience. Reviewers appreciate how the atmosphere enhances the narrative and puzzle-solving elements, making it an ideal combination for players.

    • “It captures the retro atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “Fun game, good atmosphere.”
    • “An ideal game, in my opinion, would be one that combines the narrative of Hacknet with the puzzle-solving and atmosphere of this game.”
  • gameplay3 mentions

    The gameplay features a core loop that can be frustrating and is notably shorter than expected. Players may need some programming knowledge to fully grasp the mechanics, though it is still accessible to those willing to learn.

    • “The core gameplay loop is engaging and offers a variety of challenges.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are intricate, requiring some programming knowledge to fully appreciate, but it's accessible for those willing to learn.”
    • “The gameplay experience is enjoyable and keeps players invested throughout.”
    • “The core gameplay loop has some frustrations as well.”
    • “Gameplay is significantly shorter, though.”
    • “You also need a little bit of programming background; otherwise, it will be hard for you to understand the mechanics, but it is not impossible.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unenjoyable, particularly due to arbitrary restrictions on gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience.

    • “There are other things that make it just feel tedious and not fun.”
    • “Arbitrarily restricting arithmetic operations just to suit a certain kind of pointless puzzles becomes tedious.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players report that the game evokes a sense of intelligence and accomplishment, even when facing challenges, contributing to an overall feeling of engagement and satisfaction.

    • “This game made me feel smart, kind of (even though my friends outperformed me on the histograms in most puzzles).”
  • humor2 mentions

    Users note that while Zachtronics games incorporate some story and humor, they feel that the humor and cohesive narrative found in titles like "Human Resource Machine" are lacking in their latest offerings.

    • “Zachtronics games at least have some story and humor.”
    • “The optimization goals are ripped from Human Resource Machine, but it lacks the humor and cohesive story of that game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers express frustration with the monetization strategy, suggesting that it appears to be a rushed attempt to capitalize on existing successful formulas rather than offering genuine innovation or value.

    • “It feels like the developers have never coded in anything more than JavaScript and just copied the Zachtronics formula as a quick cash grab.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I feel like I'm being constantly pushed to spend money, which ruins the overall experience.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report occasional glitches in the register display, indicating potential design issues; however, the overall functionality of the program remains stable and effective.

    • “When you do that, the register display glitches out as if it's not designed to handle it, but the program works just fine.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
    • “I've experienced multiple freezes and bugs that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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