Cosmonator

About

Cosmonator is a single-player shooter game now available on Steam, featuring 40 hand-crafted levels, intense boss battles, and deep RPG-style character building. Customize your Cosmonator with over 30 passive upgrades and 40 unique spells, and test your skills in the endless gauntlet mode with leaderboards. With adjustable difficulty levels and controller support, Cosmonator offers a challenging and visually appealing experience for all types of players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

grinding16 negative mentions

Cosmonator features a deep and multifaceted upgrade system that allows for diverse builds and playstyles, reminiscent of classic titles like Tyrian.
The game offers a satisfying gameplay loop where players can earn cash and gems to upgrade their ships, providing a sense of progression even after failures.
With its retro graphics, engaging music, and a variety of spells and weapons, Cosmonator delivers a nostalgic yet fresh experience for fans of the shmup genre.

The game's ranking system penalizes players by reducing cash rewards as they progress, leading to a frustrating grind that can diminish the enjoyment of upgrading.
Some players have reported technical issues, including crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay, particularly when using certain controllers or settings.
While the game has a lot of customization options, the lack of variety in passive upgrades and the dull color palette can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
8%
The gameplay in "Cosmonator" is characterized by a multifaceted leveling and upgrade system that enhances the traditional shoot-'em-up experience, offering a satisfying balance of challenge and customization. While some players find the core mechanics somewhat unexciting and frustrating at times, the addictive gameplay loop, smooth upgrade mechanics, and retro aesthetic contribute to an overall enjoyable experience. The game features a variety of difficulties and ship customization options, making it appealing for both casual and dedicated players.
- “So refreshing to see such a multifaceted leveling/gameplay system behind a simple concept like this.”
- “The gameplay itself is fun, there are multiple difficulties, and the ship customization is nice with a wide variety of upgrade possibilities.”
- “The gameplay is perfect, you feel really powerful and the graphics and sound have the perfect retro vibe.”
- “While Cosmonator's core gameplay is somewhat unexciting compared to some games of this type I have played, it's certainly not a bad shmup and the upgrade system has made it difficult for me to put it down.”
- “Very slow start, and at first it seems like a mix of Tyrian-wannabe with Skyforce-ish (very retro) gameplay and an okay-ish OST, but it's just the start.”
- “Because one of the main game mechanics is essentially a lesson in frustration.”
story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The story in "Cosmonator" is minimal and disappointing compared to other titles like "Tyrian" or "Traffic Department 2192," which offer richer narratives. While the gameplay is addictive and features numerous missions and upgrades, the lack of a compelling story may leave some players wanting more. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over narrative depth, which could be a letdown for those seeking a strong storyline.
- “And there is a load of content - so far I see a good 4 campaigns with multiple mission trees each, a ton of ship upgrades in various categories... honestly there's more included variety in this game than you can get in some AAA titles nowadays.”
- “Yeah, the levels are challenging, and getting the bonuses is not always easy... you'll have to repeat most higher levels a few times... but you also don't have to spend 2 days trying to get a single mission or objective.”
- “Many missions with classic 'boss' levels.”
- “There's little story to speak of in Cosmonator, which is a bit of a letdown when you consider the surprising amount of plot found in games like Tyrian or Traffic Department 2192. Though given the addictive gameplay loop, I suppose I can't fault Cosmonator for that.”
- “Reminds me of Tyrian, though it lacks a story (even one doled out in data cubes over email).”
- “There's little story to speak of in Cosmonator, which is a bit of a letdown when you consider the surprising amount of plot found in games like Tyrian or Traffic Department 2192. Though given the addictive gameplay loop, I suppose I can't fault Cosmonator for that.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic 90s vibe, featuring an Amiga mod sound that resonates with fans of retro gaming. Players appreciate the soundtrack's quality, with standout tracks like "Power Core's theme" enhancing the overall experience, and the option to access the entire soundtrack in mp3 format adds value for music lovers. While some reviews suggest improvements could be made, the consensus is that the music significantly elevates the gameplay.
- “The music is an ode to the old-school PC vibe of the 90s, with a definitive Amiga mod sound to it.”
- “Power core's theme in particular is fantastic, and the music in general has a great sci-fi feel to it.”
- “If you're looking for an awesome retro shmup with an equally awesome retro soundtrack, check out Super Hydorah.”
- “One thing that could be better is the music.”
- “Game launched, screen turned black and I heard music.”
- “While the visuals aren't the most unique out there, one thing that really stands out about Cosmonator is the soundtrack.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
23%
14%
The graphics are praised for their retro aesthetic, reminiscent of the VGA era and classic arcade games, blending vibrant visuals with bullet hell elements. While some reviewers note that the graphics are basic and not particularly unique, they appreciate the clarity and functionality, which complement the engaging gameplay. Overall, the visuals effectively evoke nostalgia while enhancing the game's overall experience.
- “The graphics are a great combination of the VGA era of Tyrian 2000 and slightly later bullet hell-esque screen clutter.”
- “What a gem of a game! Takes me back to the days of 80's arcades like Gorf and Galaga. Love it! The controls are slick, the graphics are cool, and the sound is fine.”
- “The gameplay is perfect; you feel really powerful and the graphics and sound have the perfect retro vibe.”
- “While the visuals aren't the most unique out there, one thing that really stands out about Cosmonator is the soundtrack.”
- “The graphics are pretty, in a retro way.”
- “It sounds space-y and fits the aesthetic well enough, but this game is just begging for some epic chiptunes.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
14%
73%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while it is essential for earning money to purchase upgrades, the rank system diminishes rewards over time, making grinding feel less rewarding and potentially more necessary. Although the game offers various builds and doesn't encourage excessive grinding, the cash reduction mechanics can lead to frustration, as players may feel compelled to grind more to achieve their goals. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as overly punishing and discouraging.
- “Because when the upgrade cost is greater but the reward is the same (or even less in some cases), it might make people want to grind more to get what they want, not grind less.”
- “I got this even though I tried to take the optional path as little as possible and never played the same stage over again (thus not grinding at all).”
- “But the cash reduction by rank might make players feel less rewarded even when they are not grinding anything.”
- “It gets extremely grindy, extremely fast.”
- “The rank system, as many have pointed out, is not the best, as it gives you less money over time for the same missions, but this also prevents you from grinding earlier missions over and over again for easy money.”
- “It's the most discouraging system a grinding game could possibly have.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game offers high replayability due to its challenging difficulty settings, diverse levels, and extensive customization options for weapons and spells, allowing players to continually explore new strategies and experiences.
- “The replayability is high, with challenging difficulty settings, interesting levels, and tons of great weapon and spell customization options for your ship.”