Cosmonator
- January 21, 2019
- waldemoon
Get on SteamCosmonator 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.
Reviews
- Cosmonator features a deep and multifaceted upgrade system that allows for diverse builds and playstyles, reminiscent of classic shooters like Tyrian 2000.
- 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 rank 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 settings or controllers.
- While the game has a lot of customization options, the passive upgrades are seen as lacking in variety compared to the spells, making some aspects feel linear.
- gameplay20 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Cosmonator" is characterized by a multifaceted leveling and upgrade system that enhances the overall experience, despite a somewhat slow start and minimal story. Players appreciate the addictive nature of the gameplay loop, the variety of ship customization options, and the balance between challenge and fun, although some find certain mechanics frustrating. Overall, it combines solid shmup mechanics with RPG-lite elements, offering a refreshing depth not commonly found in similar games.
“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.”
“Decent shmup mechanics and pace combined with solid RPG elements: you can upgrade the ship between ranks to boost firepower and buy different abilities.”
“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.”
“Gameplay-wise it is... okay?”
“Because one of the main game mechanics is essentially a lesson in frustration.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story in "Cosmonator" is minimal and lacks the depth found in similar games like "Tyrian" or "Traffic Department 2192," which may disappoint players seeking a rich narrative experience. While the gameplay is addictive and offers a variety of missions and upgrades, the absence of a compelling story detracts from the overall engagement, leading to repetitive gameplay without a strong narrative drive. Despite this, the game compensates with a wealth of content and challenging levels, though the diminishing returns from the ranking system can frustrate players.
“Overall, this is a game that's way too easy to find yourself going 'just one more mission', before you realize you've been saying that same thing for the past 4 hours straight.”
“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.”
“Many missions with classic 'boss' levels.”
“There's little story to speak of in Cosmonator, 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).”
“I've tried going back to the game several times, but each time I lose interest after one mission when I see the difference between earnings and after-tax profit.”
- music15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic 90s vibe, reminiscent of classic Amiga mod sounds, and is considered a standout feature. Players appreciate the retro soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience, and the inclusion of the entire soundtrack in mp3 format upon purchase adds value for music lovers. While some reviews suggest there is room for improvement, the general consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“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.”
“The music is just classic, the sound effects are straight from the 90's.”
“One thing that could be better is the music.”
“While the visuals aren't the most unique out there, one thing that really stands out about Cosmonator is the soundtrack.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their retro aesthetic, combining elements from the VGA era and bullet hell styles, creating a visually appealing experience that evokes nostalgia for classic arcade games. While some users note that the visuals are basic and not particularly unique, they appreciate the clarity and functionality of the graphics, which complement the engaging gameplay and soundtrack. Overall, the graphics effectively enhance the game's retro vibe and immersive atmosphere.
“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! It takes me back to the days of 80's arcades like Gorf and Galaga. The controls are slick, the graphics are cool, and the sound is fine.”
“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.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 73 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while it is designed to encourage progression through stages for power-ups, the rank system diminishes rewards over time, leading to a frustrating grind. Many feel that the cash reduction by rank fails as an anti-grinding mechanism, often resulting in a need to grind more to achieve desired upgrades, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“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).”
“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.”
“But... the game is predicated on the notion of grinding stages to earn the money to buy permanent power-ups for the ship.”
“It gets extremely grindy, extremely fast.”
“It's the most discouraging system a grinding game could possibly have.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its challenging difficulty settings, diverse levels, and extensive customization options for weapons and spells, alongside a robust shop system for upgrades.
“- Shop system and upgrades offer a huge variety, enhancing replayability.”
“The replayability is high, with challenging difficulty settings, interesting levels, and tons of great weapon and spell customization options for your ship.”
