Death Ray Manta SE
- September 17, 2015
- The Future Of Videogames
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamDeath Ray Manta SE is a fast-paced arena shooter where you control a fish with a death ray in its head, aiming to get the highest score possible by destroying enemies and collecting space gems. The game features 32 levels of intense laser-filled action. Your objective is to navigate through increasingly challenging screens of mayhem and chaos while racking up points.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Death Ray Manta features vibrant, colorful graphics and a catchy synth soundtrack that create an engaging arcade atmosphere.
- The gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, encouraging players to improve their skills and achieve higher scores through quick retries.
- Despite its simplicity, the game offers a unique challenge with its one-life mechanic and the need to collect gems quickly, making it rewarding for players who enjoy mastering levels.
- The chaotic visuals and excessive particle effects can make it difficult to discern enemies and projectiles, leading to frustrating deaths.
- There is a lack of content and depth, with only 32 short levels, no power-ups, and no progression system, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied.
- The game lacks an options menu, making it impossible to adjust settings like volume or screen resolution, which can detract from the overall experience.
- music34 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its vibrant, retro-inspired synth soundtrack that complements the colorful and chaotic visuals, evoking a strong '80s arcade vibe. While many players enjoy the energetic and uplifting tunes, some note that the soundtrack can be repetitive and lacks variety, with a few finding it annoying or overwhelming. Overall, the music enhances the gameplay experience, making it fun and engaging, though some players wish for more diverse tracks and additional content.
“The game is extremely colorful and eye-popping visually and has an electro soundtrack.”
“A simple but elegantly made little game that combines instinctive, compelling controls and movement with a dazzling neon aesthetic and a funky synth soundtrack.”
“The music is great and you actually get to hear more of the track as you last longer; it's like a nice little treat for staying alive.”
“The music is always the same as well.”
“No options for screen resolution, or sound control, and the music is just horrific.”
“-repetitive music, (as in one track).”
- graphics30 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by vibrant, neon visuals that create a striking aesthetic, often described as both beautiful and chaotic. While many players appreciate the eye-catching design and accompanying soundtrack, some find the overwhelming visuals can hinder gameplay clarity, making it difficult to follow the action. Overall, the graphics are a polarizing aspect, praised for their artistic flair but criticized for their potential to distract and frustrate players.
“Very bright, colorful neon graphics and great sound.”
“Death Ray Manta has frantic, fast-paced gameplay with tight controls and stunningly beautiful visuals.”
“The graphics are pure eye candy.”
“The aesthetic is fine and all, but it's often actively difficult to see what's going on, and there are a bunch of mild annoyances like how you get two different screens between each level.”
“Very solid twin stick shooter mechanics, but the visuals are so chaotic it's hard to see what's happening on the screen.”
“It's not a terrible game, but the graphics make it a literal pain to play and there are so many better options on the market.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Death Ray Manta is characterized by fast-paced, chaotic twin-stick shooting mechanics that are visually stunning yet overwhelming, often making it difficult to track action on screen. While the game offers a challenging experience with a short completion time, it lacks depth and progression, leading to a mix of frustration and enjoyment for players. Overall, the gameplay is simple and rewarding, but the visual noise and lack of clear objectives may deter some players.
“Fun fast-paced gameplay.”
“Death Ray Manta has frantic, fast-paced gameplay with tight controls and stunningly beautiful visuals.”
“This is a super challenging, but fun 2D twin-stick shooter with a crazy amount of neon and awesome music and gameplay.”
“Before the game then rewards you with an onslaught of even more onscreen enemies, but no actual additions to give the gameplay any tactics or depth.”
“The graphics and gameplay are all there (and are very solid), but there's no progression or goals whatsoever.”
“It works, but the fact that there is a huge sign that comes up between levels and blocks most of the player's view, along with the ever-changing color scheme, kind of ruins any semblance of reasonable gameplay.”
- humor5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Reviews on the humor aspect are mixed; some find it lacking or unfunny, while others appreciate the light-hearted touches, such as enemies exploding into words of encouragement and a catchy soundtrack. Overall, the humor may resonate more with players in a certain mindset, but it also contributes positively to the game's style and atmosphere.
“Controls are tight and the humor and style are awesome.”
“There are humorous little touches - enemies exploding into words of encouragement, the gloriously synthy soundtrack - that keep things light-hearted even as you get to grips with things.”
“Where have the little bits of humor gone?”
“Hahaha... that's not funny.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game receives mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the narrative, others criticize the lack of a clear plot or explanation, as the game quickly transitions into gameplay without sufficient context.
“Also, bonus points for the story.”
“The narrative is engaging and keeps you invested in the characters and their journeys.”
“The plot twists are unexpected and add depth to the overall experience.”
“Press the fire/accept button and you're swiftly launched into level 1 after a short level intro screen with no plot, story, or explanation of controls.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks any meaningful connection to the gameplay.”
“There is little to no character development, making it hard to care about the outcome.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is marred by technical issues, particularly in the Google Play version, which frustrates players and detracts from their overall experience. Users express disappointment over the game's performance, indicating that these problems hinder emotional engagement with the content.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game's replayability has improved significantly, with many finding renewed enjoyment upon revisiting it with a fresh perspective.
“After playing it again with an open mind, I'm happy to say the game is in a much more playable state, and I found myself having quite a bit of fun with it.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“I love how the game encourages multiple runs, with new strategies and experiences waiting to be discovered each time.”
