Destroy Space Aliens

About

"Destroy Space Aliens" is a classic 2D platformer where you must retake a castle overrun by invading aliens using a sword and blaster. The game features 10+ challenging boss fights, an original soundtrack, and a password system with 3 different endings. A beta branch, "itemrandomizer," is available on Steam, which randomizes item locations in the Metroidvania section for increased replayability. The game is designed for speedrunning and sequence breaking, with no RNG.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 15 reviews

music3 negative mentions

The game features a unique twist that transforms it from a linear platformer into a Metroidvania, providing a rewarding exploration experience.
The combat system, while challenging, encourages players to improve their skills and learn enemy patterns, leading to a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
The graphics and music evoke a nostalgic retro feel, with detailed backgrounds and catchy tunes that enhance the overall experience.

The lack of a modern saving system, relying instead on a cumbersome password system, can be frustrating for players who prefer more convenient save options.
Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, making combat and platforming more difficult than necessary, which can lead to artificial difficulty spikes.
The game suffers from a lack of variety in enemies and bosses, which can make encounters feel repetitive and less engaging over time.

graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the imaginative 4-bit style and clear scenario distinctions, while others criticize the presence of graphic glitches and poor optimization that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, opinions vary widely, highlighting both charm and significant technical issues.
- “The dev did an excellent job to make every scenario clearly distinct from the others, using a simple art style and few tones of green.”
- “The graphics are also very well done.”
- “Awesome and imaginative 4-bit graphics.”
- “One final note about the graphics: I think they're kind of awful.”
- “Pixel art: 2/5 (graphic glitching!)”
- “As simple as the graphics are, it either seems they make the load times extremely slow to make the game feel old, or it is very unoptimized!”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring charming elements typical of classic platformers but hindered by clunky controls and an outdated password save system. While it offers some entertaining moments over a short playtime, issues like poor level design and certain mechanics may not resonate with all players. Overall, it presents a nostalgic experience that may appeal to fans of the genre despite its flaws.
- “While it's marred with various gameplay problems, mostly stemming from the developer's desire to emulate the classic titles of the past, it remains a charming little platformer that can provide some good entertainment over the course of 5-6 hours.”
- “There's a huge twist after some minutes (in my case around 1 hour and a half) of gameplay.”
- “Lovely gameplay.”
- “While it's marred with various gameplay problems, mostly stemming from the developer's desire to emulate the classic titles of the past — such as the clunky controls that utilize way too few buttons, or the overcomplicated password system used for saving the game — it remains a charming little platformer that can provide some good entertainment over the course of 5-6 hours.”
- “Gameplay: 2/5 (poor level design)”
- “It's important to be aware of some of the game mechanics because they might not appeal to some audiences.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is generally praised for its nostalgic quality and overall greatness, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
- “The music in the game is great as well.”
- “The music is quite nice and nostalgic.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
- “The audio quality of the music is poor, and it feels like an afterthought rather than a key component of the game.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game features a surprising and quirky story that adds an engaging element to the overall experience.
- “The story is surprisingly quirky and keeps you engaged throughout the game.”
- “There is a unique and captivating narrative that unfolds as you progress.”
- “The plot twists and character development make for an unforgettable experience.”
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks coherence.”
- “Character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to engage the player.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the repetitive task of entering a password each time they start the game, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which quickly becomes boring.”
- “The amount of time required to level up is excessive, turning the game into a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users express frustration with the intentional inclusion of graphic glitches in the game, which detracts from the overall stability and experience, rather than enhancing its retro feel.
- “First of all, my pet peeve is when someone tries to make a game look and feel retro by adding graphic glitches!”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted gameplay and ruined my immersion.”