DRACOMATON

About

DRACOMATON is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Weisa and was released on August 1, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

Dracomaton is a top-down roguelike bullet hell game where players can swap between 10 unique Forms, each with 3 potential Mod versions, and use over 30 items to build their strategy. With fast-paced action and tough bosses, players must uncover secrets and try to reach the end while dodging a blur of bullets. The game features simple controls and allows for controller compatibility, making for a replayable and challenging experience. The journey culminates in a climactic encounter, leaving players eager to try again.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 440 reviews

gameplay37 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

The art style is beautiful and charming, with unique designs for each weapon and character.
The gameplay is fast-paced and engaging, with a variety of forms and weapon combinations that encourage experimentation.
The soundtrack complements the gameplay well, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience.

The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
There are performance issues, including lag and crashes, especially during intense bullet-hell sequences.
The lack of diverse bosses and enemy types can lead to repetitive gameplay after multiple runs.

gameplay
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
Dracomaton offers a fast-paced roguelike bullet-hell experience that emphasizes mechanical experimentation and dynamic combat, featuring a unique weapon-switching mechanic that encourages players to adapt their strategies. The gameplay loop is engaging and rewarding, with a strong focus on synergies between abilities and a variety of enemy designs, although some players noted issues with visibility and minor mechanical glitches. Overall, the game successfully combines familiar elements from classics like Hades and Enter the Gungeon while carving out its own identity through creative mechanics and a distinct aesthetic.
- “Dracomaton, developed and published by Gun Jumpers, is a fast-paced roguelike bullet-hell shooter that fuses mechanical experimentation with frenetic combat and creative design.”
- “As runs progress and the intensity ramps up, there’s a rhythm to the gameplay that’s almost hypnotic, transforming the chaos of bullets and explosions into something strangely elegant.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are simple but decent; the synergy of forms and upgrades is fun and is never just a 'one-shot everything' mechanic but instead just direct upgrades to your weapons and variations to what fits you and your playstyle best.”
- “After a while, gameplay feels flat.”
- “Adding the battery mechanic to force players to switch weapons does create more discovery opportunities but via friction instead of fun.”
- “Perhaps I have not given the game much chance, but for sure everything has too much health making the core gameplay loop incredibly grindy and slow.”
graphics
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and charming art style, featuring detailed pixel work that creates a unique blend of industrial and fantastical aesthetics. Players appreciate the handcrafted quality of the visuals, which contribute to an engaging atmosphere, while the character designs and animations are noted for their cuteness and attention to detail. Overall, the game's graphics enhance the gameplay experience, making it visually appealing and memorable, despite some reports of performance issues.
- “The world feels industrial and apocalyptic, with flashes of fantastical energy pulsing through it, and this fusion of sci-fi and myth gives the game a distinct aesthetic identity among other indie roguelikes.”
- “The art style is clean and vibrant, with detailed pixel work that gives the environments and characters a sense of energy and motion.”
- “Came in expecting nothing special and came back pretty impressed, the art style in this game is nothing but gorgeous and cutesy, the combat is pretty fun.”
- “Art style not my thing either.”
- “I don't know how I seem to be the only person getting affected with frame stuttering every 2-3 seconds as I don't see anybody else with this issue and I've tried every graphics and weapon combination to see if it would fix it but nope, gotta love my run being lost just because the game freezes constantly.”
- “Still not what I would expect from a game with this art style and only needing to keep track of two dozen or so enemies and a hundred or so shots at most at the same time.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
28%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the gameplay, with many users highlighting its beautiful soundtrack and engaging electronic beats. While some reviews note that the sound effects can sometimes overshadow the music, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a strong point, contributing to the game's enjoyment. However, a few users feel the music is merely serviceable and not particularly memorable outside the context of gameplay.
- “The soundtrack reinforces this atmosphere with pulsing electronic beats that mirror the tempo of combat, while sound effects add satisfying feedback to every dodge, hit, and explosion.”
- “The music is amazing and really adds to the atmosphere.”
- “The stylized visuals and soundtrack have also been well received, creating a captivating atmosphere.”
- “The art is a little rough, the song is pretty alright, but the game leans too hard into repetition.”
- “Like many games of this nature, particularly when made by an indie developer, on default settings the sound effects from all of the projectiles being fired easily drown out all the background music.”
- “While the art is okay, enemy designs are uninspired and the music is merely serviceable.”
optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
40%
28%
The optimization of the game is a mixed bag, with many players reporting smooth performance on modest hardware and compatibility with devices like the Steam Deck. However, issues such as frequent stuttering, frame drops during intense combat, and occasional crashes hinder the experience, particularly in late-game scenarios. While some players note that recent patches have improved performance, significant optimization challenges remain, especially when dealing with high projectile counts.
- “In terms of technical performance, Dracomaton runs smoothly even on modest hardware.”
- “The optimization is solid, maintaining consistent framerates even during the most chaotic bullet-hell sequences.”
- “Great performance across various hardware setups.”
- “Super fun game with its own mechanics, but unfortunately, poor optimization prevents me from playing with endgame builds.”
- “This game had some pretty bad optimization but the devs have patched most of those issues out quite swiftly, but there are a few bugs that remain quite troublesome like enemies spawning outside the map requiring an explosive of sorts to hurt them when bugged.”
- “Could use some optimizations because even on a good PC, too many projectiles will lag you to a slideshow.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
63%
16%
The game's story is minimal and often overshadowed by its focus on gameplay, with narrative elements and lore presented through scattered hints and terminals that players can unlock. While some users appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and find the narrative intriguing, others feel that the delivery is clumsy and lacks depth, leaving them wanting more from the overall experience. Overall, the story is described as mysterious and engaging, but its fragmented nature may not satisfy those seeking a rich narrative.
- “Maybe it was the way the world breathed—how the rain sizzled on my character’s metal skin, how the wind carried whispers of a story I wasn’t sure I wanted to finish.”
- “There's a story and some lore you can piece together from hints and hidden texts you need to find, which was cool.”
- “Though the pacing can be slow at times and the story unfolds gradually, the game shows strong potential for strategy fans who enjoy a gritty, atmospheric twist.”
- “The focus on short, replayable sessions means that narrative depth takes a back seat—there are hints of story and lore scattered throughout, but the emphasis is clearly on gameplay rather than world-building.”
- “Having unlocked so few of the terminals, and having no idea how to translate the glitchy portions, I didn't learn all that much about the story.”
- “With the over-saturation of stories in the entertainment industry, it's hard to feel original, but considering how one of the rarest achievements is for unlocking all the terminals, this seems to be a very bad way of getting the plot across to the audience.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
91%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with players reporting frequent glitches, frame rate drops, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during intense moments. While some users find the game enjoyable, the technical issues, including softlocks and unresponsive enemies, detract from the overall experience. Many hope for future updates to address these stability problems, as they currently hinder the game's potential.
- “It runs great on Steam Deck—at least until the first boss.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate throughout, providing a smooth experience.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a stable gameplay experience.”
- “This can mean that the game freezes completely for a couple of seconds or that the speed of the game simply slows down and accelerates - absolutely not fun in a bullet hell game.”
- “It's a great game but it is very glitchy and some of these glitches straight up break the game.”
- “I don't know how I seem to be the only person getting affected with frame stuttering every 2-3 seconds as I don't see anybody else with this issue and I've tried every graphics and weapon combination to see if it would fix it but nope, gotta love my run being lost just because the game freezes constantly.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
30%
20%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive blend of industrial and mystical elements, enhanced by an engaging soundtrack and stylized visuals. Players appreciate the captivating sound design that complements the action, creating a unique charm reminiscent of titles like Nier: Automata and Dead Cells. Despite some pacing issues, the atmospheric depth contributes significantly to the overall experience, appealing to fans of strategic gameplay.
- “The soundtrack reinforces this atmosphere with pulsing electronic beats that mirror the tempo of combat, while sound effects add satisfying feedback to every dodge, hit, and explosion.”
- “The world is immersive and intriguing, blending industrial elements with a mystical atmosphere, which adds a unique charm to the game’s emergent narrative.”
- “The stylized visuals and soundtrack have also been well received, creating a captivating atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels like a mix of Dead Cells and Murder Drones.”
- “It's more like Binding of Isaac (or possibly Hades) with twin-stick style aiming but with lore and general atmosphere that's a lot like Nier: Automata.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
Dracomaton excels in replayability, offering short, engaging sessions that prioritize gameplay over narrative depth. Its procedural generation, leaderboard support, and the ability to unlock and combine over 30 items significantly enhance the variety and surprise in each playthrough. Players appreciate the game's focus on creative builds and competitive elements, making it a standout choice for fans of roguelikes and bullet hell shooters.
- “The game is also highly replayable due to its procedural generation and leaderboard support, which encourages competition among players striving for faster clears or higher scores.”
- “Players can also unlock and combine over 30 items, including chaos items, which drastically alter gameplay rules—greatly increasing replayability and surprise factors.”
- “The focus on short, replayable sessions means that narrative depth takes a back seat—there are hints of story and lore scattered throughout, but the emphasis is clearly on gameplay rather than world-building.”
- “Ridiculous replayability with the different modifications and weapons.”
- “What makes Dracomaton stand out among other roguelike shooters is its emphasis on creative builds and replayability.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often requiring excessive time to level up and evolve characters due to high enemy health and slow experience gain. Many suggest that rebalancing certain game mechanics, such as buffing primary attacks and increasing experience rewards, could alleviate the grind and enhance gameplay variety. Overall, the current design leads to a repetitive experience focused on farming rather than engaging combat.
- “What would really be good is if some of the game aspects are rebalanced, like buffing some of the primary attacks and boosting experience gain. Otherwise, some transforms will never be used, always relegated to being secondary mods or just farming experience until they evolve, and then put into secondary.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Perhaps I have not given the game much chance, but for sure everything has too much health, making the core gameplay loop incredibly grindy and slow.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by impressive art and design, with a variety of visually distinct characters and abilities that enhance the gameplay experience. The main robot's cute aesthetics and the unique, cool/creepy balance of enemies contribute to a strong visual appeal, making character design a standout feature.
- “Awesome looking art style (and character design) with lots of combinations of abilities.”
- “Character designs are certainly the strong point of the art; the main robot is quite cute in all of her outfits, and the enemies have a nice cool/creepy balance while usually standing out visually from each other in all the chaos.”
- “I love the character designs too!”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the creative and amusing weapon designs, which add a comedic twist to gameplay and contribute to a lighthearted experience.
- “The weapons are funny; they had some great ideas there.”
- “It breaks the game in a funny way.”