DRAINUS

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 458 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
DRAINUS Game Cover
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"DRAINUS" is a single-player Action game with an intriguing story and awesome game mechanics. As the player, you control the "Drainus" ship, absorbing enemy bullets to enhance functions and add new weapons. The story follows a slave on Planet Halpax, suffering from "Planetary Compatibility Disorder" and his daughter, desperate for a cure. Just as hope seems lost, a humanoid frog-like figure named Ghenie arrives from the future, warning of an impending galactic war.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 458 reviews
gameplay86 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience.
  • Engaging gameplay mechanics, including a unique bullet absorption system that adds depth and strategy.
  • Accessible for newcomers while still offering challenges for veterans, with multiple difficulty settings and a customizable ship upgrade system.
  • The game is relatively short, with a main playthrough lasting around 2-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Some players may find the game too easy, especially on lower difficulty settings, potentially diminishing replay value for experienced shmup fans.
  • The story and character development are minimal and may not resonate with players looking for a deeper narrative.
  • gameplay157 mentions

    The gameplay is engaging and fun, featuring a unique projectile absorption mechanic that adds depth and strategy to encounters. While the game is generally easy and offers limited replayability, it compensates with beautiful graphics, a variety of weapon customization options, and dynamic level design that keeps players entertained. The combination of forgiving mechanics and challenging higher difficulties makes it accessible for newcomers while still appealing to seasoned shmup fans.

    • “The ship has adjustable speed on the fly at no cost, you can change weapons mid-flight at any time, you upgrade weapons throughout the levels, levels have a solid variety that makes them distinct so far, enemies have a good variety, music is heart-pumping, the combat on hard is exciting, the bosses keep pulling the 'this isn't even my final form' that changes up the fights which is really cool, and that enemy energy absorb mechanic from G-Darius is a core mechanic in this game throughout the entirety of it.”
    • “The core gameplay mechanic of absorbing enemy shots and pelting them back is extremely satisfying and fun, and the game finds a lot of different ways to explore this mechanic over the course of its 3-hour runtime.”
    • “The absorb mechanic is simple but does a lot to keep encounters interesting without slowing down the action.”
    • “The gameplay is fairly typical of your average shmup, but there is an absorption mechanic that gives the game more depth.”
    • “It's a very polished action game as expected from Team Ladybug, but unfortunately the undertuned difficulty lets the game down, mainly due to the core mechanics being too lenient/powerful relative to what the game throws at you.”
    • “The only downside is it's only about 3 hours worth of gameplay for the story mode.”
  • story100 mentions

    The story in this shoot 'em up is generally considered simplistic and sometimes cliché, yet it manages to engage players with its light narrative and occasional twists. While some reviews highlight its lack of depth and character development, others appreciate the integration of story elements that enhance the gameplay experience without overwhelming it. Overall, the narrative is seen as a pleasant addition that complements the fun mechanics, even if it doesn't stand out as particularly remarkable within the genre.

    • “This is probably my favorite game made by Team Ladybug, as I just love the beautiful pixel graphics and also the overall narrative of the story as well.”
    • “The story is well integrated and a fairly dark matter overall.”
    • “The story is interesting enough while not taking center stage and is delivered in a few lines of dialogue between stages.”
    • “The story is cliche and the characters are uninteresting; the second loop doesn't do enough to distinguish itself.”
    • “The story is passable and feels like an excuse just to have a break from the action.”
    • “The story is minimal with some collectibles that further expand on the lore between characters.”
  • graphics88 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning pixel art, smooth animations, and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the unique art style, which effectively captures the essence of classic shoot 'em ups while maintaining modern quality. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.

    • “The graphics are among the most gorgeous of any shmup of all time, and the gameplay is incredibly fun.”
    • “The beautiful sprite work and animation in its low resolution 16-bit aesthetic is the best part of this game - it has style, which is for me the most important element of a great shooter.”
    • “The visuals are outstanding and there's always something new and cool to see.”
    • “One of my biggest problems with the shmup genre is that there is usually little to no emphasis placed on graphics.”
    • “Also, the pixel graphics were too fuzzy for such fast gameplay.”
    • “The graphics are just okay.”
  • music84 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its energetic and dynamic quality, effectively complementing the fast-paced gameplay and vibrant visuals. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, some note that it can occasionally overpower sound effects, leading to a less balanced audio experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as exciting and fitting, with a mix of styles that enhances the game's atmosphere, though a few critics found it to be less memorable compared to other titles from the same studio.

    • “The music is dynamic, the gameplay fun, and the story interesting.”
    • “The gameplay kept me on my toes with great effects to complement it, the story and characters were great, and the music is an absolute blast in and outside of the game.”
    • “Drainus is just incredibly stylish and boasts a solid soundtrack to boot.”
    • “Only complaint, the music is too damn loud and there isn't a separate adjustment.”
    • “So all the explosions going off, laser fire, combat... can barely be heard over the music.”
    • “The downside is that the music score is mediocre and the game is a little short (even if you include the 2nd loop).”
  • replayability21 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability, primarily due to its customizable ship mechanics, multiple difficulty settings, and various game modes, including arcade and new game+. While some players find the campaign short and easy, the ability to experiment with different loadouts and challenges keeps the experience engaging for many, making it a worthwhile title for fans of the genre.

    • “Game really plays well and reminds me a lot of Gradius but with a freeform upgrade system which increases replay value.”
    • “Levels are all replayable so you can experiment with whatever loadout and it will work out to your playstyle.”
    • “For $15 there’s a lot of value here, and the ship customization and arcade modes add a lot of replayability.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, but the game is quite easy and it has limited replayability compared to other shmups, in my experience.”
    • “The main game is fairly easy, but there is an advanced scoring system that adds replayability.”
    • “There isn't the challenging core gameplay and replayability I expect to find in a shmup.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of endearing moments and unexpected comedic elements, particularly highlighted by a surprising cameo in stage 5 that may delight veteran players. While the story itself is unremarkable, the ease of replaying early stages adds a layer of humor to the experience. Overall, players find the humor to be a charming aspect of the game.

    • “Replaying early stages is hilariously easy after a while.”
    • “But, honestly, it's kinda funny and endearing.”
    • “Also, there's a hilarious cameo at the end of stage 5 that will probably give shmup veterans a real shock.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its engaging narrative centered around time leaps, complemented by dynamic boss fights and rich character interactions. Players appreciate the thrilling setpieces, inventive boss transformations, and meticulous attention to detail that enhance the overall experience, while also having the option to skip cutscenes if desired.

    • “The game has an interesting atmosphere with a small story about time leaps.”
    • “Crazy epic boss fights and a cool story with multiple character interactions, cutscenes, and dialogues to back up the setting and atmosphere of the game.”
    • “They recognize the value of atmospherics, thrilling set pieces, inventive boss transformations, and attention to detail.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be visually engaging due to its crisp environments and smooth effects, which help alleviate some tedium. However, the repetitive attack patterns of longer bosses can lead to a frustrating experience, especially given the lengthy time required to defeat them.

    • “Some of the longer-lasting bosses just repeat the same attacks and patterns, which can feel tedious and exhausting. This wouldn't be an issue if the time to kill them wasn't so long.”
    • “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore, where progress is painfully slow and rewards are minimal.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged, as the same tasks are just recycled over and over.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game is praised for its beautiful visuals, engaging music, and smooth gameplay, while also delivering a touching narrative despite its familiar futuristic sci-fi setting. However, some players feel that the emotional impact of key battles could be enhanced with more dynamic phases and uplifting music.

    • “It looks gorgeous, has some jammin' music, feels just as smooth and satisfying to play as Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth did (if not even more so), and tells a pretty touching story even if the setting is the same sort of futuristic sci-fi we've seen a bazillion times before.”
    • “That was disappointing; such a battle deserves its own three phases with a heartwarmingly triumphant music track as you combine your drainuses to overcome the enemy's worst assaults yet.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.

    • “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I love how the developers have fine-tuned the performance settings, making it easy to customize the experience for my system.”
    • “The game's optimization ensures that I can enjoy high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.”
    • “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “I constantly experience frame drops and stuttering, which ruins the immersion.”
    • “The optimization is so bad that loading times are excessively long, making it hard to stay engaged.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with players feeling that the game is a low-effort cash grab that relies on pay-to-win mechanics, such as offering invulnerability through purchasable items.

    • “The ultimate laser weapons grant invulnerability, highlighting that this game feels like a low-effort cash grab that clearly wasn't playtested.”
    • “The monetization strategy is frustratingly aggressive, making it feel like the developers are more interested in profits than player experience.”
    • “It's disappointing to see a game that could have been great reduced to a series of paywalls and microtransactions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

Buy DRAINUS

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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