Frozen Cortex
- February 19, 2015
- Mode 7
- 30h median play time
Get on Steam"Frozen Cortex" is a turn-based strategy game where you control a team of robots in futuristic sports arena. Your goal is to outsmart your opponent by planning your team's movements and attacks in advance, while adapting to the ever-changing game conditions. With a variety of game modes, teams, and advanced AI, "Frozen Cortex" offers a deep and rewarding strategic experience.
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Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of turn-based strategy and sports, providing deep tactical gameplay that rewards careful planning and execution.
- The visuals and soundtrack are praised for their quality, creating an engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The simultaneous turn-based mechanic allows for a fresh take on strategy games, making each match feel dynamic and intense.
- The game suffers from a lack of polish, with numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
- The player base is very small, making it difficult to find online matches, which limits the multiplayer experience significantly.
- The tutorial is incomplete and does not adequately explain many of the game's mechanics, leading to a steep learning curve for new players.
- gameplay27 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Frozen Cortex" is praised for its balance of simplicity and depth, offering a tactical experience that is easy to learn yet challenging to master. Players appreciate the strong AI, simultaneous turn-based mechanics, and the ability to simulate plays, which enhance strategic decision-making. The game features a rich universe, appealing aesthetics, and a satisfying challenge, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated players.
“The AI is really good (impressively so - they will tactically punt, they'll try to catch you sleeping on something that is too obvious, they'll proactively play defense to hedge their bets if something they are on offense doesn't work), and the mechanics of the game are great.”
“The gameplay is a strong mix of simple tactics vs more in-depth tactical decisions, simple to learn, hard to master.”
“The universe that it is set in is interesting, the gameplay is simple enough to be easy to pick up but has great depth and is actually quite hard.”
“I see a lot of comparisons with Blood Bowl, which, given the rules of the game, is understandable, but the nature of gameplay is very different.”
“The gameplay is a strong mix of simple tactics versus more in-depth tactical decisions; simple to learn, hard to master.”
“As someone who did not get very much into Frozen Synapse due to its complexity (facing/direction being vital elements), Cortex has instantly captured me by providing the same level of depth with simplified mechanics.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics have received mixed feedback, with some praising the vibrant, high-budget visuals and character animations, while others criticize the overly flashy neon aesthetic and performance issues even at lower settings. Many players appreciate the depth of customization and the enchanting visuals, alongside a standout soundtrack, contributing to an engaging overall experience. However, there are concerns about the necessity of the graphical intensity given the gameplay requirements.
“Graphically very luscious, good sound effects, love the animations on the characters and am intrigued by the combination of turn-based strategy/real-time hybrid American football with robots.”
“The presentation is all you could expect from a high-budget AAA title, beautiful visuals, inspiring soundtrack.”
“The visuals are really good, and the gameplay is good, for an early access title.”
“Thirdly, this ultra-bright neon flashy aesthetic is awful.”
“The game runs too slow (minimum graphic settings).”
“Graphical options are ultra, high or low - that's it, nothing else...”
- music11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise, particularly for its techno and club influences, which many players find energizing and inspiring. Reviewers recommend purchasing the soundtrack tier, highlighting its quality and comparing it favorably to other notable soundtracks. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that enhances the game's aesthetic and gameplay experience.
“If you are into techno/club/etc like me, you will really enjoy the soundtrack.”
“The presentation is all you could expect from a high-budget AAA title: beautiful visuals and an inspiring soundtrack.”
“Great soundtrack and a very fun strategy game.”
“The first time you watch the post-match replay and this song comes on, I challenge you to not feel pumped.”
“First of all, let me just say that for heaven's sake, buy the soundtrack tier!”
“It means a complexity, tactical turn-based gameplay, and perfectly tuned random level generation, along with nervous_testpilot's soundtrack.”
- stability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting significant glitches and bugs at launch, leading to a frustrating experience. However, others have noted that the game is mostly bug-free, particularly in its early access state, suggesting that stability may vary depending on individual experiences. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a contentious issue, with a notable divide in user experiences.
“The game is bug-free as far as I could tell.”
“It's early access, but the main part of the game is finished and mostly bug-free.”
“It doesn't explain stats, free agency, positions, equipment, roster management, or anything other than 'here's how to run and pass.' Secondly, the game has some pretty major glitches.”
“This was before Steam refunds, so I was stuck with a buggy, empty game.”
“This game, on release, is as buggy as can be.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is noted as somewhat underdeveloped, with a basic narrative and limited depth in its season/manager mode. However, it does feature a single-player story, which is a rarity in sports games, and players express a desire for more fleshed-out storytelling and customization options to enhance the overall experience.
“And even better, it actually has a single player story.”
“I've never seen a story in a sports type game before.”
“With a story mode and more customization options, it can easily be a 10/10 title.”
“The game is somewhat barebones with a lackluster season/manager mode, but it has the semblance of a story.”
“It's the story/league, robot customization, etc. that could really stand to be fleshed out a lot.”
“No story or career mode, but I am sure there is one to tie in sooner or later.”
- humor4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the entertaining commentary, which many players find hilarious and a standout feature. However, some users feel that the game's pacing and complexity may not be conducive to a relaxed gaming experience, especially for those looking to unwind with friends and family. Overall, while the commentary adds a comedic touch, the game's design may not appeal to everyone seeking lighthearted fun.
“Awesome game with hilarious comments from the commentators.”
“Graphics are enchanting, and the commentators are absolutely hilarious.”
“This game feels like it was designed for players who enjoy long, drawn-out turns. It's not funny when you're just trying to relax with a beer and play with friends and family.”
“The humor in this game falls flat; it seems to cater to a niche audience rather than providing laughs for everyone.”
“I expected a lighthearted experience, but the jokes missed the mark and left me feeling more frustrated than amused.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is hindered by a lack of online community engagement, with only a few players active at any given time. Enhancements to robot and stadium customization could improve replay value, but the current multiplayer limitations significantly restrict long-term enjoyment.
“I think it would add a lot of replayability to the game to be able to do more with your robots and stadiums.”
“It would help the replayability a lot since the game doesn't have much of an online community at the moment.”
“However, because multiplayer is simply a dead/dying community (most people I have seen online at one time is 6-7 people), I cannot recommend this game, as the replay value is very limited.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, as players report struggles with performance even on capable hardware, and long wait times for AI turns detract from the experience. Additionally, the game's mechanics and design choices have raised concerns about its overall execution.
“You're given a team of tired, limping robots and expected to pull wins out with them—better robots become available based on your performance.”
“The optimization mechanics really challenge you to think strategically about resource management and team composition.”
“I love how the game rewards you for optimizing your strategies, making each victory feel earned and satisfying.”
“Solid concept but poorly optimized. I have an i7, 12 GB of RAM, and a GTX 580, yet it struggles to load a game that has no complex shapes or high poly count.”
“The AI could use some serious optimization; it should not take 20 minutes to complete a turn, and it's not really an American football game (no backwards passes? What is this?).”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Many users find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with lengthy tutorials that can discourage players from fully engaging with the experience. This can lead to frustration and a sense of giving up before the game truly begins.
“I should love this game, and if I gave it more time, maybe I would, but the very tedious and long tutorial made me give up before I had even begun.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find the grind to be a chore rather than a fun challenge, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for being a low-commitment option for friends to enjoy together, making it suitable for casual play without requiring significant emotional investment.
