GALAK-Z

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 213 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
GALAK-Z Game Cover
17-Bit has created a layered system that will constantly kick your butt until you’ve finally got the hang of what Galak-Z is all about.
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GALAK-Z is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game with phenomenal game mechanics and beautiful graphics. It offers procedurally generated worlds, challenging A.I. enemies, and anime-inspired spacecraft. The Void DLC includes endless gameplay, online leaderboards, and a daily challenge for players to compete worldwide. Additionally, Arcade Mode allows players to replay failed missions without losing progress.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 213 reviews
story9 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • Galak-Z features incredibly tight controls and a unique physics-based movement system that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • The game offers a nostalgic homage to 80s anime and mech culture, with charming character designs and engaging voice acting.
  • The combination of challenging combat, strategic gameplay, and the ability to use the environment to your advantage makes for a rewarding experience.
  • The game can be punishingly difficult, with a steep learning curve that may frustrate some players, especially with the permadeath mechanic.
  • Players lose all upgrades and progress after completing a season, which can feel unfair and detracts from the overall experience.
  • The repetitive mission structure and limited enemy variety can lead to a sense of monotony over time.
  • story107 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered minimal and often feels incomplete, with many players noting that it serves primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a central focus. While some appreciate the character design and voice acting, the episodic structure leads to repetitive mission types and a lack of meaningful narrative progression, culminating in an abrupt ending that leaves players wanting more. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics and a lack of variety in mission design.

    • “Although the story was never the focus, I liked the design and attitude of every character, including the minimal interactions with each type of enemy.”
    • “Beautiful, fun, good action, episodic story; can't recommend it enough if you enjoyed space action cartoons from the 80s.”
    • “The story, sound, and graphics are good.”
    • “The game basically has no ending to its story.”
    • “Combat is great, but the developers couldn't figure out what direction they wanted to go, so we have a game that starts with a story-style format but ends abruptly for an underwhelming endless mode in a single map.”
    • “The first season had actual story, so it feels quite odd to be thrown afterwards into very simple pickup/destroy target missions that don't carry the story anyhow.”
  • gameplay61 mentions

    The gameplay of Galak-Z is widely praised for its tight controls, complex mechanics, and engaging progression, offering a unique blend of 2D mech action and strategic elements that can lead to extensive playtime. However, some players find the difficulty level punishing and the rogue-like elements lacking in variety, which may deter long-term engagement. Overall, while the gameplay is celebrated for its depth and responsiveness, technical issues and a steep learning curve can impact the experience for some players.

    • “Arguably the best mech 2D gameplay ever!”
    • “The gameplay is awesome; both the ship and the mech handle great, and any move you try with them feels just right within the in-game physics.”
    • “The gameplay is very well done, so much so that it really overshadows almost all of the game's faults.”
    • “It's a shame though that the amazing game mechanics are dressed up by some horrible looking art designs and boring music.”
    • “It wants to be hardcore roguelike, but doesn't have the enemy, environment or gameplay variety to justify that.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game is a little too difficult for its own good, and I suspect that many of those who initially love its mechanics and its graphics will limit their time with galak-z or even abandon it completely because of the frustration that it can generate.”
  • graphics35 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant art style, which blends retro and modern aesthetics, particularly drawing inspiration from 90s anime and classic space shooters. Players appreciate the detailed visuals, including impressive explosions and character designs, although some have noted technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a highlight, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.

    • “Great art style, fun gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is tight, the style, graphics and theme are an absolute treat.”
    • “Graphics are really well made, and the art style is retro but modern at the same time.”
    • “The only good thing I can say is they really nailed the old-school anime VHS aesthetic they were going for (right down to the cheesy Saturday morning cartoon voice-acting), but taken as a game in and of itself, minus all the costume frills, it's not a game I can really recommend to anyone other than a masochist.”
    • “This could have been a great modern game with a throwback aesthetic, but instead it is a repetitive game with almost no variety in assets, enemies, or missions.”
    • “Oh yeah, and after launch the Steam tablet at the bottom right glitches and I have graphic artifacts in the bottom right of my screen sometimes.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it boring or unremarkable, while others praise it for enhancing the atmosphere and adding suspense during gameplay. Many appreciate the eclectic soundtrack and sound effects, noting that they contribute to a stylish and immersive experience reminiscent of anime. Overall, while some feel the music could be improved, others find it catchy and fitting for the game's action and narrative.

    • “I enjoy the music because it really adds the suspense when I'm sneaking around asteroid belts avoiding enemy patrols.”
    • “Wait, did I mention the awesome music and sound effects that will be accompanying you through your journey?”
    • “With perfectly weighted physics that feel nice on the thumbs, tactical combat that allows you to deal with any situation in a number of ways, and a soundtrack that's catchy and euphoric, Galak-Z is one helluva ride.”
    • “It's a shame though that the amazing game mechanics are dressed up by some horrible looking art designs and boring music.”
    • “2 - soundtrack could be much better;”
    • “Presentation, music and characters are okay, nothing special, but not bad anyway.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its randomized level layouts, diverse unit combinations, and challenging gameplay that encourages multiple playthroughs. While some players note a lack of new game plus options and challenge runs, the engaging mechanics and rogue-like elements keep the experience fresh and enjoyable. However, expectations should be managed, as it may not reach the replayability levels of other titles in the genre.

    • “This, with the randomized level layout and combinations of units and the challenge they offer, is what makes this game so amazingly replayable.”
    • “A thrilling shooter with a ton of replayability.”
    • “The rogue-like elements mean you're constantly running into new encounters, making for a ton of replayability.”
    • “Don't expect high levels of replayability, and you won't be disappointed.”
    • “I'd give it a buy for anyone looking for a skill-based game who wants something with minor replayability.”
    • “The brevity of the game means it's not the longest experience, but there is some replay value here; at the very least, I'd recommend doing a playthrough of each game mode.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has been criticized for frequent bugs and glitches, including freezes during cut scenes and graphical artifacts. While some players found the experience enjoyable despite these issues, the prevalence of technical problems has led to a generally negative perception regarding stability.

    • “The cut scene will play, but then go to black and the game freezes.”
    • “Oh yeah, and after launch the Steam tablet at the bottom right glitches and I have graphic artifacts in the bottom right of my screen sometimes.”
    • “The game freezes at the end of the first cut scene.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging art, excellent dialogues, and immersive sound design, which collectively enhance the overall experience. While some missions lack character interactions that could further enrich the atmosphere, key missions compensate for this shortcoming. Overall, players find the atmosphere to be captivating, with a mix of campy charm and soothing music that draws them into the gameplay.

    • “The art, the atmosphere, and the dialogues are truly excellent and really draw you in.”
    • “If you think you'd enjoy a challenging and arcadey space shooter with visceral combat and a great atmosphere, Galak-Z may very well provide a good 10-15 hours of solid entertainment to you.”
    • “The music and game atmosphere is very soothing, and the voice acting is spot-on.”
    • “The game lacks interactions between characters during some missions, which disrupts the atmosphere, but key missions usually make up for that.”
    • “The atmosphere is appropriately campy, but it feels inconsistent at times.”
    • “The music and game atmosphere are very soothing, but they don't always match the intensity of the gameplay.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game features a mix of cool and lively designs that pay homage to classic space operas and old-school shooters, blending manga influences with recognizable art styles. However, some users feel that the character designs lack depth and are not particularly impressive. Overall, while the visual aspects are engaging, the storyline remains simple and does not significantly enhance character development.

    • “Simple storyline, lively and comedic character design, and very responsive action gameplay.”
    • “Ship and character designs are a nice homage to other space operas and shows.”
    • “With elements of old-school space shooters like R-Type and Gradius, it is mixed with manga character design spiced with a lot of references to the art style of series like Transformers or Saber Rider.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “Characters seem to follow predictable arcs, leaving little room for growth or surprise.”
    • “There is a noticeable absence of meaningful choices that impact character progression throughout the game.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with frequent crashes and poor overall performance detracting from the gameplay experience. While some users note that the mechanics are enjoyable, the lack of polish and ongoing performance problems, particularly during cutscenes, have led to widespread frustration among players.

    • “But buyer beware, this game is not fully optimized.”
    • “The gameplay and mechanics seem fine, and I would probably have kept playing if it wasn't for the fact that the game is an unoptimized mess that keeps crashing and suffers from poor performance, even though it's not that great looking.”
    • “Cons: unoptimized garbage that keeps crashing.”
    • “Some performance issues on the cutscenes, but it is a known issue that the devs are trying to fix.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The game features a vibrant universe filled with interactive elements and a humorous script that embraces a lighthearted tone, often poking fun at itself. Players can expect campy dialogue and comedic moments that enhance the experience, all while engaging in challenging missions that require both skill and strategic thinking. Overall, the humor is a key aspect that adds charm to the game's anime-inspired aesthetic.

    • “Now add a vibrant universe full of stuff with which you can directly interact, very well acted voices, an anime style overflowing with garish colors beautifully mixed, perfectly blended 2D and 3D figures and backgrounds, a funny script, and above all, missions that will equally require you to be the ace the game expects in order to toast your foes with your ever-upgrading lasers as well as think about what your next action will be so you won't create new space debris out of yourself...”
    • “The game doesn't take itself seriously, and some of the campy dialogue is pretty funny.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics, noting that after enduring repetitive missions and challenging boss fights, they are penalized by losing all upgrades upon mission failure, forcing them to start over with a default ship against increasingly difficult enemies. This cycle of grinding for upgrades only to lose them diminishes the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “After repetitively grinding my way through randomly generated missions in a near-dead ship, gathering whatever upgrades the game would allow me to get (but not keep if the mission failed), I was 'rewarded' by inexplicably having every single one of my hard-earned upgrades stripped away and being forced to gather salvage to repurchase them all again in a ship that has been completely reset to default while still having to face bigger and tougher enemies.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and punishing, with little to no reward for the time invested. It often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “I spent hours grinding for resources, only to find that the upgrades I worked so hard for could be lost in an instant. It makes the whole process feel pointless and frustrating.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers express a desire for fair pricing in gaming, advocating for games that offer value without excessive costs, particularly criticizing AAA publishers for charging high prices for limited content. They emphasize the importance of supporting games that demonstrate that quality can prevail over inflated pricing driven by marketing.

    • “The monetization model feels exploitative, as it seems like the game is designed to push players towards spending more money rather than enjoying the experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to fully enjoy the game without shelling out extra cash.”
    • “The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency really detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a well-designed game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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