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GALAK-Z

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.
76%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, optimization
73% User Score Based on 790 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 19 reviews

Platforms

MOMac OSPCPCP4Playstation 4P5Playstation 5WinWindowsLinLinuxPlaPlayStation

About

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.

GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
GALAK-Z screenshot
+7

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 809 reviews
story44 positive mentions
stability24 negative mentions

  • The game features a unique mix of retro 8-bit vibes and anime-inspired aesthetics, making it visually appealing.
  • The combat system is visceral and rewarding, allowing players to master their skills and unlock upgrades for their ship.
  • The character dialogue adds charm to the game, making each session feel like a fresh episode of a sci-fi show.
  • The game lacks a proper ending, with the final chapter left unfinished, leading to player frustration.
  • The difficulty spikes significantly in later seasons, often feeling punishing rather than challenging.
  • The control scheme is counterintuitive, making it difficult for players to maneuver effectively during combat.
  • story
    509 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is criticized for being thin and unfinished, with many reviewers noting that it lacks a satisfying conclusion and relies heavily on repetitive mission structures. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic mecha anime, the overall narrative is described as simplistic and often overshadowed by gameplay frustrations, such as losing upgrades and having to restart missions. Despite some enjoyable character interactions and voice acting, the story fails to engage players meaningfully, leading to a sense of disappointment regarding its potential.

    • “The story is pretty great and the voice acting is exceptional and it all reminds me of a 90's mecha anime with its characters and situations.”
    • “The writing is enough to draw some smiles time to time with some enjoyable characters, and while the story isn't anything groundbreaking, it has fun with it enough to make you enjoy it too.”
    • “Beautiful, fun, good action, episodic story, can't recommend it enough if you enjoyed space action cartoons from the 80s.”
    • “The story is unfinished as everyone else has said before, and the game does feel really short and lacking content, which is a shame since what is here is so polished and fun, but after the 10 hour mark you'll probably have unlocked and seen everything there is to see.”
    • “First off, instead of giving an actual end to the story, which isn't anything special to begin with, but still something that should be finished, they decided to throw an endless mode at you that finishes nothing, main characters die out of nowhere in a summary cutscene, and nothing is wrapped up.”
    • “The missions ultimately just feel like a chore that I need to slog through, instead of something I can't wait to return to.”
  • gameplay
    229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its tight controls, rewarding mechanics, and unique blend of action and rogue-like elements, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate skill-based challenges. However, criticisms arise regarding the lack of enemy and mission variety, as well as the punishing difficulty that may deter some players. Overall, while the core gameplay is considered exceptional, it is marred by design choices that could benefit from further refinement.

    • “The gameplay is very tight and mostly fair; it rewards precise play, and most of the time when things go wrong, it is because of a mistake you made and not because the game was being unfair.”
    • “This game is certainly not for everyone, but this is a fun, frenetic shoot 'em up that mechanically feels fantastic. The gameplay has a strict easy-to-learn, hard-to-master style that more than makes up for the lack of variety in its mission structure.”
    • “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.”
    • “There are also only four chapters, so four mini rogue-ventures isn't exactly a bold design, even without the first chapter glacially doling out access to the basic buttons and play mechanics, making it pure tedium to work through after the first attempt (you aren't allowed to use things until the game tells you about them, even on replays).”
    • “It wants to be hardcore roguelike, but doesn't have the enemy, environment or gameplay variety to justify that.”
    • “It has its faults; and I think it needs rebalancing, though I know there are a lot of people who don’t think that, and that’s fine, but just for me, I felt the extremely punishing nature of the gameplay was just pushing me away.”
  • graphics
    153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, retro-inspired art style that blends 8-bit aesthetics with anime influences, creating a visually appealing experience reminiscent of 80s and 90s cartoons. Many reviewers highlight the impressive pixel art, colorful environments, and dynamic animations, although some note that technical issues and a lack of variety in assets can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm despite some gameplay frustrations.

    • “The art style grabbed me right away—it has this cool mix of retro 8-bit vibes and anime-inspired aesthetics that make it stand out.”
    • “A fun rogue-like with a beautiful aesthetic, the pixel art, vibrant colors, and synthwave soundtrack transport you straight to the 80s.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and the audio does its job remarkably, with touches of styles like the pilots' intercoms during the fight (a nod to the anime material the whole game is inspired from), and the game is sparkled with humor and references.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its vibrant and eclectic nature, often evoking a nostalgic 80s synthwave vibe that enhances the overall aesthetic. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, some note that it can be inconsistent, with occasional average tracks that don't detract from the experience. Overall, the combination of engaging music, quality voice acting, and immersive sound effects contributes significantly to the game's appeal, despite some criticisms regarding repetition and gameplay mechanics.

    • “A fun rogue-like with a beautiful aesthetic, the pixel art, vibrant colors, and synthwave soundtrack transport you straight to the 80s.”
    • “The music is awesome, the art is awesome, the voicework is really good, the sounds are cool, and the whole idea is fantastic.”
    • “Filled with bright colors and featuring an eclectic soundtrack, it keeps both your eyes and your ears occupied, while some light RPG elements let you blast aliens to bits the way you want to.”
    • “It's a shame though that the amazing game mechanics are dressed up by some horrible looking art designs and boring music.”
    • “The latter I just replaced with my own music; the former is unavoidable.”
    • “2 - soundtrack could be much better.”
  • replayability
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability due to its procedurally generated levels, diverse upgrades, and challenging gameplay mechanics, which encourage players to engage in multiple playthroughs. Features like daily challenges and a well-designed AI enhance the experience, making each session feel fresh and rewarding. However, some players note that the lack of new game plus options or specific challenge runs may limit replay value for those seeking more structured replay experiences.

    • “This, with the randomized level layout and combinations of units and the challenge they offer, is what makes this game so amazingly replayable.”
    • “Most importantly, the core gameplay is absolutely brilliant, but the art style and voice acting are very good on top of that. Replayability seems infinite with random level generation, infinite mode, daily challenges, and a very good AI. I mean seriously, the AI is great, and thanks to that, stealth mechanics are actually very complex. You could finish pretty much every level without firing a single shot if you wanted to.”
    • “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.”
    • “Might frustrate those who aren’t keen on a challenge; no options for new game plus or challenge runs hurts replayability a bit.”
  • stability
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of glitches that prevent mission completion, freezing issues during cutscenes, and control lock-ups, particularly in later missions. While some players find enjoyment in the game's visuals and storyline, the pervasive bugs render it largely unplayable for many, leading to disappointment and a lack of recommendations until significant fixes are implemented.

    • “It's almost bug-free, and you will enjoy the laser effects, upgrades, easy-to-understand storyline, and Japanese manga-like animation.”
    • “The game freezes at the end of the first cut scene.”
    • “I want to enjoy this game, it's fun but every mission in season 2 I can't even beat because all control locks up and I cannot attack due to mech mode glitches.”
    • “Until this is fixed, I cannot recommend this game and am disappointed in IndieBox and Humble Monthly for both endorsing this buggy unplayable mess.”
  • atmosphere
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its engaging art, excellent voice acting, and immersive details, particularly in cockpit animations that enhance the experience. However, some players note a lack of character interactions during certain missions that can disrupt the overall atmosphere, though key missions often compensate for this shortcoming. Overall, the game offers a campy yet captivating ambiance that draws players in, making it a solid choice for fans of challenging space shooters.

    • “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.”
    • “Game lacks in interactions between characters during some missions, which kind of disrupts the atmosphere, but key missions usually make up for that.”
    • “It could have been a lot more, with each season having its own distinct atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere?”
  • humor
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the campy dialogue and humorous references, while others find the comedic elements inconsistent and not always effective. The game features funny character interactions and a lighthearted tone, but frustrations with gameplay mechanics can overshadow the humor for some. Overall, it offers a vibrant and entertaining experience, though opinions on its comedic value vary significantly.

    • “Great ship designs, good soundtrack, and some funny dialogue.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and the audio does its job remarkably, with touches of styles like the pilots' intercoms during the fight (a nod to the anime material the whole game is inspired from), and the game is sparkled with humor and references (one of the enemy pilots is dressed like the protagonist of Guacamelee).”
    • “The game doesn't take itself seriously and some of the campy dialogue is pretty funny.”
  • character development
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is characterized by a vibrant mix of cartoon and anime-inspired designs, which some players find appealing while others consider off-putting. The character and ship designs pay homage to classic space operas and old-school shooters, featuring a lively and comedic aesthetic, though opinions vary on their overall quality and depth. While the visual style evokes nostalgia for 80s-90s anime, it may not fully resonate with all players.

    • “Simple storyline, lively and comedic character design, and very responsive action gameplay.”
    • “Ship and character designs are a nice homage to other space operas/shows.”
    • “With elements of old-school space shooters like R-Type, Gradius, and perhaps a bit of color from Pop'n TwinBee, it is mixed with manga character design spiced with a lot of references to the art style of series like Transformers or Saber Rider.”
    • “Besides that, I find the visual style and character design kind of off-putting.”
    • “The character design seems to be a mix between cartoons and anime, and while not detailed, are good enough in my opinion.”
    • “With elements of old-school space shooters like R-Type, Gradius, and perhaps a bit of color from Pop'n TwinBee, it is put in the mix with manga character design spiced with a lot of references to the art style of series like Transformers or Saber Rider.”
  • optimization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and attractive visuals, while others criticize it as an "unoptimized mess" plagued by crashes and poor performance. Despite some known issues that developers are addressing, many users feel the game is not worth its price due to these optimization problems. Overall, the experience varies significantly, with some players reporting no issues at all.

    • “Runs smoothly, looks gorgeous and the control scheme is reminiscent of the game it took its inspiration from, with enough of a modern twist to make it relevant in today's age.”
    • “Some performance issues on the cutscenes, but it is a known issue that the devs are trying to fix.”
    • “Performance-wise, I haven't found any problems.”
    • “Very poor optimization; the game itself is not worth the price.”
    • “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 generally suffers from poor performance, even though it's not that great looking.”
    • “Cons: unoptimized garbage that keeps crashing.”
  • grinding
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, as missions lack interest and are bogged down by repetitive dialogue and procedural generation issues. The requirement to start each chapter weakened and the loss of upgrades after missions detracts from immersion and enjoyment, leading to a sense of futility in the grinding process. While some boss encounters provide unique fun, the overall experience is marred by the relentless and often unfulfilling grind.

    • “The missions are not very interesting, the procedural generation isn't great, having to start each chapter weakened chafes, missions are overly laden with story dialog you have to hear over and over, and there's a lot of dead space and tedious searching. You're weaker if you don't do it every time.”
    • “The difficulty ramps up to a level that is a bit more tedious than some would want, and the idea that you always have to search for your gear again kind of ruins the immersion for me.”
    • “Even 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) and defeating the grueling end-season boss encounters (the only unique and genuinely fun parts of the whole game), 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.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a lack of emotional engagement with the game, as evidenced by one user who completed only a few missions before losing interest entirely. This suggests that the game may not effectively resonate with its audience on an emotional level.

  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers express a desire for fair pricing in gaming, advocating for games that offer value without the high costs typically associated with AAA titles. They emphasize the importance of supporting developers who provide quality content at reasonable prices, challenging the notion that games must be expensive to succeed.

    • “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more for basic content that should be included in the game.”
    • “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great hindered by aggressive monetization tactics that prioritize profit over player experience.”
    • “The constant pressure to spend money on in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”

Buy GALAK-Z

20h Median play time
20h Average play time
20-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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This game contains adult content