Incandescent
- June 30, 2015
- Stephen Crabb
Get on Steam"Incandescent" is a challenging arcade-style game where you defend your ship against unique enemies and bosses, with each playthrough tailored to your skill level. Featuring addictive gameplay, customizable controls, detailed statistics, and local leaderboards, this game offers a retro experience with 720p, 1080p, and 1440p support, scanline feature, and powerups to enhance weapons and health. Can you attain the highest score and defeat the enemy ships?
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game captures the essence of classic arcade shooters, providing a nostalgic experience reminiscent of titles like Asteroids and Galaga.
- It offers simple controls and a fun gameplay loop, making it accessible for casual gamers and enjoyable for those who appreciate twin-stick shooters.
- The colorful level designs and variety of power-ups add to the overall enjoyment, making it a decent value for its low price.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs, including issues with achievements not working and enemies spawning unexpectedly, leading to frustrating gameplay.
- The repetitive music and lack of variety in sound effects can quickly become annoying, detracting from the overall experience.
- Many players find the gameplay to be shallow and lacking in challenge, with bosses and enemies that do not require strategic thinking to defeat.
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the repetitive loops monotonous and irritating, leading to a diminished gaming experience. While some appreciate the music, others feel that a lack of variety makes it quickly boring and even frustrating. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant aspect that could benefit from more diversity and depth.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Although it seems like a small detail to add an extra soundtrack, it seriously changes the game experience.”
“- Good music”
“First of all, listening to the same music over and over again is really annoying.”
“Although it seems like a small detail to put in an extra soundtrack, it seriously changes the game experience.”
“A very simple music loop that gets boring and repetitive quickly.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as a blend of classic arcade aesthetics and modern design, with some reviewers appreciating the retro-inspired visuals reminiscent of titles like Galaga and Asteroids. However, others criticize the graphics as unoriginal, likening them to generic "neon style" shooters, and suggest that they lack the depth and creativity found in other games. Overall, while the visuals have a nostalgic appeal, they may not stand out in a crowded genre.
“If I were to describe this game in simple terms, I'd say that this room captures everything great about the classic arcade shooters like Galaga and Asteroids and puts it in a sleek modern package while retaining the aesthetics of the time with interesting wave-mode gameplay that plays much like a 2D arena shooter, emphasizing constant movement and precise aiming to make the absolute best of your offense.”
“Old school arcade at its best with neat Vectrex-styled graphics.”
“Graphics are cool, but the game and soundtrack are pretty bland.”
“Overall, I would not play this game and would rather buy Geometry Wars 3D: Evolved instead, as it has the exact same gameplay and aesthetics, but is miles better.”
“The graphics are simple copies of other 'neon style' shooters.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of evolution and challenge, with enemies and bosses requiring little strategy to defeat, leading to a boring experience. While some appreciate its homage to classic arcade shooters with a modern twist, many find it repetitive and buggy, ultimately deeming it a disappointing time-waster.
“If I were to describe this game in simple terms, I'd say that this room captures everything great about the classic arcade shooters like Galaga and Asteroids and puts it in a sleek modern package while retaining the aesthetics of the time with interesting wave-mode gameplay that plays much like a 2D arena shooter, emphasizing constant movement and precise aiming to make the absolute best of your offense.”
“The gameplay doesn't evolve, and none of the enemies or bosses really require any special thought to defeat.”
“Overall, I would not play this game and would rather buy Geometry Wars 3D: Evolved instead, as it has the exact same gameplay and aesthetics, but is miles better.”
“The game is easy, boring, and somewhat buggy. I constantly kept running into ships that would suddenly spawn right in front of me. The gameplay is boring, and there's almost nothing to it, even for a $2 game; it's not really more than a crappy time-waster.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its instability, with players reporting frequent bugs such as ships spawning unexpectedly, which detracts from the overall experience. Many find the gameplay to be dull and lacking depth, leading to a perception of the game as a poorly executed time-waster.
“The game is buggy and feels abandoned.”
“I constantly kept running into ships that would suddenly spawn right in front of me, making the gameplay frustrating and boring.”
“Even for a $2 game, it feels like a crappy time waster due to its numerous bugs.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story conveys a powerful message about resilience and the unpredictability of life, emphasizing that perseverance in the face of adversity can lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
