Kromaia
- October 23, 2014
- Kraken Empire
Get on Steam"Kromaia is a 360° shoot-'em-up game that combines classic arcade action with modern technology, allowing players to explore and battle in three-dimensional space. The game features adaptive AI, with enemies getting tougher as the player improves, and true 360° movement and shooting that tests high-speed flying and sharpshooting skills."
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features excellent 6DOF controls, allowing for complete freedom of movement and an engaging gameplay experience.
- The visuals and atmosphere are stunning, reminiscent of classic titles like Rez and Descent, creating a unique and immersive environment.
- Boss battles are challenging and well-designed, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment when defeated.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive, requiring players to replay levels multiple times with different ships, which may lead to boredom.
- Combat mechanics are frustrating due to rubberbanding enemy AI and poor mouse implementation, making it difficult to control the ship effectively.
- The game suffers from a lack of content, with only a few levels and limited enemy variety, which diminishes long-term replayability.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Kromaia is characterized by its intense and engaging mechanics, blending elements of fast-paced 3D shoot-em-up and exploration. While some users note issues with controls and combat, the overall experience is praised for its unique aesthetic and challenging adaptive enemy AI, making it a standout in the shmup genre. Despite needing some refinements, the game offers a compelling mix of exploration and action that appeals to fans of both western and Japanese shooter styles.
“All in all, Kromaia is a pretty neat exploration of the concept of a fast-paced 3D shoot-em-up, with great presentation and fun gameplay.”
“The gameplay is intense and crowded, but it is also possible to explore and find secrets at calmer times.”
“Put these features together with the game's adaptive enemy AI, and the result is exciting (and challenging!) shmup gameplay.”
“Well, the controls are wonky (probably fixable), but the gameplay itself is a mess.”
“There are a few problems, however, namely dealing with combat and general gameplay.”
“Gameplay is intense and crowded, but it is also possible to explore and find secrets at calmer times.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a diverse range of tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, from calm atmospheric pieces to intense battle themes. Players particularly enjoy the main theme and boss fight music, noting that the soundtrack complements the game's art style and contributes to an immersive, meditative atmosphere. Overall, the music effectively supports the enigmatic plot and dynamic gameplay.
“The player is given a great range of control of the ship, allowing you to zip around and take ridiculous paths through the environments. The music has a pretty good range between calm, atmospheric tracks when first entering a stage before combat starts, to ramping it up a few notches when blasting your way around.”
“I love the main theme music (main menu and orange level) and the boss fight music.”
“The plot is enigmatic and the immense soundtrack fits perfectly, guiding you steadily towards... something... the answer to an unknown question.”
“The soundtrack is stored in plain.”
“The rest of the music hits a charming place that is usually somewhere.”
“Reminds me of Strike Vector but with a much better art style and sound/music department.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their retro, surreal aesthetic reminiscent of Tron, featuring vibrant glowing shapes and a unique art style that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some players noted issues with blurriness in-game compared to promotional artwork, the developers are actively improving graphical options and responsiveness. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's charm, making it an aesthetic marvel in the gaming landscape.
“Graphics are amazing (retro styled) and sound is good to excellent.”
“The graphics are surreal and can be confusing, but there is a setting called 'glow' which fixes that.”
“Kromaia is an aesthetic marvel: it creates an atmosphere of wonder that few games manage to capture.”
“I find particularly misleading that the artwork of this game shows some clear and crisp geometry with lots of style and sometimes an extra outline, while in-game everything is badly blurred.”
“The controls are nice although it might be best to readjust your mouse sensitivity in the options first, the graphics are surreal and can be confusing but there is a setting called 'glow' which fixes that.”
“Graphics remind me of Tron - lots of glowing, solid, colored shapes.”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it boring, unoriginal, and confusing, while others appreciate its timeless and mysterious atmosphere. Despite criticisms of incoherence, some acknowledge that the narrative may not be a significant focus in a bullet hell game. Overall, the story's execution seems to vary widely among players.
“I enjoyed the timeless, ominous, and mysterious feel to the story.”
“Luckily, mother doesn’t send you on your quest for revenge without the proper attire needed for committing godocide.”
“The story is boring and unoriginal, and at times confusing.”
“The story is pure babble (but at least this shouldn't matter in a bullet hell game).”
“And you’ll quickly notice the story and world.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, combining a stunning aesthetic with a dynamic soundtrack that shifts from calm to intense during gameplay. Players appreciate the freedom of movement, which enhances the sense of exploration and wonder throughout the environments.
“The player is given a great range of control of the ship, allowing you to zip around and take ridiculous paths through the environments. The music has a pretty good range between calm, atmospheric tracks when first entering a stage before combat starts, to ramping it up a few notches when blasting your way around.”
“Kromaia is an aesthetic marvel: it creates an atmosphere of wonder that few games manage to capture.”
“Great atmosphere and game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players highlight the significant replayability of the game, attributing it to its challenging yet accessible gameplay, as well as features like score attack mode and customizable configurations. The potential for official expansions further enhances the game's longevity and appeal.
“The score attack mode and editable configurations the engine uses may be its saving grace and where the replay value resides, and hopefully, official expansions are also a possibility.”
“However, the score attack mode and editable configs the engine uses may be its saving grace and where the replay value resides, and hopefully official expansions are also a possibility.”
“I have had this game since the first day it appeared on Steam and never once have I been disappointed in the way it plays. Sure, the game is hard but not impossible, and Kromaia does have an enormous amount of replayability.”
