Laserlife

58%
Game Brain Score Based on 99 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Laserlife Game Cover
A hypnotic rhythm-game album with a dark and thoughtful mind inside.
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"Laserlife" is a single-player Science Fiction Arcade game with delightful gameplay and excellent visuals and music. As a dead astronaut found in deep space, players control dual lasers to collect memory molecules, harmonize memories, and warp back to reality, all while exploring existential themes about humankind. The game is designed for a one-sitting experience, with immersive gameplay and a unique concept.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

58%
Audience ScoreBased on 99 reviews
music36 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The game features great visuals and a unique concept that immerses players in a trippy experience.
  • The soundtrack is enjoyable and complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
  • The gameplay is simple yet fun, with different difficulty levels allowing for a relaxing or challenging experience.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, which may not justify its price.
  • Controls can be frustrating, especially when using certain controllers, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
  • Visuals can sometimes be cluttered, making it difficult to see important gameplay elements, which can break immersion.
  • music95 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many reviewers highlighting the great soundtrack and its synchronization with the visuals. However, some players found certain sections repetitive and felt that the music could be more innovative, particularly in the introductory sequences. Overall, while the music is a standout feature that contributes to a relaxing and immersive atmosphere, it may not appeal to everyone due to its occasional lack of variety.

    • “The music is a fine example of techno done right and complements the gameplay fantastically.”
    • “Fantastic music and visuals, supported by its mechanics really make you feel part of the music.”
    • “Laserlife is part rhythm game, part trippy experience and, while brief, its fun gameplay, great music, and dreamlike imagery make it a hidden gem.”
    • “For being a music game, the actual beats are the vanilla flavored white toasted wonder bread of chill house, maybe occasionally rising above a standard 4/4 hi-hat rhythm in the last level.”
    • “The game's opening sections become very tiresome the more you see them, forced to essentially replay and sift through that same-looking section with the same song before you are granted to play the more enjoyable second sections of the levels.”
    • “I found the music rather repetitive, and your actions don’t really interact with the music.”
  • gameplay54 mentions

    The gameplay of "Laserlife" is described as simplistic and repetitive, with a reliance on aligning analog sticks to hit passing icons, which some find enjoyable while others see as shallow. While the visuals and music are praised for their immersive qualities, the lack of variety in gameplay mechanics and the difficulty of controls detract from the overall experience. Despite its brief nature, the game offers a unique rhythm experience that may appeal to fans of the genre, though many reviewers suggest it is overpriced for the content provided.

    • “Laserlife is part rhythm game, part trippy experience and, while brief, its fun gameplay, great music, and dreamlike imagery make it a hidden gem.”
    • “I really liked Laserlife; the gameplay is fun and keeps you on your toes. The levels sport nice and trippy graphics, the soundtrack alternates between high tempo and slower tracks to mix things up a bit, and the various memories were interesting enough to keep going for more.”
    • “The music is a fine example of techno done right and complements the gameplay fantastically.”
    • “The gameplay is quite weak and the controls are difficult; when you finally get the hang of it, the game is over.”
    • “This over time became a bit disappointing to me as it feels more like cutting corners instead of offering a new playlist of timed rhythm presses, though at least each new opening offers a new mechanic.”
    • “The visuals can also impact the gameplay, as without a set track or visual indicators of being on rails, oftentimes the glyphs you have to pick up can blend into the stars and swooping graphical chatter that makes it confusing.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their vibrant colors and fluid animations, creating a visually stunning experience that complements the music. However, some players note that the visuals can sometimes blend into the background, making it difficult to focus on gameplay elements. Overall, while the graphics are impressive and enhance the game's atmosphere, they may occasionally hinder gameplay clarity.

    • “Spectacular visuals, great music and controller-breaking action.”
    • “Laserlife's graphics are not 'realistic' but each of the surreal elements it portrays animate fluidly and with bright, vibrant colors that make for an enjoyable experience.”
    • “The highlight of the graphics are the middle section of the levels as they fly by, with each feeling unique from the last and with colors, effects, and overall moods matching the song of the level.”
    • “Main gripe with this is the visuals.”
    • “The visuals can also impact the gameplay, as without a set track or visual indicators of being on rails, oftentimes the glyphs you have to pick up can blend into the stars and swooping graphical chatter, making it confusing.”
    • “Rez has a fatal flaw: where in Rez, the visualization is what you had to pay attention to and interact with for the game, in this one, you aren't able to look at the nifty visuals because you're too busy paying attention to these separate incoming hedrons, basically the arrows of the dressed-up game of DDR you're actually playing, nevermind the impressive (non-interactive) background.”
  • story39 mentions

    The story of Laserlife is minimal and abstract, focusing on the journey of a dead astronaut from childhood to death, conveyed through visuals and sound rather than traditional narrative. While some players found the storytelling compelling and creatively executed, others noted its lack of depth and complexity, with only brief glimpses into the astronaut's life. Overall, the game offers an intriguing experience, but many reviewers expressed a desire for more content and a deeper exploration of the story.

    • “The story actually has depth, which is surprising for what is ostensibly a rhythm game.”
    • “It delivers a beautifully crafted piece of storytelling with brilliant creativity that really does make you stop and think.”
    • “Overall, this is a triumph of modern-day storytelling, employing original and highly creative means.”
    • “Laserlife's story is very minimal and abstract, and its claim of being a 'biography' in its description is giving it too much credit.”
    • “While Laserlife's story alludes to an astronaut's journey into/through the afterlife, there is very little exposition beyond an abstract item being found at the end of each chapter and a brief line of dialogue reflective of the previous level's second section content.”
    • “It's a bit of a shame that it's so short; the 12 levels go by quickly (in fact, the devs recommend playing through the game in one sitting), and once you're done, there's not much else to do. They could have done a bit more with the story rather than just giving us bits and pieces of memories.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Laserlife offers a mixed experience in terms of replayability. While the game features enjoyable and diverse middle sections that encourage replaying for high scores, the unskippable and repetitive introductory sequences detract from its overall replay value, leading to a split reception among players. Ultimately, the game is short, taking about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, with limited incentive to replay unless aiming for high scores.

    • “Fairly short, but has great replay value.”
    • “Laserlife's levels have a middle section which has its own unique song and setting, making it the most diverse and enjoyable part of the game, enhancing its replayability after completion.”
    • “The game offers a unique experience in its middle section, which encourages players to revisit and explore different aspects, contributing to its overall replay value.”
    • “Suffice to say, I have enjoyed the game, but I do think that it will be a very split reception to whether you really enjoy the game or couldn't care less for it. The option to not skip the repetitive opening sequences makes its replay value tank a wee bit.”
    • “It's short; it'll take you 1.5 to 2 hours to finish, and unless you want to go for a high score on certain levels, there's no replay value.”
    • “The game is enjoyable, but the lack of meaningful content after the initial playthrough really diminishes its replayability.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players highlight the emotional impact of the game, particularly during a sequence where family photographs float by as Chinese lanterns rise, creating a poignant and touching atmosphere amidst the surreal environments. This blend of visual storytelling and interactive gameplay evokes a strong emotional response, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The second section of each level involves simply lining up the two analog sticks either low, mid, or high as bizarre locales breeze by you, including strange underwater areas, spaceships, and docks that assemble as you cruise along. My personal favorite area features photographs of a family flying by as Chinese lanterns ascend to the sky in a poignant, touching sequence.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate the quality of the content, describing it as excellent chilled electronica, but express concern over the limited amount available, which may deter them from grinding for 100% completion.

    • “What's there is great - chilled electronica stuff, but there isn't a whole lot of it, and I think this might put me off grinding for that 100% achievement.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is generally praised for its impressive visuals and solid optimization, though some users report occasional performance issues immediately after completing levels.

    • “The game is visually impressive and well optimized, providing a smooth experience overall.”
    • “The optimization is commendable, ensuring that the game runs smoothly even in demanding scenarios.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

47% average critic score

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