Laserlife

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 48 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

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews
music18 positive mentions
grinding3 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 well, 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 about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, which may not justify the price.
  • Controls can be frustrating, especially when using certain controllers, making gameplay feel awkward at times.
  • The story is minimal and generic, lacking depth and failing to engage players beyond the visual and musical experience.
  • music48 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its relaxing and immersive qualities, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety. Many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement the gameplay and visuals, creating a trippy experience, but some criticize the unskippable introductory sequences that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the music is often described as enjoyable and fitting for a rhythm game, it may not be groundbreaking or engaging for all players.

    • “Spectacular visuals, great music, and controller-breaking action.”
    • “Very relaxing game to play, the soundtrack is awesome and visuals are fantastic.”
    • “Fantastic music and visuals, supported by its mechanics really make you feel part of the music.”
    • “I found the music rather repetitive, and your actions don’t really interact with the music.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay26 mentions

    The gameplay in "Laserlife" is described as simplistic yet enjoyable, combining rhythm mechanics with a minimalistic, sci-fi aesthetic. While the visuals and music are praised for enhancing the experience, many players feel the gameplay lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of repetitiveness. Overall, it offers a unique experience but may not justify its price due to limited content and shallow mechanics.

    • “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, and the soundtrack alternates between high tempo and slower tracks to mix things up a bit.”
    • “The music is a fine example of techno done right and complements the gameplay fantastically.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is quite weak and the controls are difficult; when you finally get the hang of it, the game is over.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their vibrant colors, fluid animations, and unique visual styles that enhance the overall experience. However, some players note that the visuals can sometimes blend into the background, making it difficult to focus on gameplay elements. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and an engaging soundtrack creates a captivating atmosphere, though it may occasionally detract from gameplay clarity.

    • “Spectacular visuals, great music, and controller-breaking action.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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, never mind the impressive (non-interactive) background.”
  • story20 mentions

    The story in 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 it offers intriguing glimpses into the astronaut's life, many reviewers feel it lacks depth and complexity, leaving players wanting more content and a fuller exploration of the story. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its creativity and engagement, despite its brevity and simplicity.

    • “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.”
    • “The story is intriguing and told in an interesting manner, and while being simple, it really drew me in.”
    • “The story is just some generic stills and objects from human life.”
    • “Laserlife's story is very minimal and abstract, and its claim of being a 'biography' in its description is giving it too much credit.”
    • “It's a bit of a shame that it's so short; the 12 levels go by quickly, 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.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Laserlife offers a mixed replayability experience; while the unique middle sections provide enjoyable and diverse gameplay, the repetitive introductory sequences and short overall length limit its long-term appeal. Players may find themselves drawn to high score challenges, but the inability to skip certain segments detracts from the overall replay value.

    • “Fairly short, but has great replay value.”
    • “The middle section has its own unique song and setting, which are the most diverse and enjoyable and replayable sequences of the game after its completion.”
    • “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 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.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players highlight the emotional impact of the game, particularly during a sequence where family photographs float by alongside ascending Chinese lanterns, creating a poignant and touching atmosphere amidst the surreal environments. This blend of visuals evokes a sense of nostalgia and connection, enhancing the overall emotional 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.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears, as I connected with the characters on a personal level. Their struggles and triumphs resonated with my own experiences, making every moment feel incredibly real.”
    • “I was completely immersed in the game's atmosphere, and the soundtrack perfectly complemented the emotional highs and lows of the narrative. It was a rollercoaster of feelings that I won't soon forget.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players appreciate the quality of the content but express concern that the limited amount may deter them from grinding for 100% completion.

    • “What's there is ace - 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.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “I find the grind to be tedious and unfulfilling, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game is visually impressive and generally well optimized, though some users report occasional performance issues immediately after completing a level.

    • “The game is visually impressive and well optimized, with only occasional hiccups right after level completion.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

47% average critic score

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