MO:Astray

While it has some needless gore and pacing baggage, MO: Astray is a success on the whole. The gameplay’s unique and varied, the world’s intriguing and fully realized, the bosses are memorable, and the challenge is addictive. Impressive stuff.

78%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, replayability

91% User Score Based on 2,254 reviews

Critic Score 79%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.12

Buy NowGet on Steam$14.99

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About

MO: Astray is a sci-fi puzzle-platformer with a unique atmosphere, featuring a jelly-like organism named MO. The game boasts intriguing story, fantastic mechanics, good visuals, and a compelling soundtrack, but requires lots of grinding and can be highly emotional. Use MO's abilities to stick, jump, skillfully dodge attacks, and change forms to navigate the sinister facility and unravel the mystery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,260 reviews

story647 positive mentions

grinding44 negative mentions

Beautiful pixel art and sound design create an immersive atmosphere.
Engaging puzzles and unique mechanics keep gameplay fresh and interesting.
Challenging boss fights that require skill and strategy to defeat.

Controls can feel clunky and imprecise, leading to frustrating moments.
The story can be confusing and is often delivered in a disjointed manner.
Some puzzles and boss fights can feel tedious due to long setups and instant-death mechanics.

story
1,555 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The story of *mo:astray* is a complex and engaging narrative that unfolds through various means, including environmental storytelling, collectible memories, and comic-style interludes. While many players appreciate the depth and emotional weight of the story, some find it confusing or poorly presented, often requiring extra effort to piece together the full narrative. Overall, the game is praised for its intriguing plot and atmospheric storytelling, though some critiques focus on its delivery and pacing.
- “The story keeps you guessing & the bosses are fun challenges.”
- “The story is incredible, and the movement mechanics are very interesting.”
- “The story is deep and invigorating, and the fights are all very intense and difficult (later on in the story).”
- “This game's story was so confusing.”
- “The story is pretty weak, and hard to follow unless you go 100%.”
- “The story is over complicated, unnecessary, and actually detracts from the atmosphere of the creepy world gone wrong.”
gameplay
1,064 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The gameplay of "Mo: Astray" is characterized by its unique movement mechanics and a blend of platforming, puzzles, and combat that keeps the experience fresh and engaging. While many players appreciate the variety and creativity in mechanics, some find the controls can feel imprecise or frustrating, particularly during boss fights. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable challenges and innovative design, though opinions vary on its pacing and difficulty.
- “There are some really good gameplay ideas in here and the game mixes itself up frequently to never get boring.”
- “Mo: astray is a gorgeous puzzle/action platformer with brilliant movement mechanics and clever level design.”
- “The gameplay is unique as you can stick to walls and ceilings, and paired with tight controls and good level design it is a delight to play.”
- “Sorry, but the gameplay overall is too slow and sluggish and not very innovative.”
- “It gets boring and tedious due to the unfun movement mechanics and poor level design.”
- “Ambitious world building, charming pixel art, and a somber soundtrack can't overcome tedious gameplay, odd story delivery, and repetitive backtracking through puzzles/cutscenes.”
music
580 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
27%
1%
The music in "mo:astray" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its stunning soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. The compositions are described as both soothing and dynamic, perfectly complementing the gameplay and narrative, particularly during boss fights. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience, with many players recommending purchasing the game alongside its soundtrack.
- “The soundtrack is also incredibly good before I realized it was made by Rayark, one of the legendary names for a great soundtrack.”
- “The music is astonishing, so is the story, and the gameplay.”
- “The music, especially, is pretty good.”
- “Ambitious world building, charming pixel art, and a somber soundtrack can't overcome tedious gameplay, odd story delivery, and repetitive backtracking through puzzles/cutscenes.”
- “The music is not that memorable but that's okay.”
- “The credits music is just meh in my opinion.”
graphics
489 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The graphics of "Mo: Astray" have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful pixel art style, which effectively creates a captivating atmosphere that blends cuteness with darker themes. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the visuals and animations, although some note that certain elements, like the comic book interludes, clash with the overall aesthetic. Overall, the game's graphics are described as stunning, immersive, and a significant highlight of the experience.
- “Beautiful, with an awesome soundtrack, gorgeous visuals, and an amazing story.”
- “Stunning visuals and soundtrack alike.”
- “The artwork for this game is absolutely stunning, and the ambiance of the world is worth the price on its own.”
- “The only small gripe is that the comic book (which tells you important parts of the story) looks really out of style with the rest of the game; it would look better in pixel graphics.”
- “The text isn't put into a readable text-box or anything sensible; it's just whitish text over the game's graphics.”
- “Clashing mix of different art styles means the game doesn't have much of a consistent tone.”
atmosphere
215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of grotesque and cute elements, featuring dark themes such as zombies and gore juxtaposed with charming visuals and an engaging soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the stunning pixel art and immersive sound design, which together create a captivating and sometimes eerie environment that enhances the narrative experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as rich, emotional, and integral to the gameplay, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The atmosphere is grotesque, although not horrifying... there are zombies, there is gore, hanging bodies, etc. The gruesome atmosphere is contrasted by the cute audio/visuals of the main character, Mo, and its narrator/voice in its head.”
- “This game is an atmospheric and narrative journey that kept me going to see how everything concludes, and to figure out what really happened to the hundreds of souls you come across.”
- “The art direction and soundtrack are incredible and it leads to an atmosphere that is gorgeous, mysterious, adorable, and morbid all at once.”
- “The atmosphere is grotesque, although not horrifying. There are zombies, there is gore, hanging bodies, etc. The gruesome atmosphere is contrasted by the cute audio/visuals of the main character, Mo, and its narrator/voice in its head.”
- “The story is overcomplicated, unnecessary, and actually detracts from the atmosphere of the creepy world gone wrong.”
- “There are comics in between the chapters that have art that, while not bad, clashes with the aesthetic of the game and again, ruins the atmosphere.”
emotional
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of Mo:astray is highly praised, with players expressing surprise at the depth of feelings evoked by its charming protagonist and engaging narrative. The game features a touching story that builds to a heart-wrenching conclusion, complemented by a stellar soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience. Overall, it is described as an emotional roller coaster that successfully creates a strong connection with players, making it a memorable and impactful experience.
- “It's an emotional roller coaster and a mystery quest, with a strong finisher to its narrative.”
- “The story keeps you engaged and wanting to discover more about it as you play, and finally comes to a very touching conclusion.”
- “At its core, there is a touching, depressing, disturbing, memorable, intriguing story, shrouded in mystery.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often citing repetitive puzzles, inconsistent checkpoints, and unengaging movement mechanics as major contributors to the boredom. While some appreciate the game's story and art, the frequent backtracking and the need to redo challenging sections detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of fatigue and diminished motivation to continue.
- “It's just a tedious waste of time.”
- “Ambitious world building, charming pixel art, and a somber soundtrack can't overcome tedious gameplay, odd story delivery, and repetitive backtracking through puzzles/cutscenes.”
- “The most difficult part of the game is dying can erase minutes of progress just with a simple misplaced hop, which is more tedious.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
Overall, the reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability across different games. While some titles offer a decent level of replayability through difficulty variations and collectible hunts, others are criticized for lacking depth and variety, leading to a quicker sense of staleness. Games like "Dicey Dungeons" and "Sayonara Wild Hearts" are particularly noted for their limited replay value due to repetitive elements.
- “Very nicely paced, the chapters all feel good in length and the game itself is not too long for it to become stale and not too short either, as the harder difficulties add a little bit of replayability.”
- “With some replayability, hidden areas and collectibles are the key to unlock the completed ending.”
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “The game will probably be over for you in under 10 hours, and there isn't much replay value, besides going to specific sections to look for collectibles.”
- “My only real fault with the game is a lack of replay value.”
- “Changes from the Souls series hurt replayability, and I wish there’d been more mythological content (divine realm and dragon at the end).”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting its depth and emotional impact, complemented by stunning character designs and a compelling story. The combination of atmospheric storytelling and engaging gameplay creates a memorable experience, making it a standout feature that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite its charming visuals, the game is noted to tackle mature themes, appealing to a broader audience.
- “Amazing story and character development.”
- “From the mix of storytelling elements to the amazing art and character designs, this has been a ride worth taking, and in honesty, I'm shocked at the price point.”
- “Highly recommended, in between the atmosphere, beautiful aesthetics, wonderful character development, and one of the most hype climaxes I've ever experienced since our character said a word in D2.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised for fast loading times and smooth animations, with minimal bugs affecting gameplay. However, users have reported issues with mouse control and various glitches, including problems with the intro sequence and physics, which detract from the overall experience.
- “Lastly, performance was great, with fast loading times, no FPS drops, and pretty much bug-free.”
- “Animations of both the main character and the mobs are smooth and not buggy.”
- “Maybe it just didn't, but physics and input glitches, a lack of developed plot and several 'boss' encounters that undermine all the previous mechanics tipped this into a negative for me.”
- “You'll find glitches before even reaching the main menu (can't skip intro, despite buttons saying you can).”
- “Only one bad thing is the buggy mouse control.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding joy in its quirky moments and amusing character interactions, particularly with the "funny slugcat." However, some critiques highlight that the writing often veers into unintentional comedy, leading to laughter and cringe during serious moments, though many still enjoyed the overall experience.
- “I enjoyed every hour I played this game; even the tragically hard parts made me laugh with joy.”
- “Haha, funny slugcat go brrrrr.”
- “It's also basically devoid of bugs; I only encountered one, and it was pretty funny.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its great performance, featuring fast loading times and stable frame rates with minimal bugs. However, some users feel that the recommendation for a controller indicates a lack of thorough optimization for other input methods. Additionally, the inclusion of various difficulty settings and a speed mode caters to players seeking to enhance their performance.
- “Lastly, performance was great, with fast loading times, no FPS drops, and pretty much bug-free.”
- “For the purists, it has several difficulty options as well as a speed mode that cuts out story elements if you want to perfect your performance.”
- “Yes, I realize it does say that a controller is recommended; however, that's no excuse for poor optimization and design.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for misleading advertisements that portray a charming experience, which contrasts sharply with the actual gameplay, leading to user disappointment.
- “Their advertisements of this game on pages of their other games make it seem normal with a cute protagonist, but when you actually play it, yeah... nope.”