Moo Lander

While the titular cow battles do need some revamping to bring in the fun factor, I can easily forgive that for the gorgeous art, very competent and solid gameplay, and surprisingly in-depth worldbuilding.

78%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

90% User Score Based on 40 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Moo Lander is a multiplayer role playing game with mystery, kids and science fiction themes. It was developed by The Sixth Hammer and was released on May 26, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Moo Lander is a 2.5D platformer with lots of environmental puzzles and resource management. You take control of the Lander and your mission is to locate and obtain enough milk – the most important resource in the universe. The milk itself is found only on the ancient planet of the mighty alien Cows. You progress through the game levels by going through many hostile creatures – both flora and fauna…

Genres & Tags

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

Moo Lander features stunning visuals and a vibrant art style that captivates players, reminiscent of games like Ori.
The gameplay is engaging with a mix of exploration, combat, and well-thought-out puzzles, providing a unique experience that keeps players hooked.
Local multiplayer modes add a fun dimension to the game, making it enjoyable for playing with friends or family.

The controls are clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during combat and boss fights.
The game is misleadingly marketed as a Metroidvania, as it is primarily linear with limited exploration and backtracking.
Boss battles can feel repetitive and lack variety, with many encounters relying on similar mechanics that diminish the challenge.

gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of flying saucer mechanics, engaging puzzles, and combat, creating a refreshing experience that balances fun and challenge. While some boss battles exhibit repetitive patterns, others stand out with innovative mechanics, and the overall design encourages exploration and interaction with the environment. However, some players noted issues with linearity and a lack of depth in certain encounters, which detracted from the overall experience.
- “The core gameplay, controlling a flying saucer equipped with a variety of weapons, was a perfect balance of fun and challenge.”
- “The gameplay is refreshingly original; flying a saucer, navigating environments, solving puzzles - it had all the elements to keep me hooked.”
- “The blend of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving mechanics keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- “Simply put, it’s a mechanical mess.”
- “I guess it beats getting stuck, but it creates a gameplay loop that’s completely tensionless.”
- “Instead of a limitation that you have to play around, it just interrupts the flow of the gameplay; a prerequisite to check off before attempting to have any fun.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The story of Moo Lander is characterized by its lighthearted and self-aware tone, offering a whimsical narrative that diverges from the darker themes typical of many metroidvanias. While some players find the plot to be somewhat shallow and linear, the engaging voice acting and creative character dynamics enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable despite its silliness. Overall, the story is seen as a fun backdrop that complements the gameplay, with players appreciating its quirky premise and imaginative world design.
- “Many actual metroidvania games are pretty light on plot, so it was nice to have one in place in Moo Lander, and having it be a self-aware plot lent a sense of levity that makes the experience unique from your run-of-the-mill metroidvania where the world has been corrupted or infected and everything is dark and depressing.”
- “The story goes: you’re the captain of a combat drone and one of the landers (a carefree, hotheaded one at that), an alien race left near extinction after their cow population is wiped out and supplies of milk are left dangerously low, all consequences of a war with the Anunnaki, a rival species wanting the milk all for themselves.”
- “I'm still playing through the story but it has been super interesting to see some of these twists and turns and I'm excited to see how it ends!”
- “The story is kind of meh and the rest is just bad.”
- “Voice acting is over the top as one would expect from a setting such as this and the story is equally crazy.”
- “Story-wise, the premise is very much silly and memey; the game leans into that a lot.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
14%
13%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their breathtaking and immersive art style, reminiscent of titles like Ori and Rayman. Players appreciate the detailed environments, unique character designs, and polished visuals that enhance the overall gameplay experience, making it stand out among indie games. The combination of stunning graphics and engaging mechanics contributes to a captivating atmosphere that players find delightful.
- “At first glance, I was captivated by the brilliant and lush artwork that reminded me of my favorites like Ori and Rayman.”
- “First and foremost, the graphics in Moo Lander are breathtaking.”
- “Graphic-wise, I found it original; level designs are pretty and cows are unique.”
- “I am not one to talk about aesthetics usually, but Moo Lander deserves all the praise for its immersive, detailed environment that could rival AAA games.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it uplifting and immersive, enhancing the overall experience, others describe it as decent but not particularly memorable. Overall, many appreciate the fantastic musical score that complements the game's art and design, contributing to a visually and audibly engaging experience.
- “The uplifting soundtrack perfectly complements the overall experience, creating an immersive and delightful world that you won't want to leave.”
- “Backed up with a fantastic musical score, this game was a gorgeous audio and visual feast.”
- “The music is fantastic, the level design is incredible, the art environment, everything... I didn't see any bugs in the game so far.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by quirky settings, memorable dialogues, and charming interactions with eccentric characters, which collectively enhance the overall experience. While some players feel the humor compensates for other shortcomings, many agree that it contributes significantly to the game's enjoyment, making it a fun and engaging indie title.
- “And if that's not enough, the humor rounding off the corners of the main plot, the memorable dialogues, and a beautifully balanced world altogether bring this game to life.”
- “The game is brimming with charm and humor, making every interaction with the quirky characters an absolute joy.”
- “A very fun indie game, enjoyable 2D graphics, puzzles are nice, and it has a very funny campaign.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a balance between lightheartedness and challenge, offering an uplifting experience without being overly dark or draining. Players feel a sense of growth and mastery through gameplay, contributing to a heartwarming adventure that leaves them smiling.
- “While it wasn't as cheerful as Yoku's Island Express or Islets, it's definitely not a dark, harrowing experience overall, and won't drain your emotional energy.”
- “Whether you're a fan of exploration games or simply looking for a heartwarming and uplifting adventure, Moo Lander will undoubtedly leave you with a smile on your face.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by captivating visuals and a positive vibe, enhanced by effective sound design and diverse biomes, each with unique mechanics. Players appreciate the charming and delightful environment, which contributes to an engaging overall experience without the need for backtracking typical of metroidvania games.
- “The sound design and visual style fit well and create a unique atmosphere consisting of several different biomes with unique mechanics, but you won't be backtracking through them like in a Metroidvania.”
- “From the moment I launched it, I was instantly captivated by its charming visuals, delightful gameplay, and an incredibly positive atmosphere.”
- “One of the standout aspects of Moo Lander is its upbeat and positive atmosphere.”