Moon Raider

About

Moon Raider is a multiplayer arcade platformer game. It was developed by Cascadia Games and was released on September 10, 2020. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

In Moon Raider, you play as Ava, tasked with collecting rare moon gems to save her mother, the former queen of the moon. Navigate perilous lunar catacombs filled with deadly traps, advanced alien enemies, and hidden secrets. Explore diverse environments, uncover upgrades, and face epic boss battles in this challenging action-adventure.

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

music6 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features charming pixel art and a visually appealing aesthetic that pays homage to classic platformers.
Gameplay is enjoyable with a mix of exploration, collectibles, and boss fights that provide a fun challenge.
The controls are generally responsive, allowing for smooth movement and action, enhancing the overall experience.

The game suffers from numerous instant death hazards and janky controls that can lead to frustrating moments.
The story is shallow and lacks depth, making it difficult for players to feel invested in the narrative.
There is limited replay value, as completing the game does not provide incentives to revisit levels or collect items.

music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the retro feel and find it enjoyable, others criticize it for being overly bass-heavy, repetitive, and lacking variety across different stages. Overall, the music is described as solid but not particularly memorable, with some standout tracks that enhance the experience.
- “The actual songs are great.”
- “Fun game with really, really good music.”
- “Great pixel art visual design, fun music and good controls using a controller.”
- “The biggest thing that bothered me about this game is the music itself.”
- “The music is okay, but fails to vary from stage to stage very well.”
- “It doesn't really form its own identity, and just seems like another space-themed song that could be found in any other platformer game such as this.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The story in the game is generally considered shallow and poorly integrated with the gameplay, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and background details. While some appreciate the simple premise of collecting gems to save a character, the overall narrative fails to engage, leading to a tedious experience. Many players feel that the developers should have invested more effort into crafting a compelling story to complement the visual aspects of the game.
- “Fun, short (2 hours to 100%) action platformer with pixel graphics, reminiscent of older titles, with a simple, straightforward story, decent gameplay, and nice pixel graphics and chiptune music, got me glued until I finished it.”
- “Your objective is to collect a total of 200 gems to save your mom's (the moon queen) life, and as a plot, it works.”
- “The main story could have more elements.”
- “There isn't much of a story to be found here.”
- “Unfortunately, the game does not build on the story or provide any additional background details as you play through.”
- “The lack of innovation in conjunction with the overly simplistic gameplay and poorly incorporated story resulted in a lackluster and tedious experience.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the smooth level transitions and fun navigation, while others criticize its lack of innovation and depth, particularly in comparison to classic platformers like Mega Man. Players noted the simplicity of the mechanics, limited active skills, and a shallow story that detracts from the overall experience. Despite its potential appeal for speedrunners, many reviewers recommend waiting for significant updates before purchasing.
- “In reviewing this game, it's undeniable the level of detail the devs put in to ensure a smooth gameplay experience. Levels move seamlessly from one to another, the pathways of each level are varied and offer collectibles, challenge, but a lot of fun in navigating them.”
- “Seems like it would be a really good game for speedrunners with the dash mechanic, and the difficulty is perfectly balanced in my opinion.”
- “Fun, short (around 2 hours to 100%) action platformer with pixel graphics, reminiscent of older titles, with a simple, straightforward story, decent gameplay, and nice pixel graphics and chiptune music, got me glued until I finished it.”
- “Clearly the developers put a lot of effort into the visual aspect; however, perhaps a similar amount of effort should have been put into the story and gameplay as well.”
- “The lack of innovation in conjunction with the overly simplistic gameplay and poorly incorporated story resulted in a lackluster and tedious experience.”
- “There is very limited gameplay and story to experience here, and there's nothing that really differentiates this one from the rest of the platformers pouring onto Steam right now.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The graphics of the game are praised for their sharpness and smoothness, reminiscent of classic titles like Mega Man and Super Mario, with a strong retro aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. While the visuals are generally well-received, some players noted issues with frame rate inconsistencies between the player sprite and background, which can cause eye strain. Overall, the pixel art style and vibrant visuals are highlighted as key strengths, making it appealing for fans of retro platformers.
- “Very sharp, smooth visuals, and from what I played, a very polished game.”
- “The best thing going for this game is its visuals.”
- “Moon Raider has the style and aesthetic of a memorable sci-fi action-adventure.”
- “However, there seems to be a stark difference in the FPS for the player sprite compared with the background visuals, which made my eyes strain a bit when playing the game.”
- “Backed the game on Kickstarter based on the pixel art and visuals, but the game itself kind of disappoints.”
- “Although the graphics are more like the older generation games like Mega Man, Super Mario, and Metroid, they are brilliantly done.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by several control glitches, such as issues with dash cancellation and double-jump execution, leading to moments of frustration. While these bugs contribute to a flawed experience, some players find them endearing, suggesting that the game's charm outweighs its technical shortcomings. Overall, the game is enjoyable despite its buggy nature.
- “I ran into a few odd control glitches here and there (a dash I couldn't cancel until I was pretty much out of power, a point where the double-jump just wouldn't execute right over an insta-death trap, and more than a few moments where I got stuck inside the level gateways) but having put up with far worse as a kid playing games that looked and played just like this one, I'm more of the 'its flaws make it more charming than less' camp.”
- “Ammo Pigs is a fun game, but a deeply flawed game mostly due to its buggy nature.”
- “Graphically the game looks great, music is solid but gets repetitive after a while, and minus a few minor glitches the game handles great.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users note that the game lacks replay value, as once completed, the save file becomes essentially useless, leading to a repetitive experience with no incentive to revisit the game.
- “There is no replay value, and your save file becomes worthless once you beat the game. Loading it will only trigger the end cutscene and credits.”
- “The game lacks any meaningful incentives to replay, making the experience feel final and unchangeable.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little reason to return, as the story and gameplay don't offer new experiences on subsequent playthroughs.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and uninspired, citing simplistic levels and repetitive boss fights that detract from the overall experience. The lack of innovation and polish further exacerbates the feeling of monotony, making the grind feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
- “Between the simplistic levels, tedious boss fights, and a handful of bugs, the lack of innovation and polish is clear almost immediately.”
- “The lack of innovation, combined with the overly simplistic gameplay and poorly incorporated story, resulted in a lackluster and tedious experience.”