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Moonlight Pulse

99%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding
99% User Score Based on 194 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Moonlight Pulse" is a 2D platforming adventure where players join the Curative Agents to protect a surreal spacefaring turtle's interior from parasites. Teamwork is key as players can swap characters and their unique abilities in an instant to explore the organism's organs and defeat enemies. A cooperative and thrilling experience, the game emphasizes on rescuing fallen characters to keep the team together until the end.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Moonlight Pulse screenshot
Moonlight Pulse screenshot
Moonlight Pulse screenshot
Moonlight Pulse screenshot
Moonlight Pulse screenshot
Moonlight Pulse screenshot

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 194 reviews
gameplay24 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • Engaging character swapping mechanic that allows for diverse gameplay and problem-solving.
  • Charming art style and unique setting within a giant space turtle, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Solid controls and enjoyable combat, with memorable boss fights and a heartfelt story.
  • Game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content and exploration.
  • Fast travel system can be cumbersome and may lead to confusion in navigation.
  • Some mechanics and characters feel underutilized, leading to a sense of missed potential.
  • gameplay
    70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a well-executed character swapping mechanic that adds depth and variety to combat and exploration, allowing players to utilize each character's unique abilities effectively. While the game offers engaging mechanics and creative boss designs, some players feel that certain features are underutilized, and the overall experience may feel a bit short for a metroidvania. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its responsiveness, solid controls, and enjoyable character interactions, making it a fun and engaging experience.

    • “I've played a ton of metroidvanias at this point, but this one still managed to surprise me with its clever use of mechanics and really creative boss design.”
    • “The gameplay itself is fun and engaging.”
    • “It makes good use of the character swapping mechanic, and while it can be a bit tricky to get the hang of, especially when you've assembled the full party, it feels great to successfully chain their abilities together to make a jump you weren't sure was possible or exploit the weaknesses of a tough group of enemies.”
    • “The aesthetic is great, but I'm really not enjoying the moment-to-moment gameplay with this one, which sucks considering how much everyone else loves it.”
    • “If I did have one criticism, it's that the game feels a bit too small and short to really leverage how many mechanics and ideas it has, so a lot of them end up feeling underdeveloped.”
    • “I found that the way the blood vessel fast travel mechanic is utilized early on was frustrating.”
  • story
    64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "moonlight pulse" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging character development and intriguing lore, set within a unique premise involving a spacefaring turtle. While some players felt the narrative lacked magnitude relative to the game's size, many appreciated the heartfelt themes and plot twists, making it a standout feature in the metroidvania genre. Overall, the combination of solid storytelling, character backstories, and exploration elements contributes to a compelling experience that leaves players wanting more.

    • “Unlike most games of this genre, this game has a great story and makes you care for the characters; they have growth to them, and dialogue changes depending on which character you use during interactions.”
    • “The story takes place on and within a gigantic spacefaring turtle, and centers on a group of animals who live there and act as relatively microscopic caretakers, fending off parasites to maintain the literal health of their home, as they discover that it is coming under attack from a fearsome megapredator.”
    • “Overall, a really cool metroidvania with great combat and exploration, worthwhile collectibles, awesome boss fights, and a surprisingly interesting story with a couple of cool, dark twists!”
    • “The scale of the story doesn't mesh well with the size of the game.”
    • “The lore and backstory of the game is simple and short but still intriguing.”
    • “Here, on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being 'Metroid Fusion' and 10 being 'Super Metroid', the game reaches a solid 7 or 8: the story gives you only very broad directions of where to go, and mostly leaves it up to you to explore, but it works out with the compact world size and the clear and easy-to-read in-game map.”
  • graphics
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming and polished art style, featuring retro pixel graphics that enhance the overall aesthetic. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and engaging character designs, which contribute to a captivating and immersive world. Despite some mixed feelings about gameplay, the graphics consistently stand out as a highlight of the experience.

    • “I want to say, simply, I absolutely adore this game, from the art style, to the characters, to the story itself.”
    • “The artwork is excellent, building a fun, but never distracting image of living within a literally living world.”
    • “($12 CDN launch discount) The game has nice pixel graphics, good music, and surprisingly good writing.”
    • “Graphics: retro”
    • “Graphics: retro”
    • “-charming aesthetic”
  • music
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many players praising its memorable tracks and atmospheric quality, particularly during boss fights. While some found the general area music less impressive, the overall soundtrack is considered a highlight, enhancing the game's setting and experience. Players expressed a desire for a soundtrack purchase option, indicating its lasting impact.

    • “The music, as with the studio's previous effort, is excellent, delivering a solid mix of atmosphere as you explore, and getting the blood pumping with that excellent boss theme.”
    • “A metroidvania with a unique setting and moody soundtrack that doesn't overstay its welcome.”
    • “Really enjoyed the overall setting, music, and atmosphere.”
    • “The normal area music isn't much special, but the boss fights are pretty jammin'!”
    • “Though admittedly I don't always pay much attention to music in games unless there's a pause in the gameplay.”
    • “(also please let me buy the soundtrack)”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game excels in character development, offering a compelling and emotional narrative that enhances the metroidvania experience. Players appreciate the engaging writing, charming character designs, and the overall smooth gameplay, which together create a rich and immersive story. The combination of well-crafted characters and visually appealing pixel art contributes to a memorable gaming experience.

    • “This is a rare game to put great character development and an interesting story in a metroidvania game, and it does it well.”
    • “Fun movement, cute character designs, engaging and surprisingly emotional writing.”
    • “+ gorgeous character designs and pixel art.”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its atmospheric 2D locations and charming animal characters, complemented by an excellent soundtrack that enhances exploration and intensifies during boss encounters. Reviewers appreciate the overall setting and music, noting that it effectively contributes to an engaging and immersive experience.

    • “Really enjoyed the overall setting, music, and atmosphere.”
    • “The music, as with the studio's previous effort, is excellent, delivering a solid mix of atmosphere as you explore, and getting the blood pumping with that excellent boss theme.”
    • “It's got tight controls, atmospheric 2D locations, and a whole bunch of adorable lil' animal characters.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to circuitous routes and the absence of fast travel, which makes long-distance traversal feel more laborious than typical for this genre.

    • “Firstly, the exploration can be quite tedious at times, more so than this style of game usually is.”
    • “- Circuitous routes and no fast travel made long distance traversal a bit tedious.”
    • “- Circuitous routes and no fast travel made long distance traversal a bit tedious.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is noted for its short length, which enhances its replayability, making it easy for players to return for additional playthroughs. Users find it to be a fun experience that encourages multiple saves and revisits.

    • “In conclusion, this is a short, but super fun and replayable gem.”
    • “It's a pretty short game, but it has a bit of replay value, and its brevity means I'm more likely to come back to jump into a new save for fun.”
    • “It's a pretty short game, but it has a bit of replay value. Its brevity means I'm more likely to come back and jump into a new save for fun.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game surprisingly emotional, with heartfelt writing that elevates its "power of friendship" narrative cliché. The combination of fun movement and cute character designs enhances the overall experience, making it both engaging and enjoyable.

    • “Fun movement, cute character designs, engaging and surprisingly emotional writing.”
    • “The game controls well, the boss fights are fun, and the story is your basic 'power of friendship' cliché, but it's heartfelt, earnest, and just nice.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally considered acceptable, but many reviewers feel it lacks finesse and could be improved for a more impactful experience.

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