Moonlight Pulse
- April 26, 2024
- Seafloor Games LLC
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"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.
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Reviews
- Engaging character swapping mechanic that allows for diverse gameplay and problem-solving.
- Charming art style and unique setting within a giant space turtle, complemented by well-written dialogue and character development.
- Solid controls and enjoyable combat, with creative boss designs and a satisfying progression system.
- The game is relatively short, with some players wishing for more content and exploration opportunities.
- Navigation can be tedious due to a cumbersome fast travel system and a lack of map markers for collected items.
- Some mechanics and characters feel underutilized, leading to a desire for deeper gameplay elements.
- gameplay35 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a well-executed character swapping mechanic that enhances combat and exploration, offering diverse abilities and unique movement styles for each character. While the game is praised for its creative boss designs and engaging mechanics, some players feel that certain features are underutilized, and the overall experience may feel a bit short. Overall, the gameplay is responsive and enjoyable, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and clever mechanics that tie into the narrative.
“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.”
“The multi-character system gives us some good variety in movement and attacking options, while also delivering the very cool 'friend save' mechanic for those of us that don't always watch our health!”
“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.”
- story32 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, praised for its engaging characters and intriguing lore, though some players feel it lacks a grand scale relative to the game's size. The narrative, set on a spacefaring turtle, combines heartfelt themes with character development and offers a straightforward plot that stands out in the metroidvania genre. Overall, players express a desire for more content in the same universe, highlighting the story's potential for expansion and deeper exploration.
“I want to say, simply, I absolutely adore this game, from the art style, to the characters, to the story itself.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and unique art style, with many reviewers highlighting the retro pixel graphics and vibrant aesthetics that enhance the overall experience. The visuals are described as beautiful and polished, effectively complementing the engaging story and gameplay. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a standout in its genre.
“What really got me interested is the setting and the art style along with it.”
“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.”
“Graphics: retro”
“- charming aesthetic”
- music14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
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 excellent and enhances the game's setting and experience. Players expressed a desire for the ability to purchase the soundtrack, highlighting its impact on their enjoyment of the game.
“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.”
“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.”
“A metroidvania with a unique setting and moody soundtrack that doesn't overstay its welcome.”
- character development4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in character development, offering a compelling and emotional narrative that stands out in the metroidvania genre. Players appreciate the engaging story, well-designed characters, and the combination of fun movement mechanics with beautiful pixel art. Overall, the character design and writing contribute significantly to the game's charm and depth.
“This is a rare game that combines great character development with an interesting story in a metroidvania format, and it does it well.”
“Fun movement, cute character designs, engaging, and surprisingly emotional writing.”
“Gorgeous character designs and pixel art.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its atmospheric 2D locations and charming animal characters, complemented by excellent music that enhances exploration and intensifies during boss encounters. Overall, players find the setting and sound design to create an engaging and immersive experience.
“It's got tight controls, atmospheric 2D locations, and a whole bunch of adorable little animal characters.”
“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.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with exploration often feeling more laborious than typical for the genre. The lack of fast travel and the need to navigate circuitous routes contribute to the overall sense of monotony during long-distance traversal.
“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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its short length, which enhances its replayability, making it easy and enjoyable for players to return for multiple playthroughs. Users find it fun enough to revisit, despite its brevity.
“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 start a new save for fun.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's not much incentive to play again. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
“The game offers very little in terms of different outcomes or experiences on subsequent playthroughs, which really diminishes its replayability.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features engaging and heartfelt writing that, while rooted in the familiar "power of friendship" trope, delivers an emotional experience that resonates with players. The combination of fun movement and cute character designs enhances the overall emotional impact, making it a genuinely nice experience.
“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.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally considered acceptable, but many users feel it lacks finesse and could be improved for a more effective comedic experience.
