Moose Life
- August 13, 2020
- Llamasoft Ltd.
Get on Steam"Moose Life" is a psychedelic voxel arcade shooter that promises to transport players to a blissful state with its trance-inducing gameplay. Developed by the creators of "Tempest 2000," the game builds on a legacy of creating euphoric experiences through software. With support for both VR and traditional screens, players can immerse themselves in a world of deer and mushrooms, engaging in exhilarating arcade-style combat.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- Moose Life offers a visually stunning and psychedelic experience, with vibrant colors and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the gameplay.
- The game features addictive and well-balanced shooting mechanics, allowing players to easily pick up and play while still providing depth and challenge.
- Playing in VR elevates the experience, creating a unique and immersive environment that feels like being inside a retro arcade game.
- The game has known controller issues, particularly with VR controllers, making it less enjoyable for players who do not use an Xbox controller.
- Some players may find the chaotic visuals overwhelming, leading to confusion during gameplay and difficulty in understanding enemy patterns.
- While the game is fun, it can feel repetitive after extended play, as the levels may not offer enough variety to keep players engaged long-term.
- music15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in "Moose Life" is widely praised for its energetic and psychedelic qualities, perfectly complementing the game's vibrant visuals and fast-paced gameplay. Reviewers highlight the outstanding electronica soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience and creates a trance-like atmosphere. The combination of fun, groovy tunes and engaging sound effects contributes to the game's unique charm and appeal.
“Sound and music are exotic and apropos to the visuals.”
“The music is excellent and flows nicely with the proceedings.”
“Moose life delivers everything you would expect from a Llamasoft game: trippy visuals, funky soundtrack, an obsession with furry animals, bonkers action, and crazy on-screen text.”
“The music probably went down 20-30 bpm since Polybius, which makes for a more relaxed trance, a less ragingly powerful but still one of pure pleasure and dancing.”
“Lots of beasties, shooting, animal noises, trippy effects and pumping music.”
“The soundtrack is rad.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of unique mechanics and visually stimulating elements, creating an engaging and addictive experience. While some players find the learning curve challenging, many appreciate the well-balanced design that allows for a rewarding sense of mastery. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its intensity and fun, drawing favorable comparisons to classic titles while establishing its own identity.
“Great music, great gameplay, and great friends you'll make along the way.”
“10/10 this is the good stuff; Llamasoft at their best; carefully balanced gameplay, visual overload, that feeling of being 'in the zone' when you get it all.”
“From the moment you load it up, you are taken on a brisk ride of superb blasting action with well-balanced and addictive gameplay.”
“I don't like the gameplay as much as I liked Polybius.”
“It's hard to imagine the game having quite the same brain-melting effect played on a flat screen, even if the gameplay is the same.”
“Moose Life picks up right where those games left off, and while it might not have quite the head-spinning intensity of Polybius or the tight single-screen gameplay of Gridrunner, it manages to carve an identity for itself and stands up with either.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Moose Life" are a vibrant homage to 80's arcade aesthetics, enhanced with modern flair and psychedelic elements that create a visually captivating experience. The combination of trippy visuals and a funky soundtrack contributes to an engaging atmosphere, making it a standout title for fans of retro gaming. Overall, the game's unique art style and dynamic visuals are both nostalgic and exhilarating, appealing to a wide range of players.
“As tempting as it is to describe Moose Life as an arcade shooter on acid, with its bizarre childlike logic and psychedelic shifting visuals, the sheer visual splendor is undeniable in any state of mind.”
“Old school gaming at its best, with some trippy visuals especially in VR.”
“Graphics look like an 80's arcade game, but souped up for modern consumption.”
“Super addictive in-the-zone homage to 80's arcade shooters with tripped out visuals and quirky humor.”
“The retro/psychedelic visuals and sounds are a treat for the eyes and the ears.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, offering instead a whimsical and nonsensical experience filled with arcade-style fun and humor, particularly centered around moose jokes. Players should not expect a structured story or in-game progression, as the focus is on lighthearted gameplay rather than a cohesive plot.
“No story, no in-game shop, no grinding, just pure arcade fun and a lot of moose jokes.”
“As with most Llamasoft games, there's no story, and nothing makes any sense; you just have to go with the flow.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its lack of intrusive microtransactions and advertisements, providing a refreshing experience in contrast to many modern games that rely heavily on these practices. Players appreciate the absence of in-app purchases and lengthy cutscenes, highlighting the game's focus on genuine enjoyment rather than profit-driven mechanics. However, there is a sense of disappointment regarding the broader gaming landscape, which is often dominated by exploitative monetization strategies.
“This is the best five dollars I have ever spent, and there are no long, boring cut scenes here, or endlessly irritating in-app purchases.”
“Truly a game I lived for, feeling fulfilled in a shallow age of microtransactions and advertisements suffocating the life out of everything to do with gaming.”
“Wonderful to have such a game but saddening to know it's a game that is surrounded by a lot of soul-emptying games based on microtransactions and DLC that is not DLC but built into the games already.”
“Someone can stream this on Twitch and advertisements will flow in every so often, killing the meaning of the game, making money for the egocentric streamer and the companies that own the streaming sites.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game's mechanics, particularly the attachment to achieving high scores, which can lead to intense focus and frustration. However, for those seeking a more laid-back, trippy experience, the game delivers an enjoyable emotional journey reminiscent of classic titles like Tempest.
“That may be an issue if you are emotionally attached to getting a high score and die because you fell into a trance, but if you want trippy fun, it's perfect. You should know what to expect if you ever played Tempest.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find this game significantly more replayable without VR compared to Polybius, which is considered less accessible outside of a virtual reality setting. While VR enhances the experience, many users prefer the traditional gameplay, leading to greater overall replayability.
“This game offers incredible replayability, allowing players to explore different strategies and outcomes with each playthrough.”
“The variety of choices and paths keeps the experience fresh, making me want to dive back in time and time again.”
“Each session feels unique, thanks to the dynamic elements that change with every playthrough.”
“This game is way more enjoyable without VR compared to Polybius, which had too much depth to be truly playable outside of VR. While VR is cool and Polybius is in my top 5 VR games, I much prefer to do most of my gaming outside of VR.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, highlighting it as a positive aspect that allows for pure arcade enjoyment without the distraction of a story or in-game shop.
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally well-received, allowing for smooth gameplay as players engage in unique activities like playing as a moose, shooting aliens, and rescuing sheep. Performance issues are minimal, ensuring an enjoyable experience while collecting various items.
“The optimization in this game allows for seamless gameplay, making it easy to switch between tasks like shooting aliens and rescuing sheep.”
“I love how the game optimizes performance, ensuring that even during intense action sequences, everything runs smoothly.”
“The ability to collect performance-enhancing pills adds a fun layer of strategy, allowing players to optimize their gameplay experience.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
“I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
“Despite its fun concept, the lack of proper optimization leads to long loading times and crashes.”
