NanoApostle
- September 12, 2024
- 18Light Game Ltd.
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"NanoApostle" is a single-player game with an intriguing plot, featuring Anita, a girl with a sentient nanomechanical entity, Apostle, implanted in her. Together, they battle against dangerous prototype bio-weapons in evolving multi-stage fights while mastering the Destruction Point system to unleash powerful abilities against merciless adversaries. Amazing game mechanics and good graphics complement the intense action.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features incredibly polished and responsive combat mechanics, making boss fights feel fair and satisfying.
- Each boss is unique with distinct designs and mechanics, providing a challenging yet rewarding experience.
- The story is emotionally impactful, with themes that resonate deeply, complemented by a beautiful soundtrack and pixel art.
- The game is relatively short, with many players feeling it doesn't justify the price tag given the limited content.
- Some mechanics and challenges are under-utilized, leading to missed opportunities for deeper gameplay experiences.
- There are occasional issues with hitbox inconsistencies and frustrating mechanics that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- story45 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its exploration of profound themes such as the horrors of war and the essence of humanity, often blending darker elements with moments of warmth. While some players found the narrative predictable or simple, many appreciated its emotional depth and the way it complements the engaging gameplay, making it a significant aspect of the overall experience. Despite its brevity, the story leaves a lasting impact, with some players wishing for more content to further develop the characters and themes.
“When it comes to the story, the reason I found it so memorable were its two major themes: (1) the horrors of war and (2) 'what does it mean to be human?'. It's definitely not for everyone because of the darker elements, but there are wholesome moments sprinkled throughout that help balance things out.”
“This game does everything it strives to so well; the story is a must-read. If you are not going to bother with the story, then you will find this game way less fun and enjoyable than it actually is.”
“The atmosphere hits right in the feels, and the story is decent enough to keep it immersive, paired with amazing soundtracks.”
“The story is serviceable but the bosses are really good; it's about 5 hours long and it's all just good boss fights, solid game.”
“The game is short, about 5 hours depending on your skill; the story is pretty decent given how short the game is.”
“The story is simple and sweet, but it feels like it wanted me to get attached to the characters; however, it was so brief that I only felt anything because they were cute.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its smoothness, tight mechanics, and enjoyable boss battles, with many players noting the variety and uniqueness of each boss encounter. While the combat is fast-paced and responsive, some reviewers feel that certain mechanics are underutilized and that the game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience reminiscent of titles like Sekiro, though opinions on its value for the price vary.
“The game is entertaining with good mechanics.”
“The bosses are very diverse and come with their own unique mechanics.”
“The combat is fast and smooth, the mechanics are interesting.”
“The game gives you a decent amount of options to let you change up how you play Anita and Apostle, but the game also under-utilizes a lot of its mechanics, reserving them for obstacle courses and specific bosses.”
“If not, however, I would wait until perhaps the developers add some more content, as the game leaves you going 'wait, it's really over already?' a few hours in, just as you're really getting into a groove with the gameplay.”
“The gameplay is pretty spammy; basically spam light attack until you have your ranged attack, then use it, and start light attacking again. If you dodge, you can do a dodge attack, leading to you basically wanting to spam dodge and attack nonstop for the whole game.”
- music18 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its intense and beautiful fusion of techno and orchestral elements, especially during boss battles. Players highlight standout tracks, such as the haunting choir vocals in the fourth boss theme and the impactful final boss theme, which many find memorable and immersive. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances the gameplay experience, contributing to the game's polished atmosphere and replay value.
“And finally there's the music, or to be more specific, the boss themes. They're an intense, beautiful fusion of techno and orchestra. Two that stand out to me personally are the fourth boss' theme for its haunting choir vocals, and the song which plays during the final boss' second phase. I'm normally not the biggest fan of video game songs with lyrics, but this one's an exception.”
“The music absolutely slaps, especially the final boss OST.”
“It'll give you hours of fun gameplay and a great story, as well as an incredible soundtrack, with the final boss theme especially one you'll be in awe of.”
“Final OST is also just rent-free in my head.”
“Furthermore, the music of this game is truly peak.”
“The boss fights are unique (I might even replay some of them, especially the second one because it reminds me of Touhou) and the OST is pretty neat.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game features stunning pixel art and impressive boss designs, contributing to its overall aesthetic appeal. While the visuals are generally praised for their quality and style, some players noted inconsistencies with hitboxes that affected gameplay. Overall, the graphics are a highlight, enhancing the engaging combat and replay value.
“An incredible boss rush game, with aesthetically pleasing pixel art.”
“Great bosses, great soundtrack, great story, great artwork, great pixel animations, great replay value, it's a keeper.”
“The combat is awesome, the art style is amazing, the boss designs are great, and the game is really good in general.”
“The hitboxes for attacks are so weird; at times, the visuals didn't match the hitboxes, costing me more hitless attempts than I would like.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes strong emotions through its exploration of profound themes such as the horrors of war and the essence of humanity, creating a memorable narrative experience. While it contains darker elements that may not appeal to everyone, the inclusion of wholesome moments provides a necessary balance. The impactful ending is particularly noted for its ability to elicit tears, emphasizing the game's emotional depth.
“When it comes to the story, the reason I found it so memorable were its two major themes: (1) the horrors of war and (2) what it means to be human. It's definitely not for everyone because of the darker elements, but on the flip side, there are wholesome moments sprinkled throughout which help balance things out.”
“Although, here's a pro tip for everyone who might be interested in playing this game for themselves: don't be an idiot like me and spoil the ending for yourself, because that will greatly reduce its emotional impact.”
“It might just be because I'm an emotional guy myself, but wow, that ending made me shed some tears.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's strong replayability due to its diverse and challenging bosses, engaging soundtrack, and captivating story and artwork. Despite its short length, the variety of experiences encourages multiple playthroughs, making it a memorable title worth revisiting.
“Great bosses, great soundtrack, great story, great artwork, great pixel animations, great replay value; it's a keeper.”
“This is a short game, but it offers a ton of replayability!”
“Each one of the bosses poses a different challenge, giving the game quite a variety and replayability.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its emotional impact and immersive storytelling, complemented by an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
“The atmosphere hits right in the feels, and the story is decent enough to keep it immersive, paired with amazing soundtracks.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and haunting sound design.”
“Every element of the atmosphere works together to create a sense of tension and wonder that keeps you engaged throughout the experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unappealing, leading some to abandon challenges rather than complete them.
“There are a bunch of challenges I still haven't completed, but they seem very tedious, so I don't think I will.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really drains the fun out of the game.”
