Nightork Adventures - Beyond the Moons of Shadalee
- August 23, 2016
- Warptear Entertainment
Get on SteamNightork Adventures - Beyond the Moons of Shadalee is an arcade shooter game. You fly with a spaceship through procedurally generated caves and fight against evil demons using magic colors. There is a campaign of 30 levels and 6 boss monsters. It also comes with a level editor, so you can create your own caves and missions.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is free, making it accessible for players looking for an easy completion.
- The caves have a visually appealing design and the music fits the setting well.
- The game includes custom level and Steam Workshop support, adding some variety.
- Gameplay is repetitive and lacks variation, with players needing to destroy hundreds of the same enemies.
- The controls and mechanics feel clunky and unresponsive, making the game frustrating to play.
- Graphics and overall presentation are outdated, resembling games from the '90s.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of innovation and fun, with many reviewers noting that it feels repetitive and tedious, particularly due to the high number of enemies to defeat. While some appreciate the procedural generation of maps and the unique setting, the overall mechanics, such as weapon swapping, fail to engage players, leading to a perception of simple and unchallenging gameplay. Despite some potential for future levels to expand on the concept, many players find the current experience lacking in depth and enjoyment.
“It's obviously the future of gaming; the gameplay is innovative and the concept is well thought out.”
“To add to the gameplay, the maps are procedurally generated and you need to choose the right weapons to kill each kind of enemy.”
“Aside from a speed boost, roll, and the aforementioned color-swapping of your shots, there is not much else present. Future levels may expand more on the initial idea, but I can't even be bothered to fly around doing the same thing 200 times in a row, at least not without more to the actual gameplay than aesthetic value, which is at least a unique setting/presentation.”
“The gameplay is alright, until you realize how many enemies you have to kill in each level. If you play the game legitimately, it will take you hours clearing these guys out. It might not have been a problem had it been fun eliminating enemies, but it isn't.”
“The gameplay itself really isn't fun for a few reasons.”
“There is literally no difference in the gameplay or art.”
- story5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story is minimal and largely revolves around repetitive missions that require players to destroy a set number of enemies, with limited dialogue and narrative depth. While the game features a unique visual style and fitting music, the storytelling is primarily conveyed through text rather than cutscenes, leading to a lack of engagement in the overall narrative.
“You accept missions, have a few dialogues, and then you have to accomplish the same thing in every level: kill 200 ships/enemies... that's it.”
“To repeat the same task nearly 200 times - 'destroy 200/200 enemies' (matching the complementary colors of enemies to shoot them with and flying around in what looks like a mix between Tron and a biological system on a microscopic level...)”
“The music fits the setting well and there is some of a story presented via text (not so much cutscenes).”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some users noting that they are not particularly impressive and lack depth beyond basic aesthetics. While there is a unique setting and presentation, many feel that the visuals do not enhance the gameplay experience significantly.
“The graphics present a unique setting and presentation that adds aesthetic value to the gameplay.”
“The visuals are impressive and contribute significantly to the overall experience.”
“The graphics are good, enhancing the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
“The game's graphics aren't the best.”
“On with the bad... the graphics aren't great (at least they're not retro pixel).”
“Aside from a speed boost, roll, and the aforementioned color-swapping of your shots, there is not much else present. Future levels may expand more on the initial idea, but I can't even be bothered to fly around doing the same thing 200 times in a row, at least not without more to the actual gameplay than aesthetic value.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is well-received, fitting the setting effectively and enhancing the exploration experience, particularly in the caves. However, it is noted that other aspects of the game do not match the same quality.
“The music fits the setting well and there is some of a story presented via text (not so much cutscenes).”
“The caves look really cool to explore and the music is pretty good.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players express mixed feelings about grinding, with some questioning whether the effort is worth the achievements, while others suggest that it requires a significant time investment, likening it to needing a second life to complete.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Is it worth grinding for the achievements?”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users noting that it feels unrefined and static, suggesting that the developers may have spent excessive time on level design rather than improving performance. The use of a potentially self-made game engine has also raised concerns about its efficiency and overall execution.
“I'm not sure what the purpose of this game is; it feels like it was made the hard way. I believe the game engine is self-made, and it seems like more time was wasted creating all those levels. The game itself is clueless, not optimized, and feels static.”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking. It struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on high-end systems, which is frustrating.”
“I encountered numerous performance issues that made the game nearly unplayable. The lack of optimization is a major drawback.”
