Planets Under Attack
- September 27, 2012
- Targem Games
- 50h median play time
A fast-paced strategy game for adrenaline junkies wanting instant gratification for their victories, and no time invested in their soul crushing losses. It serves as a litmus test for those new to the strategy genre and wanting a game without complicated gameplay to make their brain explode.
In "Planets Under Attack," players must defend their home planet while attempting to conquer others, using strategic planning and real-time battles. With various civilizations to choose from, each with unique strengths and weaknesses, the game offers a deep and engaging experience. The goal is to become the dominant force in the galaxy by building and managing space fleets, and outsmarting opponents in this challenging and exciting strategy game.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging mechanic that combines resource management with strategic planning, making it fun to learn and master.
- The visuals and art style are charming, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The multiplayer mode offers additional replay value, allowing players to engage with friends and compete against each other.
- The difficulty spikes significantly after the initial levels, often leading to frustration as players encounter seemingly impossible challenges.
- The game lacks a cooperative mode, which was misleadingly advertised, disappointing players looking for a collaborative experience.
- The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to manage fleets effectively during fast-paced gameplay.
- gameplay42 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this strategy-based space game is characterized by its simple mechanics and addictive nature, allowing players to conquer planets and manage resources. While some find the mechanics charming and engaging, others criticize the repetitive missions and lack of depth, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, the game offers a blend of casual and strategic elements, appealing to newcomers but potentially frustrating for seasoned players due to its unbalanced difficulty and simplistic execution.
“I didn't have a lot of hopes and expectations at first out of a strategy-based space-themed game; however, the moment you digest the nuances of the game mechanics, it kept on getting bemusingly fun with critter-like armies of space orbs and crazy buffooned space-destroyer bosses. This game just starts with a straight zero at first and kept on multiplying 10x with every other level and planet.”
“This game is something to consider, as it converts a relatively simple strategy mechanic into a fun and easy-to-learn concept.”
“"Planets Under Attack" is a strategy gem: very simple concept, yet has just enough depth to the gameplay to make it not just addicting but weirdly satisfying, especially after playing tug of war with the AI over a planet for what seems like forever and finally ripping it from their hands at the same time you attack their last planet.”
“I can't unlock the campaign for the second race because I don't want to invest the time to get good enough at this game to beat missions whose unique mechanics are there only to make the game more difficult.”
“Incredibly stupid gameplay, no strategy can be applied.”
“This game is completely devoid of the co-op gameplay it's advertised as having.”
- story33 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered around an entrepreneur seeking riches in space while evading debt collectors, is described as minimal and often skippable, with a narrative that lacks depth. Players find the missions to be overly difficult and repetitive, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment, as the balance between challenge and playability is poorly executed. While some appreciate the game's personality and visuals, the overall consensus is that the story and mission structure could benefit from more variety and better pacing.
“The story is about an entrepreneur who goes looking for riches in an uncharted area of space while being hounded by intergalactic debt collectors.”
“Story mode is quite fun; there's also multiplayer, and you have a good amount of maps to play on.”
“Good gameplay; great story; great imagination; good graphics; 3.5 stars.”
“The story is boring and skippable.”
“The campaign missions put you at a huge disadvantage and trying to beat the AI is more frustrating than challenging.”
“Story is rather minimal, although expected due to the RTS genre.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful, cartoonish 3D art style and vibrant colors that enhance the overall experience. However, some players criticize the lack of variety in visuals and the repetitive nature of the missions, which detracts from the game's appeal. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered attractive, they are not enough to compensate for gameplay issues.
“The graphics are gorgeous.”
“7/10 it is a fun game to play, with beautiful graphics and humor.”
“It's very well put together with clean, fun graphics and a leveling system to keep you engaged.”
“I'm not a big fan of the graphics.”
“The poor graphics are a bad companion to the raw numbers and a suspiciously ultra-speedy calculator AI.”
“There is a lack of change in scenery; while there are layout choices, the overall visuals never deviate from what is seen on face value.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack is generally praised for its fun and upbeat quality, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, while the music enhances the game's personality and visuals, some players feel that the repetitive gameplay detracts from the enjoyment, suggesting that more variety in levels and improved AI balance would elevate the title further.
“- fun, upbeat music”
“- decent music.”
“While I do enjoy this game's personality, visuals, and soundtrack, the gameplay is weird and unbalanced. The execution is overly simple and formulaic, and it may be okay at first but gets old really fast. The game throws the same looking missions over and over at you, which starts feeling tiring and repetitive.”
“But this game has much better graphics and sound/music compared to the free versions.”
“- Decent music.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, contributing to its fun and engaging gameplay, complemented by beautiful graphics. Players appreciate the blend of humor and strategy, making it an enjoyable experience overall.
“It's a fun game to play, with beautiful graphics and humor.”
“A funny little game with a lot of strategy.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing it as an annoying experience that detracts from overall enjoyment.
“The game is absolutely tedious and just overall annoying to deal with.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore that takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it feel more like a job than a fun gaming experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's impressive physics and commend its inviting and friendly atmosphere, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
“The physics are amazing, and the atmosphere is great and friendly.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's multiplayer feature significantly enhances its replayability, offering great value for the price of just 10 euros.
“The multiplayer mode adds significant replay value, making it a great bargain for only 10 euros.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of choices and outcomes available.”
“The game encourages experimentation with different strategies, ensuring that no two sessions are ever the same.”
“The multiplayer gives the game a lot of replay value, making it a bargain for only 10 euros.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report strong emotional reactions to certain characters, highlighting moments that evoke fear and sadness, such as encountering a particularly intimidating figure that left one player in tears.
“I think I cried when I saw him; the character design was so hauntingly emotional.”
“The game made me feel a deep connection to the characters, and I found myself genuinely caring about their fates.”
“The story's emotional depth left a lasting impact on me, making me reflect on my own experiences.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for failing to deliver promised features, leading to disappointment among users who feel misled by the advertising.
“Despite advertising it as such and asserting that it offers this capability, the game does not provide it.”
“The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy basic features.”
“I was disappointed to find that many essential items are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to progress without spending.”