PSYCRON

About

"PSYCRON is a single-player Science Fiction Platformer Metroidvania game, set on the abandoned research vessel CEREMOS. With a good soundtrack, players must explore four distinct areas, acquire upgrades for traversal and combat, and defeat dynamic bosses to uncover the fate of the crew and escape. Every upgrade changes how you approach both combat and exploration, making thorough exploration essential to escape."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 192 reviews

music34 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Fun, short, and sweet gameplay that captures the essence of Metroidvanias.
Well-designed bosses provide a balanced challenge, enhancing the overall experience.
Great atmosphere and music contribute to an enjoyable exploration experience.

The game is quite short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some players experienced technical issues, including performance drops and control mapping confusion.
Certain design choices, like enemy placement and level layout, can feel frustrating and detract from the overall enjoyment.

music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
31%
6%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some noted that certain tracks could be more immersive, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, contributing to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is described as "bangers" and a highlight of the gameplay, making it a key reason to play the game.
- “The music is excellent and, yeah I just really like the game as a whole.”
- “The boss fights are a blast, and the soundtrack slaps (even the bonus cut track) and I find myself listening to it quite often.”
- “The movement and upgrades in the game feel very fluid and super fun to use; environments and levels are well designed and immersive; and the music is absolutely fantastic!”
- “It was so-so on the immersion front; some music tracks could have been better.”
- “I thought to myself, 'When did I get into a club?' It really sounded like dance music, which doesn't seem to fit the game's tone that well, but it was kind of nice to have something more upbeat and energetic playing.”
- “Even the one where it actually looked dead and the music stopped didn't get me, because a pattern had already been established.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The graphics of the game feature a charming pixel art style that, while somewhat generic for indie games, is executed effectively, resulting in crisp visuals and smooth animations. Players appreciate the blend of chunky pixel graphics with modernized movement mechanics, although some have reported rendering issues on older hardware. Overall, the aesthetic is well-received, contributing positively to the game's overall appeal.
- “I love that the pixel graphics are the game's aesthetic, but the game isn't pixel-based in movement; it makes for really smooth, really clean animations.”
- “Good music, well-coded, and there is definitely something to be said for the crisp visuals; probably what I liked most.”
- “With the art style they used, the game ends up looking very simple.”
- “It may cause some rendering problems on old graphics cards; my usual laptop couldn't render the map, suit, and dialogue in the game.”
- “Although the graphics were pixelated, the animations and movements were smooth and modernized.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its intriguing and eerie qualities, particularly in locations like the containment facility, which enhances player engagement. The blend of charming simplicity, unique boss designs, and a diverse soundtrack contributes to a captivating environment that balances fun and tension. Overall, the atmosphere effectively draws players in, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The buildup and atmosphere there was sublime!”
- “Conveying an atmosphere that intrigues players isn't necessarily easy, but if done right it'll lead to more people sticking with a game long enough to see it through.”
- “Charming, simple, doesn't take itself too seriously, but has an eerie atmosphere, easy-to-understand bosses, and a handy arsenal when it comes to fighting mobs or bosses.”
- “The music is also great, with a blend of genres to add some life to the decrepit atmosphere.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
40%
10%
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics and satisfying progression, offering a fun and engaging experience despite its short length. Players appreciate the well-designed map and the blend of familiar and innovative mechanics, creating a rewarding metroidvania experience. While some may find the dash move less appealing, the overall gameplay is described as tight, well-paced, and enjoyable.
- “Good spooky vibe, great gameplay, your progress through the game feels very satisfying as you gain abilities and explore new areas.”
- “Super fun mechanics that shake up the formula a bit, while still respecting its elders.”
- “Rock solid no-frills metroidvania design and gameplay.”
- “Though I wasn't overly fond of the dash move and how its mechanics worked.”
- “It's kinda like Gato Roboto - simpler gameplay and graphics, and you can beat it in 2-3 hours, but what's there is super tight and well designed.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The story is a metroidvania experience heavily inspired by Metroid Fusion, featuring a fragmented narrative revealed through cryptic logs and minimal interaction with teammates. Players encounter a shadowy version of themselves and witness the evolution of the game’s station as they progress, creating an engaging atmosphere despite the lack of a structured mission format. Overall, the storytelling complements the gameplay well, enhancing the overall experience.
- “It's neat seeing the station evolve as you progress through the game or during different story events.”
- “Not seeing much of your teammates or other survivors, only getting small portions of the story at a time through cryptic logs, and facing a shadowy version of yourself works well together.”
- “The story is heavily inspired by Metroid Fusion and the art style is very reminiscent of Environmental Station Alpha, both fantastic metroidvanias.”
- “More specifically, this is sort of a Metroid Fusion clone, just without the mission structure.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game offers significant replayability, particularly for those interested in speed-running and exploring different items. Players appreciate the short yet engaging metroidvania experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. Overall, there is a strong emphasis on replay value, making it appealing for players looking to enhance their skills and discover new content.
- “Short and sweet metroidvania offering lots of replayability.”
- “Even so, replay value does exist, if you want to try for faster times, more items, and more.”
- “There's a bit of replay value if you're interested in speed-running the game.”
- “Even so, replay value does exist, if you want to try for faster times, more items, what have you.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the hilarious dialogue and find it enjoyable alongside the game's other elements, others criticize the prevalent self-aware, meta humor that has become common in indie games. Overall, the humor is seen as a strong point for those who connect with it, contributing to the game's appeal.
- “With great synth music, challenging bosses, and great humor, anyone can enjoy it.”
- “A terrifically tight troid, with a bumpin' soundtrack and hilarious dialogue.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly during the final boss encounter, which experienced significant performance issues. However, some users noted that these problems may be more pronounced on lower-end hardware.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end machines.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by how well the game runs; the optimization really enhances the overall experience.”
- “The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, making it accessible for a wide range of hardware.”
- “One downside is the final boss had severe performance issues for my machine, but to be fair, I was playing on a potato.”

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PSYCRON
$6.99
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