PSYCRON
- August 19, 2021
- Mothware
Get on Steam"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."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Short and sweet gameplay that delivers a fun Metroidvania experience in about 2-3 hours.
- Well-designed bosses that provide a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating.
- Great atmosphere and music that enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable to explore.
- The game is quite short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some players experienced technical issues, such as performance drops or sound problems.
- The writing and humor can feel cringe-worthy or self-aware, detracting from the overall immersion.
- music27 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some noted that certain tracks could be improved for better immersion, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, contributing to the game's fun and vibrant atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a mix of genres, including dance and chiptune, making it a highlight for players.
“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.”
“The soundtrack is a banger!”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature a charming pixel art style that is well-executed, offering smooth animations and clean visuals despite some technical issues on older hardware. While the aesthetic may feel generic to some, it effectively complements the gameplay, resulting in a visually appealing experience that resonates with fans of the metroidvania genre. Overall, the combination of crisp visuals and tight controls enhances the game's appeal.
“Had a technical issue where I didn't have sound for my playthrough, but the graphics are pretty cool.”
“I love that the pixel graphics are the game's aesthetic, but the game isn't pixel-based in movement; 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.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its intriguing and eerie qualities, particularly in settings like the containment facility, which enhances player engagement. Reviewers appreciate the charming yet serious tone, complemented by great chiptune music and unique boss designs that contribute to a captivating experience. Overall, the atmosphere effectively combines engaging visuals, sound, and gameplay elements to create a memorable environment.
“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.”
“It has a really eerie atmosphere, and the power-ups and items you get are really fun to use.”
“The music is also great, with a blend of genres to add some life to the decrepit atmosphere.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, satisfying progression, and engaging map design, offering a fun and rewarding experience despite its short length. While some players had mixed feelings about specific mechanics like the dash move, the overall consensus highlights a well-paced, enjoyable metroidvania experience that respects classic elements while introducing fresh twists.
“Really good gameplay and music, short and fun.”
“Good spooky vibe, great gameplay, your progress through the game feels very satisfying as you gain abilities and explore new areas.”
“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 kind of 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.”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story is presented in a fragmented manner, primarily through cryptic logs, which adds to the atmosphere but limits character interaction. Players experience a gradual evolution of the game environment, enhancing the narrative as they progress. Overall, the story draws heavy inspiration from Metroid Fusion and features a compelling art style reminiscent of Environmental Station Alpha.
“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.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly for those interested in speed-running and exploring different items or strategies. Players appreciate the short yet engaging metroidvania experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“Short and sweet metroidvania offering lots of replayability.”
“But the game has a lot of replay value!”
“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.”
“Sure, but there's plenty of replay value.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its hilarious dialogue and engaging comedic elements. However, some players express fatigue with the prevalent self-aware, meta humor often found in indie games. Overall, the blend of humor with challenging gameplay and a strong soundtrack contributes positively to the experience.
“With great synth music, challenging bosses, and great humor, anyone can enjoy it.”
“A terrifically tight troid, with a bumpin' soundtrack and hilarious dialogue.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly during the final boss encounter, which experienced significant performance issues, especially on lower-end machines. However, some users acknowledge that their hardware may have contributed to these problems.
“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 developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimization.”
“The game’s performance is top-notch, with minimal lag and quick load times, making for a seamless experience.”
“One downside is the final boss had severe performance issues on my machine, but to be fair, I was playing on a low-end system.”
