Saturn Quest: Shadow of Planetus
- April 14, 2020
- Arkhouse Telegraph
Get on SteamIn "Saturn Quest: Shadow of Planetus" , play as Captain Navigator, the universe's renowned hero, accompanied by your ambassador Roro the Motherbrain. Fight against Planetus, the evil Degenerator and Megalord of the dark holes, to save the universe once again. Experience phenomenal graphics, terrific sounds, unique mechanics, and a mind-breaking atmosphere in this crystallized brilliance of a story.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features gorgeous art and a unique, immersive atmosphere that captivates players.
- The music is well-composed and enhances the overall experience, with some tracks being particularly memorable.
- Despite its flaws, the game offers a fun and original gameplay experience, especially for fans of quirky indie titles.
- The game suffers from excessive RNG, leading to frustrating and unfair difficulty spikes, particularly in boss fights.
- Navigation can be confusing due to unclear directions and a lack of a map, making exploration tedious.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the attack system and save points, feel clunky and poorly designed, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- music11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the emotional experience, with many players expressing a deep connection to the soundtrack and its melancholic tones. While some critiques mention issues with looping and brevity, the overall consensus is that the music effectively sets the mood and complements the game's unique visuals and gameplay. Players express a desire for additional soundtrack content, highlighting the music's significant impact on their enjoyment of the game.
“I'm in romantic love with this game; it's so elevated by its music, art style, and melancholy ambiance that it makes me feel things. Every minute of pain was worth it, and Arkhouse, please upload 'Lullaby of Space' to YouTube with the rest of the soundtrack—it's such a touching tune.”
“The music is great and sets the mood. The visuals do just enough to make the game feel interestingly weird, and the constantly changing gameplay is great when it works.”
“As always, I enjoyed the visuals, the soundtrack, and the immersion, but that was never a problem for this developer.”
“It's true that there is a lot of RNG, and serious game design problems, and the music tends to be on the short-and-badly-looped side, but overall I still recommend the experience (and it's good music to be sure, I'm not slagging the music at all, it bangs).”
“There are many other issues I have with it (see cons), which is such a shame because I really love the art and music.”
“I wonder if he also makes the music because the sound is also very similar to the previous games (I would love the OST DLC for this).”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Saturn Quest: Shadow of Planetus is described as a unique and ambitious blend of various genres, reminiscent of classic titles like Shadow of the Colossus and Legend of Zelda, with elements from shmups and space shooters. While the constantly changing gameplay can be a mixed bag, it contributes to an interesting and weird experience that players find valuable despite its inconsistencies. Overall, the game is praised for its creativity and the engaging atmosphere created by its music and visuals.
“The music is great and sets the mood, the visuals do just enough to make the game feel interestingly weird, and the constantly changing gameplay is great when it works and (usually) easily forgotten when it doesn't.”
“I thought it was a very unique experience, as with any other Arkhouse game, very ambitious and unapologetic in some ways, both in gameplay and narrative.”
“Saturn Quest: Shadow of Planetus is basically an 8-bit clone of Shadow of the Colossus boss rush with gameplay elements from Legend of Zelda, shmups, and even one boss played like something out of Space Harrier.”
“Many gameplay elements, the game also changes genres.”
“I thought it was a very unique experience, very ambitious and unapologetic in some ways, both in gameplay and narrative.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their unique and distinctive art style, which evokes strong emotions and complements the immersive experience. The visuals are described as interestingly weird, enhancing the overall atmosphere alongside the evocative soundtrack. Players appreciate the developer's signature aesthetic, which often features surreal and unsettling imagery.
“The music is great and sets the mood, the visuals do just enough to make the game feel interestingly weird.”
“This developer is one of the very few that I can recognize just by looking at a single screenshot just because the art style is so unique.”
“As always, I enjoyed the visuals, the soundtrack, and the immersion.”
“This developer is one of the very few that I can recognize just by looking at a single screenshot just because the art style is so unique; how can I describe it, he really likes putting faces on disgusting bodies.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story of Saturn Quest is praised for its compelling and cryptic narrative, which keeps players engaged and guessing until the end. While some players feel the game could benefit from a more straightforward boss rush format, the philosophical depth of the story adds a unique layer that distinguishes it from previous titles. Overall, the narrative is seen as both intriguing and challenging, encouraging players to pay attention to dialogue for a fuller understanding.
“I also want to give the game credit for having a compelling story that kept me guessing even at the very end. There is nobody else out there that makes the narrative quite as well as the Arkhouse - both philosophical and cryptic at the same time, to a point where I have almost no idea what he is trying to say, but I can tell there is something very deep.”
“In my opinion, Saturn Quest should have been a boss rush game with no exploration.”
“I consider Saturn Quest a puzzle due to the fact I had to poke around (quite literally) to figure out how to defeat most bosses and where to find the next one.”
“Compared to previous titles like Mirage of Dragon, Saturn Quest is not too difficult to navigate as long as you are not skipping the dialogue.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its evocative music, art style, and melancholic atmosphere that elicit strong feelings. The experience is described as both touching and intense, with moments of pain and joy, particularly during challenging gameplay that can provoke tears and laughter simultaneously.
“I am in romantic love with this game; it's so elevated by its music, art style, and melancholy ambiance that it makes me feel things. Every minute of pain was worth it. Arkhouse, please upload 'Lullaby of Space' to YouTube with the rest of the soundtrack; it's such a touching tune.”
“A weird game made for weirdos like myself, I guess. I enjoyed it, except for that last boss fight that made me cry, cringe, and laugh at the same time.”
