Solar 2
- February 9, 2013
- Murudai
- 13h median play time
As a relaxing physics toy, it's perfect. As a mission-driven puzzle game, it's too hard, but still great fun.
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreIn Solar 2, you control a small solar system and must absorb other celestial bodies to grow. Progress through various stages by meeting objectives, such as destroying a certain number of planets or reaching a certain size. With its unique blend of action and strategy, Solar 2 offers a fresh take on the space simulation genre.
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Reviews
- Fun and relaxing gameplay that allows players to explore and evolve from an asteroid to a black hole.
- Beautiful graphics and soothing soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
- Offers a unique blend of sandbox and mission-based gameplay, providing both freedom and challenges.
- Limited replayability after completing the main objectives and missions.
- Some missions can be frustratingly difficult, leading to potential player frustration.
- The game may feel simplistic and repetitive after a short period of play.
- story184 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and often serves as a backdrop for its sandbox gameplay, with missions that range from humorous to frustratingly difficult. Players can choose to engage with these missions or simply explore the universe, making the experience highly flexible. While some find the missions entertaining and challenging, others feel they lack depth and replay value, leading to a preference for free-roaming play.
“The heartwarming story of a young pebble who grows up to destroy the universe.”
“An interesting game where you play as a sentient piece of mass going on missions for a mysterious god-like entity.”
“The missions offer a nice break to the gameplay, but some are easy and some are very frustrating.”
“The story missions might be hit-and-miss humor-wise, but they are distinct and fun.”
“There's no real story.”
“It's kind of fun for a little bit, but there's really not much here, and the story I did play I didn't find terribly interesting or fun, so it didn't really compel me to explore further.”
- gameplay109 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Solar 2 is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, allowing players to evolve from an asteroid to a black hole by absorbing other celestial bodies. While the controls are intuitive and the core loop is addictive, many players note a lack of depth and content, leading to a repetitive experience after a few hours. Overall, it offers a unique and relaxing cosmic sandbox experience, but may not justify its price for some unless purchased on sale.
“The core gameplay loop is addictive and satisfying - consume other planets and asteroids and start to grow, akin to the Katamari series and Flow.”
“It's a really neat mechanic and leads to a really satisfying progression feel where you start looking for asteroids to gobble, later you can 'snipe' moons to steal them away from other planets and gobble them up to progress into a star and further to being your own solar system.”
“The gameplay is very unique, and each form of stellar body you become has its own way of being upgraded.”
“Controls are weak, physics are annoying, and the gameplay is a repetitious grind full of elements that impede your progress.”
“It's good for about an hour or so, but there's not really much gameplay in it and it's fleshed out purely by bonus missions and achievements rather than core mechanics.”
“Not much to do, and the gameplay isn't really that exciting.”
- music78 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing, ambient quality, enhancing the overall relaxing experience of gameplay. Many players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as beautiful, trance-inducing, and a perfect match for the game's atmosphere. While some minor mastering issues were noted, the majority agree that the music significantly elevates the game's appeal, making it a worthwhile aspect for players.
“The soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission.”
“What an incredibly relaxing game, with an awesome soundtrack.”
“The music is truly divine - alas, a few tracks have mastering issues, detracting from the otherwise incredible audial experience.”
“- very bad music or this game hasn't soundtracks”
“Imo the part that sticks with me the most is the soundtrack but your mileage may vary, besides that there is also the fact that the whole game is smaller than my science project, and that's saying something.”
- humor33 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, featuring a mix of nerdy in-jokes, raunchy comedy, and quirky dialogue that keeps players entertained. While the humor shines brightly in the early stages and during various missions, some players note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of funny missions and a lighthearted tone makes it an enjoyable experience for players of all ages.
“The 'entity' has a fun sense of humor, bantering you if you mess something up, and applauding you when you get it right.”
“A relaxing sandbox game with some twisted humor; it's no end of fun to start as a tiny asteroid and build yourself into a black hole that eats other black holes for lunch right before causing the big bang.”
“It is a very nice and funny game to do missions and kind of be a god in the universe. I had to do a mission that involved destroying a planet with dinosaurs inside, where all of them were riding spaceships, and I was just one big huge meteor that had to make an impact!”
- replayability27 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many users noting a lack of substantial replay value after the initial playthrough. While some players appreciate the achievements and missions that offer a bit of challenge and enjoyment, others feel that the game is too short and lacks content to warrant multiple playthroughs. A few users mention that it can be enjoyable for casual play, but overall, it may not justify a full-price purchase due to its limited replayability.
“Plenty of achievements of just the right amount of challenge - not too easy, not too difficult; gives the game plenty of replayability.”
“The missions and achievements add for great replayability.”
“It is a good, relaxing, casual, sandbox game with a decent amount of replayability.”
“Not a lot of replayability.”
“Decent few hour killing game with little replay value.”
“Due to the lack of replayability, I would suggest not paying full price for it as in this gaming era it's not worth it.”
- graphics25 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their simplicity and aesthetic appeal, with many users noting that they remain visually impressive even on lower-end hardware. The art style effectively complements the game's atmosphere, and the combination of visuals, music, and gameplay creates an engaging experience. Overall, the graphics are described as crisp, intricate, and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's enjoyment.
“The graphics are crisp, and it still looks good even today.”
“The graphics and effects are amazing and the concept is just outstanding.”
“It's a great space sandbox/physics game with beautiful graphics and what has quickly become one of my all-time favorite soundtracks!”
“This game is especially well performed on potatoes (Athlon 2.4GHz with ATI 3100 graphics).”
“Just a standard CPU with integrated graphics will do the trick.”
“The gameplay is simple, the graphics are pretty intricate, and is easily beatable within a few hours.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find it tedious and overwhelming, particularly in the early stages, others appreciate the challenge and enjoyment of grinding for achievements. Overall, the grind can feel arbitrary and detracts from the main story, but some players find the time investment rewarding in the long run.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“But after playing for 2 1/2 hours and seeing the incredibly grindy and arbitrary nature of the game, I just couldn't bring myself to go on any further.”
“Many games are really tedious trying to get all of them.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Solar 2 is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhanced by a soothing soundtrack and effective sound design. Players appreciate the harmonious blend of art style and music, which creates an engaging yet tranquil experience as they navigate the challenges of the game. Overall, the atmosphere is described as addictive and immersive, making it a unique and enjoyable gaming experience.
“Very challenging (even if it doesn't seem like it at first glance) but in a soothing way, thanks to a good general atmosphere and an efficient sound design.”
“The atmosphere itself is extremely calming.”
“The art style and the music merge well into the game's atmosphere.”
“Totally engaging and hard to put down, with a sublime soundtrack adding to the atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact, with some expressing that the game made them cry. The heartwarming yet paradoxical narrative of a young pebble destined to destroy the universe resonates deeply, highlighting the game's ability to evoke complex feelings.
“I cried when playing it.”
“The heartwarming story of a young pebble who grows up to destroy the universe.”
