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 grow 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 plenty of opportunities for creativity and experimentation.
- Limited replayability and can become repetitive after a few hours of play.
- Some missions can be frustratingly difficult, which may deter casual players.
- The game lacks depth in terms of content and complexity, making it feel short-lived.
- story369 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and often considered secondary to its sandbox gameplay, with missions serving more as optional challenges rather than a central narrative. Players can engage in various humorous and difficult missions provided by a god-like entity, but many find the real enjoyment lies in exploring and experimenting within the vast universe. Overall, while the missions add some structure and humor, they do not significantly enhance the game's narrative depth.
“The heartwarming story of a young pebble who grows up to destroy the universe.”
“Solar 2 is a wonderful game that puts you in control of a single asteroid in the vastness of space on a quest to become something more... this game is easy to learn but very difficult to master.”
“An interesting game where you play as a sentient piece of mass going on missions for a mysterious god-like entity.”
“However, the controls of this game hold it back even further, to the point that the 'main story' of the game is just tedious and not fun, since there are so many things that just happen that are mostly out of your control.”
“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.”
- gameplay218 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % 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 limited replayability. Overall, it offers a unique and relaxing experience, but is best enjoyed at a discounted price due to its repetitive nature.
“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 into being your own solar system.”
“The gameplay, soundtrack, and visuals all make Solar 2 an out-of-this-world experience for people who love messing around in the cosmos.”
“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.”
- music156 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing, ambient quality, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players describe the soundtrack as beautiful, trance-inducing, and reminiscent of iconic composers like Vangelis, making it a standout feature that adds significant value to the game. However, a few users noted minor mastering issues with some tracks, which slightly detracted from an otherwise exceptional auditory experience.
“The soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission.”
“What an incredibly relaxing game, with an awesome soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is calm and almost trance-inducing, which makes this simple yet exquisite game a great way to unwind after a stressful day.”
“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.”
- humor66 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 initial experience is highly amusing, some players note that the humor can become repetitive over time, despite the presence of funny missions and engaging challenges. Overall, it offers a lighthearted and enjoyable experience suitable for all ages, with a unique blend of space-themed humor and gameplay.
“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!”
- replayability54 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many users noting a lack of substantial replay value after the initial playthrough. While some achievements and missions provide a bit of challenge and enjoyment, most players feel that the game is short and doesn't offer enough content to warrant repeated play. A few users mention that it can be enjoyable for casual play, but overall, it may not be worth the full price for those seeking extensive 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.”
“But the game has more than a few extra missions to take on which gives you lots of replayability.”
“Do to the lack of replayability, I would suggest not paying full price for it as in this gaming era it's not worth it.”
“Not very replayable either, as once you do one playthrough, you've seen it all.”
“The issue is that once you go through the missions (which are quite difficult), and reach the big crunch, the game has little replay value.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their simplicity and beauty, with many users noting that they remain crisp and appealing even on lower-end hardware. The art style effectively complements the game's atmosphere, and the visuals are described as intricate and well-integrated with the gameplay and music. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's enjoyable experience, enhancing its innovative gameplay and dynamic environments.
“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.”
- grinding26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find it tedious and overwhelming, particularly in the early stages, others appreciate the challenge and the fun of grinding for achievements. The grind can feel arbitrary and detracts from the overall enjoyment, but some players believe the time investment can yield worthwhile rewards. Overall, the experience of grinding varies significantly among players, with some enjoying it and others feeling it detracts from the game's appeal.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“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.”
“However, the controls of this game hold it back even further, to the point that the 'main story' of the game is just tedious and not fun, since there are so many things that just happen that are mostly out of your control.”
“Love the idea, but the missions feel random - many are very hard - some are just a matter of a lot of grinding.”
- atmosphere22 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 14 % 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 game's ability to create an engaging yet tranquil experience, allowing them to enjoy the challenge of gameplay while immersed in a beautifully crafted ambient environment. The art style and music work harmoniously to create a unique atmosphere that is both addicting and serene.
“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.”
“Totally engaging and hard to put down with a sublime soundtrack that adds to the atmosphere.”
“The art style and the music merge well into the game's atmosphere.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a deeply emotional experience, often moved to tears by the heartwarming yet tragic narrative of a young pebble whose journey culminates in the destruction of the universe. The juxtaposition of innocence and existential themes resonates strongly, leaving a lasting impact on those who engage with the story.
“I cried when playing it.”
“The heartwarming story of a young pebble who grows up to destroy the universe.”
