Solid Aether

About

Solid Aether is a single player shooter game. It was developed by FAL Works and was released on September 27, 2018. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

NOTHING BUT BULLET HELL. Solid Aether is a bullet hell shoot'em up game that is extremely simple designed. It is a classic 2D shooter game featuring a variety of bullet patterns that are generated continuously in a stylish black and white world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews

music5 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful minimalist graphics and an amazing soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
It offers challenging yet forgiving gameplay, allowing players to learn from their mistakes without feeling overwhelmed.
The bullet patterns are creative and varied, making for a visually stunning and enjoyable experience.

The game is quite short, with a playtime of under half an hour, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some players found the small size of the bullets and their similarity to the player's hitbox to be confusing during intense moments.
There is a lack of a scoring mechanic, which could detract from the competitive aspect of the game.

music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
40%
10%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful presentation and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, striking a balance between excitement and relaxation. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack complements the game's visuals and stage choreography, with some noting its listenability even outside of gaming. However, a few users felt that certain tracks occasionally felt out of place. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that elevates the game's appeal.
- “A minimalist shooter with a beautiful presentation, wonderful music, and challenging yet strangely relaxing gameplay. Solid Aether is, in my opinion, the best 'training shmup' around.”
- “Also, the music is wonderful and very listenable even if you're not one to listen to video game music outside of a gaming session (like me!).”
- “The bullet patterns are creative and beautiful, and are complemented by the music so well.”
- “I felt the soundtrack was out of place sometimes.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The graphics are minimalist yet clear, enhancing the gameplay experience without unnecessary distractions. The aesthetic is praised for its simplicity and effectiveness, making it visually appealing while focusing on the core mechanics of the game. Overall, the design is considered a strong point, particularly for fans of the genre.
- “Design aesthetics is wonderful.”
- “The graphics are as minimalist as you can get, but they are also incredibly clear and easy to read.”
- “The game is very challenging, with low-key graphics, and music that gets you excited, but not so excited you make mistakes.”
- “A minimalistic shmup that has some great effects built in, even with its (1-bit?) aesthetic.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay of Solid Aether is praised for its minimalist yet engaging shooter mechanics, offering a blend of challenge and relaxation that makes it an excellent training shmup. Reviewers appreciate the focus on gameplay over graphics and narrative, though some suggest the addition of a scoring system to enhance the experience.
- “A minimalist shooter with a beautiful presentation, wonderful music, and challenging yet strangely relaxing gameplay. Solid Aether is, in my opinion, the best 'training shmup' around.”
- “Some sort of scoring mechanic would be welcome.”
- “This game shows what is possible when the creative effort is focused entirely on gameplay, rather than graphics and a needless story (neither of which are needed for a shmup).”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, users feel that the game's optimization requires improvement, particularly regarding particle effects, although they consider the issue to be minor.
- “The game runs smoothly after the latest optimizations, making for a much more enjoyable experience.”
- “I appreciate the ongoing optimizations; they really enhance the overall performance and graphics.”
- “The recent updates have significantly improved the game's optimization, reducing lag and increasing frame rates.”
- “But need more optimizations (not really a big problem, but particles are not optimized, I think.)”
- “But need more optimizations (not really a big problem, but particles are not optimized, I think.)”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game highly replayable, with many expressing a desire to play it multiple times, often citing experiences of 3 to 4 playthroughs.
- “The game is extremely replayable; I think I've already played it 3 or 4 times.”
- “Each playthrough offers new experiences and surprises, making me want to dive back in.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps the game fresh, encouraging multiple runs.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's story is minimal and not a focal point, as the creative effort is primarily directed towards enhancing gameplay rather than developing a complex narrative. This approach aligns with the expectations for a shoot 'em up (shmup) genre, where gameplay takes precedence over story elements.
- “This game shows what is possible when the creative effort is focused entirely on gameplay, rather than graphics and a needless story.”