The Astonishing Game

About

The Astonishing Game is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Turbo Tape Games and was released on February 6, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

The Astonishing is a turn-based tactical board-game that will challenge new to veteran gamers. Participate in competitions for great prizes, including signed albums, tickets and post-concert passes, available to players during the Dream Theater tours. The game has a one-time purchase cost with no in-app purchases, making players eligible for any and all free upgrades.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 21 reviews

music9 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The gameplay is unique and refreshing, combining elements of chess with strategic troop management and character abilities.
The soundtrack features instrumental music from Dream Theater's 'The Astonishing' album, enhancing the overall experience for fans.
The game offers both local and online multiplayer options, allowing for enjoyable strategic battles with friends.

The tutorial is confusing and does not adequately teach players how to master the game, leading to a steep learning curve.
Graphics and animations are subpar, with noticeable typos in menus and text boxes, detracting from the overall presentation.
The game has been taken down from the app store, limiting accessibility for potential new players.

music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game, featuring a soundtrack from Dream Theater, is widely praised for its nostalgic and enjoyable instrumental mixes, enhancing the overall gaming experience. While some players noted that the sound of militia units can clash with the background music, the majority found the soundtrack to be addictive and a standout feature. Overall, fans of Dream Theater appreciate the incorporation of their favorite band's music into the gameplay, making it a unique and engaging experience.
- “The soundtrack also features instrumentals from the astonishing album and is very fun to listen to as you are demotivating your enemies.”
- “This game was a major change in the normal experience I have with many other games in this modern age and also allowed me to enjoy and bask in nostalgia for the band that I have listened to so much in the past with its wonderful soundtrack.”
- “This is a quite simple strategy game with a great soundtrack.”
- “Dream theater should stick to music.”
- “Chess and magic: the gathering combined, Dream Theater music as soundtrack.”
- “Chess and magic: the gathering combined, Dream Theater music as soundtrack.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay is praised for its uniqueness and freshness, featuring a customizable experience with diverse characters and AI randomness that keeps each match engaging. While some players find the mechanics simplistic and the tutorial lacking, the integration of story and gameplay is well-received, making for an enjoyable turn-based strategy experience overall. However, minor issues, such as the color of attack highlights, have been noted but do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay enjoyment.
- “The gameplay is very unique and unlike any other game on the market.”
- “With the customization of the boards, selection of different characters, and randomness in the AI, every match will be different, providing a very interesting and never boring gameplay loop.”
- “The story makes a lot of sense and is seamlessly interwoven with, and related to, the gameplay.”
- “Even with the tutorial, it will take a few playthroughs to get the mechanics down.”
- “I can't really think of any gameplay flaws, but I would like for the tile highlighting a piece's attack to be a better color.”
- “Sure, maybe it's a simplistic style of gameplay, chess mixed with some magic, but honestly, it really shouldn't matter.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's story mode, while short, allows players to choose between factions and engage in a narrative that effectively expands on the album's themes, despite some animation issues. While the storytelling is coherent and well-integrated with gameplay, it struggles with its portrayal of violence, attempting to downplay its presence in a context where it is central to the plot. Overall, the narrative is compelling and enhances the gaming experience.
- “The story makes a lot of sense, and is seamlessly interwoven with, and related to, the gameplay.”
- “To see that they have a game, especially about such a compelling story, just means that they are that great.”
- “The game tries too hard to avoid references to violence and death while telling a story that involves violence and death.”
- “-animations between story chapters are a bit sloppy.”
- “You can also continue this fight in the game's rather short story mode where you can choose to play as the Ravenskill or the Gnfa as you try to motivate the country to your side.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are considered somewhat lacking, though it's important to note that it was developed by a small studio and released in 2017, which may explain the limitations in visual quality.
- “I feel that the graphics could be better, but then again, you have to keep in mind that this game was published by a very small studio in 2017 (4 years ago).”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game elicits significant laughter, particularly during moments like the dancer's attack, which many players found hilarious. However, despite the humor, some users hesitate to recommend the game due to its current state.
- “I can't recommend this game in its current state, but it gave me a big amount of laughs as soon as the dancer attacked. That was hilarious and worth the money!”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no in-app purchases, allowing players to compete for real prizes simply by purchasing the game.
- “Plus, there are no in-app purchases, and buying the game allows you to enter competitions for real prizes.”