Under A Star Long Cold

About

Under A Star Long Cold is a single player action game. It was developed by Merlino Games and was released on February 1, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

You have 30 minutes to loot this place and pay your debts before the planet is destroyed. Intense stealth-action with permadeath. An exploration of agency and hope.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 81 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a captivating aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles, with a unique blend of sci-fi and retro vibes that many players find appealing.
Gameplay is simple yet enjoyable, with mechanics that evoke the feel of classic stealth games like Metal Gear Solid, making it a fun experience for fans of the genre.
Despite its short length, the game offers a replayable challenge, encouraging players to improve their scores and explore the environment within the time limit.

The game's design feels incomplete, with a barren map and limited enemy variety, leading to a lack of engaging gameplay and exploration.
The primary objective of collecting 50,000 gold pieces within a 30-minute time limit is perceived as unrealistic, making the game feel impossible to complete and frustrating for players.
Stealth mechanics are undermined by the time constraint, pushing players towards a more aggressive playstyle that detracts from the intended stealth experience.

gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The gameplay is polished and reminiscent of classic titles like Metal Gear Solid, featuring effective stealth mechanics and a satisfying core loop. However, the time limit and the need to prioritize speed over stealth detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of frustration. While the game offers a charming aesthetic and addictive elements, it is limited by design choices that prevent it from fully realizing its potential.
- “The mechanics are on point, it's very polished; it's the kind of small game I'll see myself play from time to time.”
- “The gameplay is fun (I could describe it as a simplified Metal Gear Solid V) and the world is beautiful, filled with breathtakingly huge, ancient structures and vast empty deserts, with the PS-esque graphics only adding more charm to it.”
- “This game is amazing though, the tone is immaculate, and the gameplay feels great.”
- “I was a little disappointed that there were no interior spaces and buildings didn't feel like they had a purpose other than looking computer-mechanical; a little bit of contextual clues would've been appreciated.”
- “The issue is that the enemies aren't particularly fun to gunfight with or stealth kill because of the simplicity and clunkiness of the mechanics.”
- “The point of the game is to make 50k in 30 minutes; the problem is that to get money you have to totally ignore the stealth mechanic, which is the main selling point of the game, and rush to specific areas of the map that have a lot of money on the ground.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The graphics of the game are heavily influenced by a Star Wars aesthetic, featuring nostalgic PS1 and PS2-era 3D visuals that many players find appealing. The art style is praised for its charm and detail, creating an immersive atmosphere with unique set pieces and vast environments. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a recommended experience for fans of retro aesthetics.
- “The gameplay is fun (I could describe it as a simplified Metal Gear Solid V) and the world is beautiful, filled with breathtakingly huge, ancient structures and vast empty deserts, with the PS-esque graphics only adding more charm to it.”
- “It also seamlessly combines the aesthetics of both NSTW and ICIW to create an eerie backdrop with tons of cool little details.”
- “Visually, I've noticed this dev prefers a Star Wars aesthetic with random set pieces such as a giant skeleton, for example, to spruce up the map a bit.”
- “I would recommend this game for the aesthetic alone, but I think you should know what you're getting into.”
- “I enjoyed this short one, nice mechanics, and love the old style of graphics.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The story revolves around the player being 50,000 gold pieces in debt, creating a sense of urgency and motivation. While the game features fun ideas and a visually appealing aesthetic, many reviewers feel it lacks depth and linearity, suggesting that a more structured narrative with connected environments and objectives would enhance the experience. Overall, the potential for a richer story is evident, but the current format limits its exploration.
- “Would be cool if it would be expanded with more levels, worlds, story, and guns to a full solo player game.”
- “The story is that you, whoever you are, are 50k gold pieces in debt.”
- “There are some very fun ideas, but it's also the kind of game that I personally feel is begging for more linear missions, or at least objectives beyond 'kill everyone to earn points'.”
- “The aesthetic, the vague story, and the rush.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its beauty and immersive qualities, creating a cool vibe that enhances the experience. However, many users feel that the overall design is lacking, with limited gameplay elements and replay value, which detracts from the potential of its atmospheric setting. While some find it enjoyable, others see it as a missed opportunity for a more engaging roguelike experience.
- “All of Antonio Freyre's games are beautiful, atmospheric, and personal, but this is the first one I really enjoy playing.”
- “Short but great atmosphere.”
- “Love the atmosphere.”
- “Once you get the suppressed gun, the game is simple. Honestly, the vibe is cool, but I just don't think it's a well-designed game. It's a vast wasteland with only one ending; there is nothing you can do to avoid it. There is one enemy type, and this is not a replayable game. Once you get 10k and see you can't do anything beyond that (I got it in my first try), it has no replay value. There is nothing to bring you back. It just seems like a wasted opportunity with the atmosphere and character movement; it could have been a great little roguelike.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is generally praised for its captivating quality and retro vibes, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, some players express a desire for adjustable volume options to better tailor their audio experience. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's immersive environment and stealth mechanics.
- “Enrapturing environment, music, and character designs.”
- “The music, the stealth, the retro vibes, the stealth takedowns, etc. all make for a nice game.”
- “There is actual music and I like what I’m hearing.”
- “And for the love of God, let me turn the music down.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is heavily criticized, with many players noting a lack of variety in gameplay, limited enemy types, and a single ending that diminishes the incentive to replay. While some find it challenging and enjoyable enough for multiple runs, the consensus leans towards it being a missed opportunity for greater depth and replay value.
- “Fairly challenging in regards to the goal, but also very replayable.”
- “Another short, but infinitely replayable masterpiece from Antonio.”
- “Once you get the suppressed gun, the game becomes simple. Honestly, the vibe is cool, but I just don't think it's a well-designed game. It's a vast wasteland with only one ending; there is nothing you can do to avoid it. There is one enemy type, and this is not a replayable game. Once you get 10k once and see you can't do anything beyond that (I got it in my first try), it has no replay value. There is nothing to bring you back; it just seems like a wasted opportunity with the atmosphere and character movement. It could have been a great little roguelike.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional stakes of the game initially promising but feel that the abundance of money scattered throughout detracts from the overall impact. However, many report having a fun and emotionally rewarding experience as they engage with the game's narrative and embrace its themes by the conclusion.
- “I don't know how many endings there are, I don't know how many secrets this holds, but I had a fun and emotionally rewarding experience with this game as I realized what it was going for and let myself go along with it at the end.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be clunky and tedious, with many expressing that the empty map design contributes to a sense of monotony and frustration during exploration.
- “The map feels too empty; I feel like this is taking place inside a closed space, or someplace where running around wouldn't be so tedious would be great.”
- “Clunky, tedious, and boring.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers highlight that the character development is enhanced by the captivating environment, immersive music, and striking character designs, which collectively contribute to a more engaging and memorable experience.
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The backstories and personal growth of each character add layers to the narrative, making every decision feel impactful.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be engaging and enjoyable, with one user noting that it adds to their overall positive experience even after just a short playtime.
- “I've only played for half an hour so far (funny; exactly as much as a successful run would take), but I absolutely love it!”