Unit Down

About

Unit Down is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Randy Becker and was released on October 15, 2021. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A strategic yet fast-paced arcade-styled shooter with roguelike elements! Follow the story of 4 self-proclaimed heroes as they fight the injustice of the "Earth Unit" - a collaborative government created by the people of Earth in an effort to keep their dying planet from becoming nothing but a memory. • Arcade-styled shooter action with a unique upgrade system! • Real-ti…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

Unit Down combines roguelike elements with third-person shooter mechanics, creating a unique and engaging gameplay experience that offers high replay value.
The game features fantastic voice acting and a charming retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of 80's and 90's arcade games.
The upgrade system is interesting and adds a layer of strategy, allowing players to customize their experience and improve their skills over multiple playthroughs.

Controller support is lacking, and some players may find the joystick sensitivity issues frustrating unless they opt for mouse and keyboard controls.
The game can feel unbalanced at times, with players able to accumulate credits too quickly, leading to a less challenging experience against bosses.
Some players noted a lack of content and variety in missions, making them feel repetitive and diminishing the overall replayability.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay is engaging and addictive, offering a mix of fast-paced shooting and strategic elements, though it can quickly escalate in difficulty. Players appreciate the diverse enemy mechanics and the colorful characters that enhance the experience, but some find the upgrade system and real-time strategy components to be somewhat random or lacking in depth. Overall, the game is well-received for its solid mechanics and enjoyable gameplay, despite a few criticisms.
- “The gameplay gives the illusion of a simple and easy game, but when the difficulty ramps up quickly, you feel every attack hitting like a truck. Managing the planets keeps you moving around and not just 'farming'.”
- “Very addicting gameplay; I managed to beat normal difficulty once after many trials and errors.”
- “The shooting gameplay is fun and fast, and there's also some light RTS elements to the map selection.”
- “The gameplay gives the illusion of a simple and easy game, but when the difficulty ramps up quickly, you feel every attack hitting like a truck, making it harder to manage the planets, which keeps you moving around and not 'farming'.”
- “The RTS elements don't really seem to add much to the gameplay either.”
- “I enjoyed Unit Down to an extent, but sadly I was not a fan of the real-time map mechanic and how it worked.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming retro 90s aesthetic and superb pixel art, showcasing the developer's passion for video games. However, some users noted inconsistencies in visual styles and flat model textures, suggesting that while the graphics are appealing, there is room for improvement in future titles. Overall, the visuals are well-received, with a desire for more cohesive and updated graphics in upcoming releases.
- “Love the retro 90s aesthetic.”
- “Graphics are very charming overall, loved the pixel art.”
- “The artwork and superb pixel art come together to show you why Randy Becker loves making video games.”
- “The models' textures are flat. I know it's their first game, but I hope the next game they make has updated graphics. Nothing too out of the ordinary, just a small change is what I'm hoping for.”
- “The visuals overlap too much; there are too many styles and it's not consistent.”
- “While the graphics have a certain charm to them, the small amount of pixel art I saw was really well done. I'd like to see what the developers could do with their style in a fully pixel art game.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game's story follows four self-proclaimed heroes battling against the oppressive "earth unit," a government formed to save a dying planet. While the narrative is engaging and features well-developed, likable characters, some players find the missions repetitive and the roguelike elements can detract from the overall experience. However, the combination of an interesting plot and strong voice acting makes it worth multiple playthroughs.
- “The roguelike elements combined with third-person shooter elements create a truly rare experience that, when combined with the interesting story and fantastic voice acting, results in a game truly worth your time and multiple playthroughs.”
- “You follow the story of four self-proclaimed heroes as they fight the injustice of the 'Earth Unit' - a collaborative government created by the people of Earth in an effort to keep their dying planet from becoming nothing but a memory.”
- “Something that is always a win for me is a game with likable, colorful characters as it makes the story and gameplay more dynamic.”
- “In this game though, all the missions feel pretty samey.”
- “You follow the story of 4 self-proclaimed heroes as they fight the injustice of the 'earth unit' - a collaborative government created by the people of earth in an effort to keep their dying planet from becoming nothing, but a memory.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers significant replayability despite its relatively small scope, with players suggesting that the addition of leaderboards and high scores could enhance this aspect further. Comparisons to classics like Starfox 2 and UN Squadron highlight that structured ranking systems and challenging, memorization-based stages contribute to replay value, indicating that similar features could elevate the game's longevity.
- “I recognize it's a homage to the likes of Star Fox 2 and UN Squadron, but in Star Fox 2's case, the ranking system made it greatly replayable even if it's somewhat easy. In UN Squadron's case, all the stages were super difficult but predetermined, allowing you to route your run on repeat playthroughs based on which ones are easier for you to memorize, and use the money from them to help with the harder stages.”
- “For a somewhat small experience, it has a lot of replay value.”
- “I also agree that leaderboards and high scores would give the game a lot more replay value.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's music is praised for its engaging soundtrack and clever voice acting, which enhance the overall experience without being distracting. However, some players feel that the selection of tracks could be expanded for greater variety.
- “It's a fun enough game, and the fact that it is quite well made with the voice acting, awesome soundtrack, and the character designs makes it definitely a worthy game to get and play.”
- “The voice acting is clever and well cast, the soundtrack is bumping while not distracting from the ambiance the game sets you in.”
- “The music is fine, but I could've used a few more tracks.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players note that while the game initially appears simple, the difficulty spikes significantly, making grinding feel more like a challenge than a repetitive task. The intense combat and the need to manage multiple elements keep players engaged and moving, rather than allowing for traditional farming strategies.
- “The gameplay gives the illusion of being simple and easy, but as the difficulty ramps up quickly, every attack hits like a truck, making it harder to manage the planets and preventing you from 'farming'.”
- “Grinding feels tedious and repetitive, with little reward for the time invested.”
- “The game forces you into endless grinding, which quickly becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While the game is praised for its quality voice acting, impressive soundtrack, and appealing character designs, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development. Overall, it seems to focus more on the aesthetic and production values rather than the evolution of characters throughout the game.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
- “The voice acting and character designs really enhance the development, bringing each character's journey to life in a memorable way.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing boss fights and the delightfully absurd nature of the villains, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
- “Boss fights are funny, and the villains are deliciously absurd.”
- “The dialogue is packed with clever puns and hilarious one-liners that keep you laughing.”
- “The quirky characters and their ridiculous antics add a delightful layer of humor to the gameplay.”