Variables
- July 30, 2019
- Asteroid Game Studio
Get on Steam"Variables" is a single-player Tower Defense/Roguelike game where players create their maze, build turrets, and defeat invaders. With the ability to control the maze layout and enhance turrets through attachments and system plugins, players can strategize to save the world. The Challenge System provides an extra layer of difficulty for those seeking a tougher gameplay experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features an innovative tower defense mechanic with a crafting system that allows players to combine turrets for more powerful effects.
- Replayability is high due to the random selection of towers and the strategic path-building elements, making each playthrough unique.
- Despite some translation issues, the gameplay is engaging and intuitive, providing a fun experience for tower defense enthusiasts.
- The English translation is poor, making it difficult for non-Chinese speakers to fully understand the game mechanics and instructions.
- There are significant spikes in difficulty that can be frustrating, particularly between certain levels, which may leave players feeling stuck.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and long level durations without the ability to save progress, which can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, with players appreciating the intuitive mechanics and the enjoyable tower defense and rogue-like elements, earning an 8/10 rating. However, some find the alternate game modes lacking in depth, leading to repetitive gameplay across stages. While the upgrading mechanic is praised, there are calls for better art and a more polished experience, particularly regarding the tutorial's clarity.
“The upgrading part is a nice mechanic.”
“The gameplay is pretty fun if you like tower defense and rogue likes.”
“Some of the game mechanics are not self-evident from the tutorial.”
“For the amount of mechanical complexity on offer, it was actually quite intuitive to get into and understand all the concepts, which is impressive considering the clunky translation.”
- music6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its unique blend of Chinese folk, elevator music, and chiptunes, others find it repetitive and lacking the impact needed to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, there is a consensus that the soundtrack could benefit from more variety and punch to match the game's engaging mechanics.
“I love this game, it's simple but it's deep, it gives a new perspective on tower defense games, the bad translations are hilarious, the items and towers are excellent, and the music is a repetitive but cool mix of Chinese folk, elevator music, and chiptunes.”
“I've been enjoying it apart from the fact I really don't like the music and everything just feels a little meek - the game really needs some decent music and sound effects to give the towers more of a punchy feel as a lot of the towers just feel a bit 'meh'.”
“The music is a repetitive but cool mix of Chinese folk, elevator music, and chiptunes, but it can get tiresome after a while.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety and fails to enhance the gameplay experience, making it feel monotonous.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally agree that the game's replayability is strong, indicating that players find value in returning to the game for multiple playthroughs.
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game primarily through its amusingly poor translations, which add a comedic layer to the experience. The combination of quirky items and towers further enhances the lighthearted tone, making the game enjoyable beyond its strategic elements.
“The bad translations are hilarious, adding a unique charm to the game that keeps me laughing.”
“The humor in this game is spot on, making even the simplest moments enjoyable.”
“The quirky items and towers bring a lightheartedness that makes the gameplay even more fun.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users are expressing curiosity about the potential for future advancements in 3D graphics, indicating a desire for improved visual fidelity and innovation in upcoming releases.
