Venusian Vengeance
- March 27, 2015
- Renegade Sector Games
Get on SteamVenusian Vengeance is a retro-style run-and-gun game set in a sci-fi universe. As the last Renegade Sector pilot, you must navigate hostile environments, battle hordes of enemies, and upgrade your ship to defeat the evil Venusian Empire. With its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and vibrant pixel art, Venusian Vengeance offers an exhilarating experience for fans of classic shoot 'em ups.
Reviews
- Venusian Vengeance offers a nostalgic retro experience with its simple yet engaging gameplay, reminiscent of classic top-down shooters.
- The game features a fair difficulty curve with forgiving checkpoints, making it accessible while still providing a challenge, especially in Hard Mode.
- Players appreciate the charming pixel art style and the humorous, light-hearted narrative that adds to the overall fun of the game.
- The game suffers from technical flaws, including poor graphics quality, lack of customization options, and occasional crashes.
- Some players find the gameplay repetitive and feel that the enemy projectiles can be frustratingly difficult to dodge, leading to cheap deaths.
- The lack of controller support and customizable controls can hinder the experience for some players, particularly those with different accessibility needs.
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature a retro pixel art style that some players find charming, despite its low quality and lack of customization options. While the visuals may not impress everyone, they effectively capture the essence of old-school gaming and contribute to a smooth gameplay experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered a successful homage to classic titles, appealing to fans of the genre.
“The graphics are boldly ugly, but charming as heck and the gunplay is rock solid.”
“Fun, short game with an interesting retro pixel-art style.”
“Out of all the ‘retro’ styled games that try to mimic the feel of previous eras in gaming, this title is one of the few successful games to actually pull it off, from the graphics to the music and the simplicity in its gameplay; it’s well executed all around but doesn’t pretend to be anything beyond a top-down shooter.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no option to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a retro-inspired 2D top-down twin-stick shooter with a generic alien theme, offering punishing challenges balanced by forgiving checkpoints. While the clean and readable design enhances playability, some players feel the absence of a dodge or shield mechanic limits the experience. Overall, the game is well-executed with simple yet enjoyable mechanics, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre, especially if available at a discount.
“It's punishing gameplay with forgiving checkpoints made me want to keep playing a little longer.”
“Enemies and areas are clean and readable, which is what's most important for the gameplay.”
“Out of all the 'retro' styled games that try to mimic the feel of previous eras in gaming, this title is one of the few successful games to actually pull it off. From the graphics to the music and the simplicity of its gameplay, it's well executed all around but doesn't pretend to be anything beyond a top-down shooter.”
“It's a 2D retro pixel top-down arcade twin-stick shooter with a painfully generic 'shoot aliens' theme and painfully generic gameplay.”
“Ultimately, the package just serves as a means of giving context to the gameplay, which is fine.”
“I think this game would be better if it had a dodge/shield mechanic instead of being unable to dodge anything.”
- music9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is reminiscent of early PC and Amiga titles, effectively matching the retro aesthetic with a decent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While it fits the game's mood, it doesn't stand out as particularly memorable, featuring short tracks and some odd repetitions. Overall, the music contributes to the game's charm, but it may not leave a lasting impression on players.
“The PC-music soundtrack and garish colors remind me so much of Amiga games and some very early DOS games.”
“Altogether it's a fun little game, with slick art and music to match.”
“The music fits the mood but doesn't stand out on its own as anything special, and for some reason the sound of a gun firing makes the same noise as a barrel hitting the floor.”
“The PC music soundtrack and garish colors remind me so much of Amiga games and some very early DOS games.”
“The 8-bit art design and music is reminiscent of an early age of games, and the soundtrack is pretty good.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story, featuring an amusing and absurd plot about an American commando battling space communists on Venus, has garnered mixed reactions. While some players appreciate its entertaining and quirky nature, others find it minimal and not particularly engaging. Overall, the narrative adds a fun element to the gameplay, even if it isn't the main focus.
“I like these kinds of games; it has the added bonus of an eye-catching story. Usually, I don't care much for the story, especially in a shooter, but this one was fun and insane.”
“When you die, there is minor punishment, it's got a great price, and the game's story is actually very entertaining!”
“Hardly a success story; gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
“An amusing little top-down shooter with strongly contrasting colors and a plot worthy of Troma Entertainment, Venusian Vengeance stars Jon Dagger, an American commando sent to Venus to battle evil space communists in the year 196x.”
“Minimal story but enough to know your own name and the sass from the boss at the end of each level.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's continuous movement and lack of punishment for dying, which enhances replayability and encourages them to complete the game. This design choice makes the experience enjoyable and engaging, fostering a desire to return and play again.
“It is a continuously moving game, where you can continue after each death without being punished for doing so, making replayability a joy and ensuring that you will finish the game, in my humble opinion.”
“The variety of choices and paths you can take makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting, encouraging you to dive back in for more.”
“With multiple endings and hidden secrets, every run offers something new to discover, making you want to replay it again and again.”
