Assault Android Cactus
When you're running on battery, make every second count! Assault Android Cactus+ is an arcade style twin stick shooter set in a vivid sci fi universe. Junior Constable Cactus is outside her pay grade when she responds to a distress call and ends up stranded on a crippled space freighter under attack by its own robot workers. Utilising a draining battery mechanic in place of lives, Assault Android Cactus challenges you to think fast and keep the bullets flying, blending the gameplay of western styled arena shooters with aspects of Japanese style bullet hell as you charge head first through transforming stages, massive boss battles and an eclectic cast of characters on the way to saving the day. 9 playable androids, each with a distinct play style and personality 25 stage campaign spread across five areas of the ship, face down giant bosses, earn characters and uncover the story of the Genki Star
Steam User 4
Enjoyable, but heavily reliant on replayability (of which it has plenty)!
The core gameplay is easy to learn & difficult to master, with the weapon-switching invincibility period being the only thing keeping you alive besides your ability to dodge. It can be hard at times distinguishing between light blue enemy projectiles & grey-coloured flooring, but I never felt like deaths were anything other than my own fault, which is good.
The story... For once, I wish there was more of it! The characters have a cartoony vibe to their writing that I can't help but find endearing, but after the opening cinematics, you'll not see anything other than minor story tidbits until the end of the game. You can get there in sub 2 hours, though, so you won't be waiting long...
AAC's OST is deserving of praise - It amplifies the action, builds up hype for phase changes, & overall just kicks the experience up a notch or two. The game's also strong visually, with the silky smooth artstyle & framerate playing into the strengths of the title very well.
Overall, Assault Android Cactus is a thoroughly enjoyable gameplay experience, but one that relies heavy on replayability to feel worth the asking price. Thankfully, with nine heroines with different playstyles, daily challenges for 1-4 players (or AI substitutes), an endless wave mode, campaign+, unlockable modifiers, and per-level leaderboards, there's a hell of a lot to keep you going if you like this sort of experience. However, if you're the kind of person that likes to beat a campaign & move on, its limited (albeit enjoyable) narrative & sub 2-hour game length probably means you should be waiting for a sale.
Steam User 4
Quick Score: 5/5
Notes: If you like twin stick shooters and you like arcade games, you will probably like this game.
A base clear of this game would not take long. Getting all achievements would probably take most people around 15 hours. However beyond achievements there are still several dozen hours of challenges left. All S+ ranks in the "Campaign+" mode, Boss rush, as well as clearing the "Infinity Drive".
Steam User 3
Heard holly is afraid of toasters.
Highly Recommend, game will put you to the test S+ and More
10/10 - Yeah
Steam User 1
This is the best twin stick shooter I have ever played. This game has no bloat and no evil DLC. It is family friendly and the split screen coop is done correctly. The music and the characters are all lovely. I really wished games like this were the gold standard for all games that come out. This is a perfect game. Highly recommend this game to anyone who wants a fun video game.
Steam User 1
this game was extremely fun but god i'm so bad at it. i wanted to like this but i guess i have to get a lot better. it's a really fun arcade style shooter
Steam User 1
Honestly one of the best twin stick games ever made, and it plays great co-op. I think it does an especially good job of giving you difficult goals to work towards while also being very forgiving to clear if you want a more relaxed experience (although the final boss is pretty tough!).
Steam User 1
My 5-year-old daughter loves playing this game with me. Thumbs up.