B.I.O.T.A.

⣿⣿⡻⠿⣳⠸⢿⡇⢇⣿⡧⢹⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⡐⣯⠁ ⠄⠄ ⠟⣛⣽⡳⠼⠄⠈⣷⡾⣥⣱⠃⠣⣿⣿⣿⣯⣭⠽⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⢢⠏⠄ ⠄ ⢠⡿⠶⣮⣝⣿⠄⠄⠈⡥⢭⣥⠅⢌⣽⣿⣻⢶⣭⡿⠿⠜⢿⣿⣿⡿⠁⠄⠄ ⠄⣼⣧⠤⢌⣭⡇⠄⠄⠄⠭⠭⠭⠯⠴⣚⣉⣛⡢⠭⠵⢶⣾⣦⡍⠁⠄⠄⠄⠄ ⠄⣿⣷⣯⣭⡷⠄⠄⢀⣀⠩⠍⢉⣛⣛⠫⢏⣈⣭⣥⣶⣶⣦⣭⣛⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄ ⢀⣿⣿⣿⡿⠃⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣎⢩⠌⣡⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠄⠄⠄ ⢸⡿⢟⣽⠎⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⠄⠄ ⣰⠯⣾⢅⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠄ ⢰⣄⡉⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠄ ⢯⣌⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄ ⢸⣇⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄ ⢸⣟⣧⡻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄ ⠈⢹⡧⣿⣸⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠗⣈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠄ ⠄⠘⢷⡳⣾⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⢀⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠄ ⠄⠄⠈⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄⠄ ⠄⠄⠄⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠄⠄

There's two things that make this game so infuriating that I didn't wanna continue playing. 1. The different color palettes are a cool concept but end up being more of an annoying edition than an interesting one. I feel like most of them are a huge eye sore and they give the games art less of an identity. 2. The controls are incredibly clunky. Like I've played platform games on an actual game boy that have felt more responsive. I think it's a combination of weird controls and slight delay in your inputs that make this game feel unplayable. I don't know maybe these problems are just a me issue but personally I specifically the controls to be such a problem that I couldn't continue playing. If you can look past these issues there is probably a good game in here. But until these problems are fixed I'm not gonna force myself to suffer through them.

This is.. okay. It's very short (I left the game running overnight, my playtime is massively inflated). To my surprise, [b]It's actually NOT a metroidvania[/b]. The game has no ability-gated progression. The gating is done through keys and doors (and items which serve as keys and doors). Despite this, the game has a lot of crossover appeal because of the branching path map design and backtracking. You can only fire your gun upwards and sideways, no aiming in other directions (can't fire downwards even). Sometimes the wall jump would get annoying. Often i'd want to shoot something or just jump upwards and it would register me as touching the walls surface, changing the direction I was facing and causing me to fire in the opposite direction than I intended. The music and visuals are appealing and the gameplay is pretty simple and straightforward. It's an okay little game I guess. There's a segment right at the end of the game that is utterly horrendous because it turns into a [b]Starfox[/b] style shooter ..which would have been fine, but it is very unclear how to dodge the asteroids that are coming at you in it. The 3D plane is very poorly done and it's very difficult to gage where obstacles are going to land on the screen. it feels like a crap shoot that I have no interest in wasting more time trying to figure out.

I don't want to completely rain on the game here, but for me a game like this is all about how it controls. It's cumbersome, to put it mildly. You'll know what I mean the second you try to jump near a wall or just try to move around. This was a source of frustration and quite a few lame deaths. Still, the game is easy enough as it wants you to win at all costs. You'll probably have a good time here. If you're wondering whether this is damning with faint praise, well... Give the demo a try if you're on the fence. You'll know immediately if the things I've mentioned are a deal-breaker to you.

I'd say about 80% of this game is very good. The general gameplay loop of exploring, teleporting back, buying items - it's great, and each character's unique weapons and subweapons make you constantly want to keep switching between them. If the whole game was like that, it'd be perfect, but unfortunately there's several dreaded vehicle sections. They're not very fun, not very challenging, and they go on for far, far too long. There are several toward the end of the game that come right after the other, and they drag the pace down to a complete crawl. They were frustrating, but thankfully you only have to do each one of them once. As an aside, I was also annoyed that you couldn't return to the overworld after getting an ending so you could view the other one. You're locked in to the ending you choose, and have to start a new file from scratch in order to get the remaining collectables and see the ending you didn't pick. There's ways to shorten the second playthrough, but it did end up leaving a sour taste in my mouth. I know it sounds like I'm being pretty negative, but those are just parts that really stuck out to me in an otherwise great experience. The main game is pretty great, despite everything.

ОЦЕНКА: 2 / 5 Пиксельно-каловое мессиво с кривым управлением и моментальными смертями при попадании под огонь или в турбину, но при этом с возможностью (!) сохраниться в любой комнате и без возможности (!) быстрой загрузки сейва. Автор, ты или крестик сними, или трусы надень. Почему тогда было не сделать автосейв в начале каждой комнаты? Лечилки из врагов не падают, зато падают ресурсы в пулл, имеющий ограничения и заполняющийся буквально за пару минут, однако потратить эти ресурсы можно только в редких чёрных рынках, которые нужно ещё и сперва найти. При этом зачем-то в игре есть такие же редкие точки сохранения. Но и они тоже не лечат! Чтобы вылечиться нужно телепортироваться обратно на базу, но и этого недостаточно - нужно ещё подойти к мед-роботу и тогда здоровье восстановится. Бесплатно. Короче, шиза гейм-дизайнера во всей красе.

“无聊的银河城”的具象化，如果你不知道什么是预制菜，那这就是预制菜。 以第一个熔岩区域为例，地图设计相当模板化的回环结构，从A到B有两条路，事实上你走哪条路都区别不大，因为单个房间内基本没有任何设计在，它真的就是单纯的分了两条路出来...初始地图往左走会提示需要机器人，然后你就在熔岩区域发现机器人要350块，而此时你的钱包容量只有100或者200，是的，我在找了一点视频看之后发现锁钥结构就是纯粹的找钱包上限，让人大跌眼镜。熔岩区域的BOSS纯走机制，一次机制20-30秒，走5次，中途BOSS不停放波全屏白伤害你的眼睛。 正如我开头所说，如果你不知道什么是预制菜，那这就是预制菜。

B.I.O.T.A., developed by small bros and published by Retrovibe, is a thrilling 2D action-platformer that successfully captures the spirit of classic retro games while incorporating modern design elements that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. Set in a dystopian mining colony overrun by alien contamination, the game plunges players into a hazardous world filled with mutated creatures, corporate conspiracies, and desperate survival. Players take command of a squad of eight mercenaries, each with unique skills and weapons, and must strategically navigate through treacherous environments to rescue stranded scientists and uncover the dark secrets behind the outbreak. The core gameplay of B.I.O.T.A. offers a satisfying blend of exploration, intense combat, and puzzle-solving. What sets this game apart is its emphasis on tactical switching between characters mid-mission, allowing players to leverage each mercenary's distinct abilities to tackle different challenges. Whether it’s clearing a room of hostile mutants with heavy firepower or solving environmental puzzles using a more agile or specialized team member, the dynamic nature of the gameplay keeps every encounter feeling varied and rewarding. The combat itself is fluid and fast-paced, supported by a wide range of weapons that add depth and encourage experimentation. The addition of vehicles such as mechs and submarines further expands the gameplay, providing thrilling moments and breaking up the platforming with new mechanics that feel well-integrated and fun. Visually, B.I.O.T.A. is a loving homage to the pixel art style that defined the golden era of 8-bit and 16-bit gaming. The graphics are sharp and colorful, with distinct designs for each character, enemy, and environment that prevent the screen from ever feeling cluttered or confusing. A particularly unique feature is the game's extensive color palette customization, which offers 54 different 4-color schemes that players can switch between on the fly. This personalization not only enhances the nostalgic appeal but also invites repeated playthroughs with different visual moods, making each session feel fresh. The level design itself is intricate and well thought out, striking a balance between open-ended exploration and linear progression that encourages careful observation and strategy. The sound design complements the visuals perfectly with a soundtrack steeped in chiptune and synthwave influences, evoking a strong retro-futuristic vibe that elevates the overall atmosphere. The music is energetic and catchy, reinforcing the tension and excitement of each mission without becoming repetitive. Sound effects are precise and impactful, whether it’s the crackle of gunfire or the squelching of alien creatures, enhancing immersion and adding tactile feedback to the action. Together, the audio-visual package creates a cohesive world that feels alive and compelling, drawing players deeper into its narrative and challenges. While B.I.O.T.A. shines in many areas, it is not without some drawbacks. Some players may find the difficulty curve uneven, with certain boss fights or levels presenting abrupt spikes that can be frustrating without proper preparation. Additionally, the retro pixel art style, though a deliberate artistic choice, may not appeal to gamers accustomed to modern high-definition graphics, potentially limiting its audience. However, these issues do little to overshadow the game's strengths and overall quality. The game manages to strike a satisfying balance between nostalgia and innovation, providing a challenging but fair experience for those willing to engage with its mechanics. Ultimately, B.I.O.T.A. stands out as a well-crafted action-platformer that marries old-school charm with contemporary gameplay sophistication. Its engaging story, varied cast of characters, and versatile gameplay mechanics create a rich and enjoyable experience that rewards both strategy and quick reflexes. The ability to customize the visual presentation adds a unique personal touch that few games in the genre offer. For fans of retro gaming, action-platformers, or those simply seeking a solid, challenging adventure, B.I.O.T.A. delivers a memorable journey into a dark, atmospheric world filled with danger and intrigue. Rating: 8/10

Crazy how people can make crazy good games with these graphics lol Enjoyed every bit of it.

Thoroughly enjoyed my time with the game and achieved a good ending on the first run. Loved the art-style, music, the unlockable color palettes and overall feel of the game. Just had a short struggle with the brain boss and did not love the mech and sub sections - they dragged on for too long. Also if you do not get the hidden specimens/rooms in the first run, that's it, you can't go back to the last save and explore more - you need to replay the game - but at least all things can be unlocked, so it's a faster run. I hope for a sequel.