Biotype

Monotonous levels (that you have to go through multiple before something changes), with enemies that are just too similar. Player is limited to just one gun that simply unlocks linearly better gun modes. The only remotely fun element is taking busted enemy's pickups and wondering if it's just energy (which you kinda need to keep shooting, else you'll be running in circles for minutes before your gun recharges) or also stat boosts (of which power is bugged and does nothing and the other two are kinda redundant as you're fast enough already anyway).

Game: opens on wrong monitor Me: "We do this every time."

Biotype is a small free arcade shooter that takes the twin stick shooter idea and gives it a nice little twist with its Tri Laser system. I control a bio mechanical clone called Model 137 and have to fight through increasingly difficult arenas while trying to keep myself alive. The basic idea is very easy to understand, but the shooting is not completely mindless because I have to manage the energy needed for the three different laser firing modes. For a free game from a small developer, I think there is a surprisingly solid little challenge here. The Tri Laser is easily the best part for me. Instead of having one weapon that I can use for everything, I have three firing options that use energy differently, so I have to think about which one is actually useful in the situation. Enemies drop energy pickups when they are destroyed, along with random power ups, which means the game gives me a reason to keep moving around the arena rather than sitting safely in one spot. I also get upgrades that can improve things like my speed, dash length and health, so a good run can gradually become stronger while the enemies become more dangerous. I like the way the arenas are set up too. The levels are enclosed areas with randomly placed objects that can give me some cover, while the enemies themselves have random spawning behaviour. That makes each attempt slightly different without completely changing what I am supposed to do. I have to learn how the enemies behave and then position myself properly instead of relying on one perfect route every time. The dash is especially useful when things start getting crowded, and keeping track of my limited health makes mistakes matter. The biggest problem for me is that Biotype is still a very focused game. There is not a huge amount outside the main arena combat, and the whole experience is built around seeing how far I can get rather than following a story or exploring a large world. That is not necessarily a problem because the game is clearly going for an arcade score attack style, but it does mean the replay value depends almost entirely on whether I enjoy trying to beat my previous run. Once I understand the basic systems, there is not much else to distract me from the shooting. I also think the presentation could have more personality. The pixel art and science fiction setting work well enough, but the game is quite minimalist and the simple presentation makes the small scope more obvious. There have also been some early technical issues, including problems with enemies failing to spawn at certain levels and the game continuing to run while the Steam Overlay is open with a controller. Those issues have been addressed through patches, which is a good sign, but they show that the game still has some rough edges. What I do appreciate is how much the game gets right without asking me to spend anything. It is completely free, supports controllers and gives me a straightforward arcade challenge that I can understand almost immediately. The level 30 boss also gives me a clear target to work towards before I start trying to push further, and the roguelite structure means I can improve my chances as I learn the enemies and get better with the Tri Laser. Overall, Biotype is a simple but enjoyable little shooter that I think works best when I treat it as a quick arcade challenge rather than expecting a huge game. I really like the Tri Laser mechanic, the energy management, random arena layouts, enemy behaviour and short run based structure. The limited content and basic presentation stop it from reaching the higher ratings I would give to a much more complete shooter, but the core gameplay is good enough to carry the experience for a while. Considering it is completely free, I think it is worth trying if I want something quick, challenging and easy to pick up. Rating: 6.8/10

Es un muy buen juego, me encantan las mecánicas, y tiene enemigos muy bien hechos y tiene un muy buen estilo de píxeles y los sonidos de disparos y de daño me encantan; me pasaría horas jugándolo y yo en lo personal añadiría un botón de guardado.