Cosmic Waves

Really nice arkanoid/breakout variant. Lot's of added progression mechanics, as well as a unique take on it at all. It adds area- "pinball flippers" effectively, adding more interactions. Which mixes up the gameplay well enough, while the physics are solid enough on their own to carry the game, imho.

The rigid-body dynamics for this game are too jank. From the gaps between the cubes, to the ball's inconsistent behavior when it hits the edge of the paddle, it's impossible to tell what the ball will do or where it will go. At the start of each level, the ball is hovering over the paddle, implying that the hitbox is slightly greater than the paddle's appearance. However, after launching not only is the hitbox different, it appears that contact only happens at the bottom of the paddle, which, thanks to the perspective, makes the hitbox appear smaller than the paddle is as the contact happens later than expected. There isn't an option to aim straight towards a target. That's not a fun challenge. Getting S-Rank for a world doesn't reward you the resources it that each world claims it will, making the already painfully slow mining for upgrades futile. The overlaps of drops and special effects hides the ball. Paddle sensitivity is screen-resolution-dependent for some reason. Don't let this game suck any of your time; you will hate yourself and everything soon after.

Uh.. no. just.. no. Way too janky and overall unstable. Good idea, overtuned difficulty.

一个打砖块游戏，一看需要硬盘空间竟然接近10G，也太大了吧。安装玩了几局感觉没什么特别，就是普通的玩法，也没有什么特效，也就是能玩的程度。游戏本身非常一般，加上没有中文，还占特别多硬盘空间，并不推荐。

This game is kinda tough to review. Do I like it? Yes Are there problems? Very much. Ok. I like ball busting games. Maybe it's because I'm a guy and I wear that armored protection. But these days it's tough to find a "new" one. I think that's because maybe, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I just kinda wish that the dev would have abandoned the story, at least down to the leanest thing. I don't need a bunch of furries blab on about what's next before or between levels. The great thing about these games is that you just quickly move on from one level to another. The physics are good, but iffy. I like the power ups overall, but I do feel like there are a tad too many. That's a me thing though, so you may not agree. At least as far as I can tell, you can't play this fully with your mouse. Mouse and keyboard is ok, but not ideal. I've tried to map everything to my mouse using Logitech G-hub, but it's not the greatest. That may be more down to Ghub being levels worse the the old LGS was. Playing straight up with a controller is garbage. However, that's with any of these types of games. I guess I'm glad they gave the option, but no PC player in their right mind would play something like this with a controller. In the end, I would recommend this. It's much better than one of the Arkanoid games I've bought on Steam. Given the amount of reviews, I don't know how well this game sold, but if they would remove the story, tweak the physics and make it an overall faster experience, I think it'd be better. I mean, I'd likely never even known about this game were it not for a bundle. But I've got to say, if the dev(s) would just tighten things up, this could be great. I mean, they aren't competing with many titles in this genre, but the ones they are competing with are mostly top tier Buy this on a sale. Keep an eye out for what this dev (hopefully) does in the future. This is a good starting point.

[h1]SCORE: 6/10 - GOOD [/h1] [h3]Click here for a full in-depth review:[/h3] https://youtu.be/WAK82sgsuno [h1]Verdict[/h1] Cosmic Waves takes a dead genre and actually makes it fun again, with towers, weapons, bosses, and roguelite upgrades. One minute you’re bouncing a ball, the next you’re curving shots with angles that could get you an internship at SpaceX. It’s chaotic, and pretty addictive (I played 86 hours total, including most offline hours, and it's now staying in my Arcade games collection). It's still not as good as Shatter. but nothing really is. The core loop is a blast and the sound effects hit hard, but the flat visuals and plain presentation keep it from really popping. Still, if you can look past the rough edges, you might find yourself up way past bedtime… muttering “just one more run” until you become an idiot sandwich. [u][i]We curate and review upcoming indie games and that's it. Consider following for more :)[/i][/u] [h2]Positives[/h2] 💚 Fun mix of Breakout-style gameplay with roguelite progression. 💚 Towers add surprising variety and creative shot setups. 💚 Weapons and shields make the paddle feel powerful. 💚 Boss fights feel like chaotic puzzles. 💚 Addictive “just one more level” loop. 💚 Excellent sound effects and satisfying block-breaking feedback. [h2]Negatives[/h2] ❌ Bland visuals and uninspired presentation. ❌ Level variety is very limited compared to its inspirations. ❌ Some upgrades feel underwhelming late-game. ❌ Not enough “juice” in animations and effects, and especially the music. [h1]How we Score[/h1] https://indiecritical.com/how-we-score/

Cosmic Waves is an energetic arcade-style game developed by Squirrel Knight and published by Digerati that reimagines the classic brick-breaking formula with a modern sense of scale, progression, and personality. While its foundation is immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with games like Breakout or Arkanoid, it quickly becomes clear that Cosmic Waves is not content with simply repeating a familiar loop. Instead, it builds an experience that feels active and expressive, layering physics-based mechanics, upgrades, and light narrative elements on top of traditional paddle-and-ball gameplay. At the center of the experience is a paddle that does far more than simply deflect a ball. Players can unleash powerful force waves, slow time, and strategically place energy towers that actively influence the flow of each level. These towers can redirect momentum, alter trajectories, or apply additional effects, transforming each stage into something closer to a dynamic puzzle than a reflex-only challenge. Success often depends on how well players manipulate space and timing, rewarding experimentation and planning rather than relying solely on hand-eye coordination. The level design supports this expanded toolset by introducing a wide variety of block types, hazards, switches, and environmental gimmicks. Some stages emphasize precision and control, while others lean into controlled chaos with multi-ball scenarios, moving obstacles, or hostile elements that actively fight back. Boss encounters serve as standout moments, breaking the rhythm of standard levels and forcing players to rethink how they use their abilities. These fights often feel like tests of mastery, combining pattern recognition with smart use of upgrades and special powers. Progression plays a major role in keeping Cosmic Waves engaging over time. As players clear levels, they earn resources that can be spent on permanent upgrades to their paddle, towers, and abilities. These improvements provide a tangible sense of growth, making later challenges feel demanding without becoming overwhelming. Temporary power-ups found during levels add an additional layer of unpredictability, sometimes granting powerful advantages and other times introducing complications that force players to adapt on the fly. This balance between long-term progression and moment-to-moment improvisation keeps the gameplay loop feeling fresh. Cosmic Waves also distinguishes itself with a lighthearted science-fiction narrative that frames the action. Players follow a small cast of characters on a mission across space, gathering rare resources in an effort to power a device with personal stakes attached. The story is intentionally simple and does not interrupt the flow of gameplay, but it adds charm and context that elevate the experience beyond abstract score chasing. Character interactions and bits of dialogue help give the game an identity, making progression feel purposeful rather than purely mechanical. Visually, the game embraces a clean and colorful space aesthetic that prioritizes clarity during fast-paced action. Effects are vibrant without becoming overwhelming, ensuring that even the most chaotic moments remain readable. The soundtrack leans into energetic electronic compositions that reinforce the arcade feel, pushing momentum forward and enhancing the sense of flow during longer play sessions. Together, the audio and visual design create an atmosphere that feels both retro-inspired and confidently modern. Replayability is one of Cosmic Waves’ strongest qualities. Each level can be revisited to chase higher ranks, faster clear times, or more efficient strategies, supported by global leaderboards that encourage friendly competition. The combination of skill-based performance and build experimentation means that even completed stages retain value, as players refine their approach and discover new ways to leverage the game’s systems. Overall, Cosmic Waves succeeds by respecting its arcade roots while refusing to be constrained by them. It transforms a familiar genre into something more interactive and layered, offering depth without sacrificing accessibility. Whether approached as a casual pick-up-and-play experience or a game to master through optimization and experimentation, it delivers a satisfying blend of nostalgia, innovation, and personality. For players who enjoy classic arcade mechanics enriched with modern design sensibilities, Cosmic Waves stands out as a thoughtful and rewarding evolution of a timeless formula. Rating: 6/10

I'll admit, if your game were more reviewed, I would give it a thumbs down. But you need exposure, so have it. That out of the way, the physics are fine enough save for one thing: hitting the side of the board sometimes randomly changes the ball's direction, usually minorly. I'm not sure if the hitbox of those round bits is off, as I originally thought they were the cause, but it's just... not great. Lost a life once because the ball hit my paddle, hit the wall almost immediately, and the physics just... shot it nearly down. Only happened once, but it did happen, and I can't tell you why for the life of me. I used the |\_/| paddle, if that helps any. That thing has some weird geometry when you squish the ball on the side, but that never caused a downwards shot like THAT. Not a big furry fan, but even then the boxy snouts are... unsettling? And the female snout is TOO thin. Perhaps consider not going so boxy next time. Finally, the writing. Most fanfics feel less stilted and awkward, simple as that. However, this isn't something simple to fix, short OR long term. As a writer, myself, I've noticed that the typical advice given is to read more, and so I suggest trying that. However, I'll say the quality must be decent. Be careful with what you consume, as it'll show its ugly face in your subconscious, impacting your writing.

Bardzo interesująca gra, dająca prawdziwą frajdę operowania paletką przy maksymalnym wykorzystaniu wież energetycznych, zmieniających moc, kierunek i prędkość piłki w celu niszczenia zasobów przeciwnika z jednoczesnym unikaniem wrażych kontrakcji. To wszystko przy dźwiękach interesującej muzyki, świetnej przestrzennej grafiki i wkomponowane w prostą ale sensowną fabułę. Polecam!