Cosmos: Stella Returns

This review is coming from a big fan of Cosmos Bit. Ultimately, I had fun but I think it’s worse than it’s predecessor. I recommend it with some caveats - a few tweaks would make it much better. It is a very combat focused Metroidvania. Basically you are just clearing rooms of enemies to find the next save point, which gets a bit repetitive. It CAN be tricky sometimes to survive, and that tension is the main thing that keeps the game engaging. One of the game’s main weak points is the bosses - they only have one move and are super easy to cheese (there’s always a safe zone to just camp in). The EDM dance music for these fights also really makes them a low point… My biggest complaint though is the exploration and overall linearity. The only reward for searching nooks and crannies are digital trading cards - basically just a picture. This really should be tweaked - give a higher jump, faster movement, new attacks, etc. I also think a map redesign to allow multiple paths forward instead of one critical path would help - it only vaguely feels like a Metroidvania at this point. The pixel art is quite good, and lives up to its genre forefathers. It also is a good bang for you buck - it took me 6.5 hours to get 100%. I think the game has a lot more potential, a few tweaks really would make it an easy recommendation, but it remains to be seen if the dev decides to implement any changes.

[まとめ] シンプルなメトロイド系アクションゲームの続編です。 ボスキャラやアイテムの種類が少し増えた正統進化版といった趣です。 前作を遊んで気に入った方は、今作も同様に楽しめると思います。 物語は独立しているので、前作を遊んだことがない人でも問題ありません。 今作は、やや戦闘重視となりアクションゲームとしての比重が高まりました。 ボス戦に若干の単調さが残っているため、そこが気になる人もいるかもしれません。 [追加点] もう一つの通貨アイテムが登場。 専用の購入アイテムや鉱石との変換等に使えます。 セーブカプセル以外の回復ポイントが追加(後述) 本編進行とは無関係の収集要素(カード)が追加 [変更点] 凝った隠し通路や難解な探索要素は特になく、若干の分岐を備えた小ぶりなマップを進んでいくスタイルは前作同様。 比較すると今作は、より道中での戦闘に重点が置かれた印象です。 セーブポイント間が前作よりも距離があり、また難所の付近に必ずしも設置されていません。 そのために、道中での緊張感が増しています。 ただし、地形や敵配置はしっかりと計算されており、救済策として回復アイテムを購入できるポイントも新設されています(重要!)。 ボスキャラのエリアに専用ステージが追加 マップ内のテレポートシステムから独立したエリアへ行き、そこで戦うことになります。 探索要素なしの純粋なアクションステージを進んでいきボス部屋を目指す形式です。 今作の戦闘重視の志向を象徴しているかのよう。 これらの結果、前作よりボリュームは少し増えて難易度は若干高くなりました。 ゲージ式の攻撃手段は特殊ショットからスライディングに変更 (連続使用はできないものの、なかなか爽快です!) [短所] ボスキャラのバリエーションは増えたものの、 ボス単体では前作同様にシンプルなパターンのみなためにボス戦は賛否があるかと思います。 直前に必ずセーブポイントがありリトライも容易なので、もう少しパターンを増やすなどしても良かったのでは？ また、前作よりもセーブポイントが全体的に遠く、難所を通る必要もあるので気軽にゲームを中断できません。 [主人公のステラさんについて😉] 起動画面、本編中のカード、エンディングなどで主人公の見た目が全然違います。 初めてカードでそのお姿を見た時は間違いなく 「君なんか写真と違わない?」となること必至です。 ※同じことがエンディングでも… https://youtu.be/wMY_C4RJL10

Solid enough little "Micro"vania that took 2.8 hours to complete. While it is setup a bit like a metroidvania, it is much more of a linear 2D platformer with a Metroid aesthetic. Enjoyed it about as much as the first game in this series: Cosmos Bit. Games like these are very simple, so don't go in expecting anything great. Bosses were easy to cheese and only had a single attack, but otherwise there wasn't much jank in this indie title. It's nothing exceptional, just a chill, easy, beat-it-in-an-evening kind of game. I was content going in expecting something short and simple like Cosmos Bit, and that was fine. I would like to see something far more grand in size and scope, and more of an actual metroidvania done in this universe, akin to something like Escape From Tethys or Outbuddies DX. I quite like the visuals, sounds, controls.. there's something about the feel of these games that I just really like.

I haven't actually played this yet but I know I'm going to like it. :) :) :)

No, too much of a downgrade compared to the original game.

Une suite à Cosmo Bit vraiment excellente . Si le premier opus arborait un look 8 bits , celui ci est en 16 bits . Autre gros point fort , le jeu est 2 fois plus long que le premier . Et je retiendrai surtout le système d'étoiles très ingénieux qui évite de farmer les boules de couleur grâce aux échanges . Un très bon jeu Seep et j'espère un troisième épisode aussi bon et encore plus long .

Sequência do mini metroidvania da Seep. Tão delicioso de jogar quanto o primeiro. Recomendo!

Cosmos : Stella Returns is a nicely done but somewhat short Metroidvania with a "cute" aesthetic. It's got all the elements you'd expect from a game of its kind (exploration, backtracking, sealed off areas, items, levers etc.) so I won't be describing the gameplay in detail. Instead I'll just mention a few points. - It's got a pretty interesting health mechanic. Unlike most Metroidvania games, you don't get health items from killing enemies. Rather, dead enemies drop stars that can be used as currency at health "vending machines" found in specific spots in the area. Initially, it costs you 2 stars to refill one unit of health and as you go further, it becomes more expensive to buy health. This system forces one to play cautiously. - Controls are smooth although they feel a bit floaty at times. One issue is that the player has a fixed jump height, i.e., it doesn't vary depending on how long you press the jump button. This makes things frustrating especially when you're fighting enemies on a higher platform or when you're trying to avoid enemy bullets. - Graphics are nice and colorful. But the background feels flat because the parallax effect is very minimal. The scrolling speeds of the background layers could have been a bit higher, which would have created a better illusion of depth. - Bosses have just 1 or 2 attacks and are quite easy to defeat. - Some of the areas felt like straightforward platformer levels in which the player keeps moving forward killing enemies and jumping over dangers. To conclude, this is a pretty fun game. If you're a fan of this genre, you will like it.

Anytime I want to play a simple no frills 2d action shooter or platformer SEEP always delivers. It's a mostly linear metroidvania, probably one of the most straightforward game in the genre I've ever played and that's fine The pixel art is nice, music is really good and fits the areas perfectly, game controls good and has a super simple story that doesn't get in the way of the action!!! Got 100% achievements in under 3 hrs. SEEP SEEP SEEP SEEP

Will basically repeat my review of: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1823170/Cosmos_Bit/ So this is the sequel: harder, longer and more challenging than first Cosmos. These are excellent metroidvania which literally are Metroid 1 like games. Even the main char is a girl like Samus and the whole theme is like Metroid on alien worlds. I also prefer this over Metroid 1 as that was tough to control, hard af and iirc you could not save. This game is a gem with maze levels, upgrades for your arsenal and more stuff to unlock. Definitely a recommended treasure for retro hunters and/or metroidvania fans as welll. Cons: while harder than the first game it's still kinda "easy" and relatively short. It could be more challenging and contain more levels if you ask me, (It's still really fun!!). Personal advice: I'd tell the dev to stop making the saving capsule to "auto heal" us. While it's very nice it makes the game too easy. We already have stars to purchase life from time to time on the game. Veredict: Get both now!! Do it!!