Gunlocked

stelar

I want to like this game more. I gave it more than it's fair share of time. I got my dollar's worth (I got it in a bundle for a buck). I was disappointed to read that the sequel has basically the same flaws as the original, because I thought there was potential... In short, Gunlocked in a mashup between arena survivors rogue likes (Brotato like) and classic arcade vertical shooters. It's got a nice 8 bit retro aesthetic, but the problem is with the gameplay itself. Basically you have a variety of pilots who each get a special starting weapon and power up, and you can equip/find 3 more guns and 4 more Utility add ons. The problem is, a couple of these add ons are BASICALLY essential in that if you want to make progress you HAVE to have them, and several are borderline useless (there's a fire DOT weapon category, that because the enemies move fast and slide off the screen, rarely have time for the DOTs to actually work). The BIGGEST issue however is the visual clutter. instead of paying attention to gunplay, or engaging in the actually pretty decent boss encounters, you basically are playing "dodge asteroids" nonstop. So your eyes are constantly there, and you miss most everything else (visually) - and even then, there's just so much going on on the screen, between explosions, targets, lock ons, power ups and whatnot, it can be very hard to actually see what's beneficial and what's harmful in the moment. As a side note, the "Standard" difficulty is WAY too hard (most people suggest playing on easy, which is good advice if you're going to take the plunge) - And the "endgame" challenges involve activating "Trials", which - based on the 5% or less of players that unlocked the achievement of beating a run with at least 1 Trial equipped obviously not a lot of players bothered to do. So, while there was some potential, and the actual presentation and polish is pretty good, I can't recommend this game. The bottom line is I just didn't really have a lot of fun playing it, I kept thinking the fun would come - and it just really didn't.

A fun little game

Fun roguelike shmup with survivorlike upgrade mechanics

Awesome simple shump combined with Vampire Survivors. You can't rebind keys, but the default controls are all there, move with WASD or the arrow keys, or heck, you can use mouse clicks to traverse with your ship. The game seems to have some slight freeze whenever you choose any of the options in the menu, but it's literally for like one second and then it's fine. It did launched with the sound muted in the options menu though, I had to manually bump the sound in settings to get it, which I thought was weird. I think the game is really tough early on, it has tutorial, easy, and normal modes for you to play, and the rest of the levels, characters, and most augments you can take to your runs are locked behind you completing a run in the first level, something a lot easier said than done. I managed to do it with perseverance and understanding what the game wanted out of me, after a while it wasn't so much about getting synergies (marked in the upgrade menu which is really cool) but it's more about learning enemy patterns, attacks, and playing on the defensive. You have to dodge a lot and understand how to get powerups if you want to get through the game -even on normal- and this can take a bit. I don't agree with the reviews that say the bosses don't get attacked with certain upgrades or something? That's simply not true, the has different attack patterns and upgrades that change depending on your character and the skills you prioritize, but in general these are well thoughout, the issue is with the game trying to be a shump and a survivors like, because you have to both consider synergies and high level upgrades, as well as learning enemy patterns, paying attention to bullets, projectiles, and power ups alike. You basically have to play two games instead of one, I personally really like that, but some of you might not. Definitely recommend it, get the DLC for it too, is good.

The start is a little clunky to get used to, since there's no "standard" weapons you'd expect from a space invaders type game: you don't shoot forward projectiles, instead you have to use the radar. Earlygame is a little brutal, but once you get into the groove, the game really opens up. The upgrades are all unique and fun to use, and discovering synergies is really fun. After you start to get better and unlock more augments (pre run upgrades that spice up gameplay), it starts getting into a very addicting loop of "just one more run". Dying never feels unfair, and the position based gameplay is very fine tuned. Level distribution feels fair, and once you can destroy asteroids you start to exponentially level up. After beating the 3 main zones, you unlock Trials, which make the game harder while still feeling fair. You also unlock Endless mode, which is very, very addicting. Aftermods spice up gameplay even more, and there is a good selection of them to choose from. And the cherry on top is Symbionics: "ultimate" upgrades for your weapons. Some of them require some very strange combos to pull off, but they're very satisfactory to use and reward good game knowledge. It makes me very happy to know that Gunlocked 2 is in development, I'm very eagerly waiting for it. A few QOL upgrades that would be nice for it would be the option to skip or "ban" upgrades, it's a little frustrating when your build gets sabotaged by bad luck, a few more Augments that impact things like "luck" (the duck aftermod is a good example, albeit it is very strong), maybe something that makes enemies a little weaker (slightly less shields or a little less damage, nothing huge, just a small, non percentage, nerf to help in early-mid game), something for more gems (the "pull offscreen" one is too niche imo), and something like "you start with an extra weapon/utility but you have less rerolls" or "minus x max shields but +y% shield regeneration" (the existing augment imo doesn't really help since healing 20 to 30 isn't really that impactful from what I experimented)."Obvious" stuff like more slots seems to already be planned, which makes me vert curious to see how the enemies will get harder since now you'll have more weapons and tools. Either way, it's still amazing for what it has, and the DLC is amazing if you want more content. It doesn't feel like you are missing out if you don't have it, but it does make the game more fun with more weapons and utilities. The game is great for both short runs and long sessions (the average run takes about 10-20 mins), it's very fun to achievement grind because they make you try different strats, has amazing upgrade diversity and constant new mechanics to keep you engaged. The gameplay loop may not be for everybody, but to me it was the hidden gem from the Summer Sale, most other games I already planned on buying, bundled this one into the others out of intrigue for the artstyle and to get an extra card, and it has been my most played game so far (granted I've only recently started to game on PC). Highly recommend, will keep an eye out for the sequel, and maybe in the next sale I'll also see the dev's other games as well.

DO NOT BUY ...unless you want to fiddle with resolutions and whatnot. In Fullscreen I get a small window in the middle of the screen with thick black borders all around. 1x is same but no black borders. 2x is up in top left. Do not buy at this time. https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/2542-790F-14F8-D66A "-w 1920" as a Launch Option command did NOT seem to fix the issue for me. I have to manually change my laptop's screen resolution prior to launching the game.

Really good roguelite especially for the price. Slick presentation, smooth gameplay, satisfying bullet heaven combos, lovely pixel art.

Developed and published by FromLefcourt, Gunlocked successfully combines the fast-paced intensity of classic arcade space shooters with the addictive progression systems found in modern roguelite games. Rather than relying on traditional twin-stick mechanics, the game introduces an innovative approach where weapons fire automatically according to their own targeting behaviors, allowing players to dedicate their full attention to movement, positioning, and survival. This seemingly simple design choice creates a refreshing experience that distinguishes Gunlocked from many other games inspired by the bullet heaven formula, encouraging strategic thinking instead of constant manual aiming. Every run revolves around surviving increasingly dangerous waves of alien invaders while gradually transforming a modest spacecraft into an overwhelming force through carefully selected upgrades. As enemies are destroyed, players earn experience that unlocks a wide variety of enhancements, including entirely new weapons and improvements to existing equipment. Since every weapon operates differently, building an effective arsenal requires more than simply choosing the strongest upgrades. Some weapons focus on nearby enemies, others excel at crowd control, while certain armaments perform best against tougher single targets. Discovering powerful combinations becomes one of the game's most satisfying aspects, making experimentation feel consistently rewarding throughout repeated playthroughs. The roster of playable pilots adds another layer of replayability by providing distinct starting abilities and encouraging different strategies from the beginning of each run. Combined with well over a hundred available upgrades, multiple difficulty options, endless gameplay, and randomized progression paths, no two sessions unfold exactly alike. The roguelite structure rewards persistence without making permanent progression feel mandatory, allowing player knowledge and tactical decision-making to remain at the center of the experience. Each defeat naturally teaches valuable lessons that make future attempts more successful rather than feeling like wasted effort. Enemy variety keeps the action engaging from beginning to end. Numerous alien ship types introduce unique attack patterns and movement behaviors that constantly challenge players to adapt their positioning. The boss encounters serve as memorable milestones, featuring larger enemies capable of evolving alongside the player's growing firepower. Instead of becoming trivial as stronger upgrades are acquired, these encounters remain exciting thanks to scaling mechanics that maintain a satisfying level of challenge. This balance ensures that every run continues to demand attention and smart decision-making, even after assembling an impressive collection of weapons. Gunlocked's presentation complements its gameplay exceptionally well. Its colorful pixel art embraces retro aesthetics while delivering smooth animations and visually distinct projectiles that remain readable even during the busiest firefights. The science-fiction environments, vibrant explosions, and detailed enemy sprites evoke the charm of classic arcade shooters while benefiting from modern visual polish. Accompanying the visuals is an energetic electronic soundtrack paired with satisfying sound effects that reinforce every successful attack, defeated enemy, and newly acquired upgrade, helping each battle maintain its momentum from beginning to end. Accessibility is another notable strength. Because offensive actions are automated, newcomers can quickly understand the core mechanics without struggling to master complicated control schemes. At the same time, experienced players will discover surprising tactical depth through efficient movement, upgrade optimization, and learning the strengths of every weapon type. This careful balance allows Gunlocked to appeal to casual players seeking quick sessions while also offering enough complexity to satisfy fans looking for long-term mastery. Although players accustomed to manually aiming in traditional shooters may need a brief adjustment period, the game's unique design ultimately proves rewarding once its systems become familiar. The satisfying progression, impressive replay value, varied upgrade paths, and consistently exciting combat make Gunlocked an enjoyable interpretation of the roguelite shooter genre. It succeeds not by copying established formulas, but by introducing fresh mechanics that encourage thoughtful movement and strategic planning throughout every run. Rating: 8/10

Shmup and roguelike at the same time. A lot of build variety and different playstyles. Made me buy the 2nd game