A while back, we had a chat with HaZ Dulull, the mastermind behind the team at Beyond the Pixels. We talked about his latest project, Astro Burn, a cat-based “shmup” inspired by the greats of the past. HaZ was so inspired by the greats (mainly Konami titles like Parodius and Pop’n Twinbee) that he even opted to include a Super Famicom cart with Astro Burn in his Kickstarter campaign. If that’s not inspiration, I dunno what is.
And now the game has finally arrived on Steam, and even though it still has a few rough edges, I have a feeling that “shmup” fans will find it to be the cat’s meow. I mean, everything about this game just screams, “Hey, we’re here just to have a good time.” From the power-ups based around food to the cute animal bosses that want to obliterate you, there’s a lot of comical joy to be had here.
But the gameplay is no joke. It’s as serious as a heart attack with its shooting goodness. The power-ups actually help you over the course of your journey, and you can unleash catnip-fueled devastation attacks to boot. You can bring a friend as well, in case both of you like cats.
The game does have a few rough edges here and there, but never mind. There’s enough goodness here for Astro Burn to be considered as the cat’s meow. Unless you hate felines, you should check it out. And even then…
Astro Burn Brings the Cat-astrophic Shooting Action
Astro is a cat simply trying to make her way home. But along the way, she discovers some interesting torments within the universe in the game’s Story Mode. We’re talking about pandas, rabbits and more that want to rule the galaxy. Why can’t you just be cute and eat vegetables or something?!
Anyway, using her arsenal of firepower and an assistant robot sidekick, Astro looks to unleash havoc and complete her journey home. But, of course, it’s far from easy.
This game reminded me so much of games like Parodius and other non-serious shooters in terms of appearance. But at its core, you’ve got the kind of “shmup” action that would do the legends proud.
As you travel across each stage, you’ll pick up food that doubles as power-ups. This includes a cheeseburger spread gun, fish heat-seeking missiles and more. They only last for so long, but your general attack can still do a lot of damage. Plus, if you build up enough power, you can unleash a catnip-fueled super technique to clear the screen. Have you ever seen a cat throw a fireball? Well, here’s your chance.
The gameplay is very well done, with Beyond the Pixels nailing down the core fundamentals of what makes a “shmup” tick. Intensity, bullet dodging and great boss battles. That said, even in its 1.0 state, there are minor rough edges, mainly with hit detection in some places. Also, it’s a bit frustrating when a power-up is just outside of reach with an environmental danger. How’s a cheeseburger going to tempt us over fire like that?
The game has plenty to offer locally, including two-player co-op (got a feline friend?) and local leaderboards. I do wish there was more online interactivity, but hey, this is a cool indie project, so I’ll cheer it on anyway. There are plenty of modes to tackle here, along with challenge galore across different difficult levels.
It’s not overly elaborate, and could use a very minor bit of patches. But Astro Burn pays homage to an era of shooter we don’t see much of anymore. Plus it puts cats in the gaming spotlight, right alongside Stray, and I’m sure fans will easily want more. But hey, even if you don’t like cats, there’s something that’s definitely here for you.
Astro Burn Piles On a Cute Presentation
To go along with the serious gameplay, Astro Burn features a cute presentation that will be quite the throwback to some.
The visuals are a delight, filled with hand-drawn cuteness galore. Astro alone is well worth watching, as she spins around carelessly while the bullets fly. But the levels are nicely done, with scrolling backgrounds and interesting enemy design. (Damn unicorns!) The game moves at a nice clip too, even as the screen fills up with bullets. It’s a real charmer.
As for the music, Beyond the Pixels understands the meaning of “throwback.” It’s filled with addictive retro tunes galore, put together by the team at Venice Bleach. You might just be adding a few to your library. There’s also a lot of meowing sound effects, because, well, you know, cats. But overall, it’s a really neat mix, and perfect for your headphones.
Astro Burn Offers a Purr-fect Getaway
When we talked to HaZ about Astro Burn, you could just sense his excitement in putting together a cat “shmup” the way he wanted. Now you can see the results for yourself, and they’re pretty damn good. While there are a few minor touches to make, the overall game really takes you back to the good ol’ days of shooters. Not to mention that Venice Bleach soundtrack will easily champion over your ears.
Kudos to Beyond the Pixels for making this piece of cat goodness happen. Now…is there actually an arcade game making the rounds? We need to see it.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to Beyond the Pixels for providing us a review code! Astro Burn is available now for Steam/PC and works great on Steam Deck!
Read our full interview with HaZ Dulull here!
