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<< Developer or Publisher: PUNKCAKE Delicieux ~ 1 found

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Genre/Control

Specific tags for the title's features

Ranking

Similarity & Review

Review

Multiple Sources

Similarity

Compared to VS. Not a review!

Similarity Scale

Percentage of possible points earned scored -1 to 1 in tenths in 60 categories

Genre Controls Modes Progress Builds Stages Content Aesthetic Vibe
[edit]

Ecstatic

Released

Very Different. This little arcade style arena wave shooter has excellent style, with a wriggly spider protagonist and some fresh feeling mechanics. The pointer to target and click to move control scheme works best for me on steam deck. There's no metaprogression and it's more bullet hell than bullet heaven, really. I'm not sure it's really very related to Vampire Survivors and probably won't get as long play times out of people, but I'm glad I tried it in the Steam Bullet Heaven Fest.

Arcade Arena Shooter Bullet Hell Wave Survival
5.4 Combined Ranking Score
57/72 Ranking Position
1056/1600 Total Points
9.6 Final Review
100% Steam
9.4 Scale
9.5 Vibes
11 Steam Reviews
389/400 Review Points
1.1 Similarity Score
56% Diagnosis:
Very Different
667/1200 Comparison Points
59% Genre 1.5/8 genre
36% Simple Controls -2/7 move
71% Survival Modes 1.7/4 modes
13% Power Progression -3/4 level
47% Buildcrafting Depth -0.3/5 build
36% Stage Features -2/7 stage
59% Content Breadth 1.6/9 stuff
88% Aesthetics 4.5/6 style
81% Gameplay Vibe Check 6.2/10 vibe vibe

Ecstatic Ranking Notes

- +

Scaling and Review Notes

Personal Hours Played: 3.0

Every game ranked was played, but also scaled based on research, talking to developers & your feedback. The priority with the scale's initial design was to compare similarity on relatively objective features - so it doesn't claim to include reviews of the depth and clarity you'd get at a games journalism site, nor the intensive time played you might get from player reviews on steam. We try to incorporate and link all of that along with a 'review scale' that checks for bugs. See the heatmap and breakdown! Time played noted so you can take any notes with a big grain of salt! I can't get to high level gameplay in 850+ games so I heavily research every game. Over 80 game creators let me interview or survey them! I Hope to go back and refine. Please argue or submit your own scores and reviews to be incorporated with credit into the notes and score numbers.

Added or last checked on 11/15/2023

Ecstatic is more of an oldschool arena shooter which had previously come up in my recommendations since I've been getting so many bite sized top down retro style shooters. It's not a survivors-like, with no meta progression, no giant hordes, and no buildcrafting alternate paths or bullet heaven power fantasy. Just one weapon and character.

But it is a pretty great little arcade style shooter, I think. Fairly simple in design, but it doesn't pretend to be a huge game and I'm satisfied to have tried it since it was in the Steam Bullet Heaven Fest. I think originally designed as a browser game, the controller support (which isn't officially listed) basically just emulates a mouse and was pretty hard to play with. (Dev confirmed: "The "controller support" is actually just Steam emulating mouse inputs, as the game was indeed designed and developed to be played with the mouse")

Playing on Steam Deck, it works quite well with the trackpad as you kind of click to move your little spider around the grid-like arena and hover your target over enemies then click to send missiles their way. One hit will kill you (giving this a -1 on "health on ground") so it feels very much like a bullet hell at first even with the relatively small enemy and projectile count, but a "freeze" mechanic that slows everything down unless you move drastically increases survivability.

Power ups are in the classic arcade style, a limited number of them available and a few levels possible in each. It's unlikely you'll be able to get them all in a play, so in that way there are some build choices. You can target the powerups to change them to a different type, helpful when figuring out your play style.

It took me a bit to truly adapt to the lock on and then fire mechanic for the missles, I admit. I imagine it's more obvious as a mouse game. Aesthetically excellent, from the pixel spider's independently moving legs to the classic arcade beats and synth voice announcing powerups (another thing I love from games like Super Stardust HD).

It's actually priced a tiny bit higher than on average for these games, but before this latest wave most arcade style shooters were around this price range or more (and there were a lot fewer options.) I'm happy with the experience for the price, though I'm not sure I'll really put a ton of hours in. I like these games, but I reach my limit of ability in them at times. It may not be about winning an arcade game, though, I guess, just playing.

Ecstatic Similarity Scale Heatmap

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Measured in 60 categories via likert-scale style options -1 to 1 in tenths, how does this game compare to Vampire Survivors. This allows 1200 total "points". It's easier to have a point of comparison and we just picked Vampire Survivors since it's the most popular and commonly referenced game in the subgenre. For detailed methodology read the explainer. For in depth examples at score value, see the scoring guide and for term definitions see the key.

1.1 Similarity Score
56% Diagnosis:
667/1200 Comparison Points
Rogue-lite -1/1
Auto-Fire / Auto-Battle -1/1
Real Time 0.9/1
Top Down or Isometric 1/1
Direct Control of Single Avatar 1/1
Arcade Style 1/1
Bullet Heaven A (Many Player Bullets) 0.6/1
Bullet Heaven B (Few Enemy Bullets) -1/1
One Handed Play (w Controller) 0/1
Move Only -1/1
No Dash 1/1
No Trigger -1/1
No Special Move 1/1
No Aiming -1/1
No On-Aim / On-Fire Movement Penalty -1/1
Timed / Boss Ended Survival 1/1
Endless Mode -0.5/1
Organic / Unannounced Waves 1/1
High Enemy Count (Horde) 0.2/1
Level Up on XP Gain Event -1/1
Streamlined Level Choices (Simple UI) 0/1
Currency Based Meta Unlocks -1/1
Goal Based Meta Unlocks -1/1
Build Crafting 0.2/1
0/1
Weapon Combination / "Evolution" 0/1
Interesting Item / Weapon / Ability Synergy 0/1
Broken / Invincible Builds Possible -0.5/1
Explorable Map -1/1
BIG Maps -1/1
XP on Ground 0/1
Health on Ground -1/1
Temp Powerups / Items on Ground 1/1
Treasure Chests and/or Loot Events 0/1
Vendor / Merchant on Run 0/1
Enemy Variety 0.1/1
Bosses / Elites 0.5/1
Many Interesting Characters 0/1
Many Challenges 0/1
Multiple Stages 0/1
Difficulty Modifiers 0/1
Bestiary / Lore 0/1
Achievements 1/1
Secrets 0/1
Retro / Pixel Art 1/1
Damage Numbers 0/1
Lofi Charm 1/1
Bumpin Music 1/1
Fun Writing 1/1
Subtle Humor 0.5/1
Panic & Zen Duo Vibe 0.4/1
Over the Top 0.5/1
"One More Run" / Short Runs 1/1
Difficulty Ramp 0/1
Fun Ramp 0/1
Low Price 1/1
Technical Check 1/1
Controls Check 0.8/1
Fun Check 1/1
Feels like VS -1/1

Ecstatic Review Scale Heatmap

- +

The review scale is judged from -1 to 1 in 10 categories, with 200 possible "points" earned. Steam review positive percentage is worth another 100 points, and a "ten point" pure vibe review number adds extra subjectivity. Converted into points, that's 400 points total. The points aren't used directly in the ranking, though, which averages the three number scores for the final review score listed in the game line above.

9.6 Final Review
100% Positive Steam Reviews
11 Steam Reviews
9.5 Pure Vibes
9.4 Review Scale
389/400 Review Points
Not Buggy 1/1
Not Janky 0.9/1
Good UI 1/1
Controller and Deck 0.5/1
Lots of Content 1/1
Good Theme 1/1
Good Graphics and Sound 1/1
Fun Feel 1/1
Unique Twists 1/1
Vibe Check 1/1

Ecstatic Tag Cloud

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More sortable taxonomies and categories associated with the game (genre tags are available in the main game table line!) We've just started adding tags to enable more sorting options, this section will get more filled out as we go!

Release Tags

itch.ioWindows PCReleased

Sorting Categories

Very Different

Genre and Control Style Tags

ArcadeArena ShooterBullet HellWave Survival

Aesthetic Tags

2DArtyLofiPixel ArtRaveRetroVivid

Setting / Story Tags

AbstractInsects

Control Styles

ControllerMouse Only

Game Mode Tags

Unknown5m

Features and Extras

SoundtrackSteam AchievementsSteam Cloud

Dev/Publisher

PUNKCAKE Delicieux

Game Features

- +

Listing various features we've got info on.

Multiplayer

  • Local: No
  • Online: No
  • Player Count: 1
  • Leaderboards: ?

Steam Features

  • Steam Cloud: Yes
  • Steam Achievements: 8
  • Steam Leaderboards: No
  • Steam Workshop: No
  • Steam Trading Cards: No

Extras, Etc.

  • NSFW: No
  • Demo Available: No
  • DLC Available: No
  • Soundtrack Available: Bandcamp Apple Spotify

Marketing Blurb

- +

Some description of the game and its features from the creators.

"Rave spider goes to the bullet-hell ball: shoot rockets out of your butt, dodge and destroy waves upon waves of drones, slow down time whenever you don't move."

"Control a disposable spider mech that shoots rockets out of its butt and decimate waves upon waves of drones synced to rave music, while also slowing down time whenever you stop moving. Pick up power-ups strategically and weave your way around enemies to make it to the end of the track!"

"The game features 4 different difficulties, a slew of challenges, and includes a level editor that lets you use your own music tracks!"

Run Times & Speedups

- +

Average Run Time: 5m

Run Time Notes

?

Speed Settings

?