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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]

Assault Android Cactus

Released

Different. This is an older arcade top down shooter. Cactus used to be mentioned more right when VS came out, before the clones. It comes with a campaign mode and "infinity drive" wave survival mode that technically has an end at 49 levels but is "near impossible" to get to. Also a "daily drive" that can give you some of that randomized challenge run feeling. No Rogue-lite elements or builds, but collecting 'volts' to increase weapon power feels very similar to VS XP. It might scratch your itch, it's widely considered to be a great game.

Dungeon Crawler Story Rich Survivors-like Top Down or Isometric Twin Stick Shooter Wave Shooter Wave Survival
7.0 Combined Ranking Score
42/72 Ranking Position
1252/1600 Total Points
9.5 Final Review
94% Steam
9.8 Scale
9.3 Vibes
1207 Steam Reviews
385/400 Review Points
4.5 Similarity Score
72% Diagnosis:
Different
867/1200 Comparison Points
69% Genre 3.1/8 genre
41% Simple Controls -1.2/7 move
90% Survival Modes 3.2/4 modes
53% Power Progression 0.2/4 level
51% Buildcrafting Depth 0.1/5 build
75% Stage Features 3.5/7 stage
97% Content Breadth 8.5/9 stuff
79% Aesthetics 3.5/6 style
81% Gameplay Vibe Check 6.2/10 vibe vibe

Assault Android Cactus Ranking Notes

- +

Scaling and Review Notes

Personal Hours Played: 2.3

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 10/23/2023

This game is part of the precursor genre of twin stick shooters and was a pretty popular suggestion on Reddit when Vampire Survivors came out and before he genre defined itself and steam was flooded with clones. I can see why, it's got a daily challenge that makes it feel a little more run like. But overall, it's a level based twin stick shooter. No metaprogression, no leveling up. A fair amount of similar features though. Collecting "volts" to upgrade your weapon from level 0 to 3 doesn't offer upgrade paths, but does feel like sweeping up XP.

There's health that will knock you down if lost, but really it's got a timer mechanic with battery drain requiring you to keep getting new batteries to avoid running out of time. This feels a little bit like looking for XP on the floor to sweep. "I'm just a little android" song (with vocals!) when you get your ass handed to you is a banger. It's got a story, voice acting, and made the most of the 3D graphics of the time with chibi-robo soldier gals.

It reminds me some of great Housemarque games Super Stardust and Nex Machina. You'll just have to be motivated by high scores and not unlocks.

Assault Android Cactus Similarity Scale Heatmap

- +

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.

4.5 Similarity Score
72% Diagnosis:
867/1200 Comparison Points
Rogue-lite -1/1
Auto-Fire / Auto-Battle -1/1
Real Time 1/1
Top Down or Isometric 1/1
Direct Control of Single Avatar 1/1
Arcade Style 1/1
Bullet Heaven A (Many Player Bullets) 0.8/1
Bullet Heaven B (Few Enemy Bullets) 0.3/1
One Handed Play (w Controller) -1/1
Move Only -1/1
No Dash 1/1
No Trigger -1/1
No Special Move 0.8/1
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) 0.7/1
Level Up on XP Gain Event 0.2/1
Streamlined Level Choices (Simple UI) 0/1
Currency Based Meta Unlocks 0/1
Goal Based Meta Unlocks 0/1
Build Crafting 0/1
0/1
Weapon Combination / "Evolution" 0.1/1
Interesting Item / Weapon / Ability Synergy 0/1
Broken / Invincible Builds Possible 0/1
Explorable Map 0.5/1
BIG Maps 0/1
XP on Ground 1/1
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 0.5/1
Bosses / Elites 1/1
Many Interesting Characters 1/1
Many Challenges 1/1
Multiple Stages 1/1
Difficulty Modifiers 1/1
Bestiary / Lore 1/1
Achievements 1/1
Secrets 1/1
Retro / Pixel Art 0/1
Damage Numbers 0/1
Lofi Charm 0.5/1
Bumpin Music 1/1
Fun Writing 1/1
Subtle Humor 1/1
Panic & Zen Duo Vibe 0.8/1
Over the Top 0.7/1
"One More Run" / Short Runs 0.5/1
Difficulty Ramp 0/1
Fun Ramp 0/1
Low Price 0.2/1
Technical Check 1/1
Controls Check 1/1
Fun Check 1/1
Feels like VS 0.6/1

Assault Android Cactus 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.

9.5 Final Review
94% Positive Steam Reviews
1207 Steam Reviews
9.3 Pure Vibes
9.8 Review Scale
385/400 Review Points
Not Buggy 1/1
Not Janky 1/1
Good UI 1/1
Controller and Deck 1/1
Lots of Content 0.8/1
Good Theme 1/1
Good Graphics and Sound 1/1
Fun Feel 1/1
Unique Twists 1/1
Vibe Check 1/1

Metacritic Scores

- +

This title has metacritic data! The "fuck the man" score is adjusted so each person's review is equally weighted, regardless of critic or fan status.

Critic

8.6 Converted 10 Point Score
11 Number of Critic Reviews

User

8.4 User Review Average
35 Number of User Reviews

Average

8.5 Direct Average
8.4 "Fuck The Man" Combined Mean

Assault Android Cactus Tag Cloud

- +

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

LinuxMacPS4Steam DeckSwitchWindows PCXboxReleased

Sorting Categories

Different

Genre and Control Style Tags

Dungeon CrawlerStory RichSurvivors-likeTop Down or IsometricTwin Stick ShooterWave ShooterWave Survival

Aesthetic Tags

3DAnimeCute

Setting / Story Tags

CyborgsRobotsSci-fi

Control Styles

Controller

Game Mode Tags

Unknownn/a

Features and Extras

SoundtrackSteam AchievementsSteam CloudSteam LeaderboardsSteam Trading Cards

Dev/Publisher

Witch Beam

Game Features

- +

Listing various features we've got info on.

Multiplayer

  • Local: Co-Op
  • Online: Co-Op
  • Player Count: 4
  • Leaderboards: ?

Steam Features

  • Steam Cloud: Yes
  • Steam Achievements: 29
  • Steam Leaderboards: Yes
  • Steam Workshop: No
  • Steam Trading Cards: Yes

Extras, Etc.

  • NSFW: No
  • Demo Available: No
  • DLC Available: No
  • Soundtrack Available: Steam Bandcamp YouTube Spotify Amazon Apple

Marketing Blurb

- +

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

"Assault Android Cactus is an intense arcade style twin stick shooter - pick from one of nine unique synthetic heroines and blast your way through overwhelming robots hordes to save the ship from its own workforce. Supports single player and local co-op game modes."

"..blending the gameplay of western styled arena shooters with aspects of Japanese style bullet hell as you charge head first through transforming stages, massive boss battles and an eclectic cast of characters.."

Run Times & Speedups

- +

Average Run Time: n/a

Run Time Notes

?

Speed Settings

?

[edit]

Whisker Squadron: Survivor

EA

Very Different. An excellent pick if you want to mix it up with a rogue-lite Star Fox style rail shooter survival with leveling mechanics. Has a ton of control differences but sometimes the differences from most survivors-likes makes a game your next favorite. Main complaint is there just isn't enough content. I want more varied pilots, weapons, maps, more bullet heaven aspects. I hope they bring a lot more during Early Access. Needs more for the price and a greater breadth and depth would skyrocket it up this list. Hate the energy meter firing delay.

On-Rails Shooter Roguelite Survivors-like
6.5 Combined Ranking Score
46/72 Ranking Position
1219/1600 Total Points
8.7 Final Review
92% Steam
8.4 Scale
8.4 Vibes
180 Steam Reviews
360/400 Review Points
4.3 Similarity Score
72% Diagnosis:
Very Different
859/1200 Comparison Points
71% Genre 3.4/8 genre
29% Simple Controls -3/7 move
85% Survival Modes 2.8/4 modes
100% Power Progression 4/4 level
60% Buildcrafting Depth 1/5 build
60% Stage Features 1.4/7 stage
75% Content Breadth 4.5/9 stuff
88% Aesthetics 4.6/6 style
82% Gameplay Vibe Check 6.4/10 vibe vibe

Whisker Squadron: Survivor Ranking Notes

- +

Scaling and Review Notes

Personal Hours Played: 3.8

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 10/20/2023

It's rogue-lite wave survival wrapped around a star fox controls style rail shooter that looks like an HD neon remaster of a 1990s vector graphic shooter. That's awesome. Add a couple cute cats, and you've got yourself a nice little package. I had a lot of fun with this one and will probably try to at least unlock all the ships and levels. Lots of buttons/triggers, no auto, not like Vampire Survivors there. Fun music. The only real shame is there isn't a ton of content or build variety. Would be great to see more. There is both a boost and a roll so it gets a full -1 in that category.

More unique characters, ships, maps, and enemies. Character abilities are a little underwhelming and haven't gotten any over the top bullet heaven combos, but still fun. Would also be cool if characters got star fox style wah wah unique to them, not just the dot for the text. They could also use more personality. Don't love the energy meter. I customized controls to fire with trigger. Colors/levels could pulse/warp procedurally to give feel of endless variety, like some older games do. Quibbles quibbles. I worry because devs announced a next similar game while this could use more content for 14.99.

This has the bones to be one of the best games on this list and one of the best games I've played in a while, but it's just the bones right now. It needs to go over the top and it needs to go hard, and bringing in a writer with some humor and further developing some diversity in the style and color palette would help too.

Whisker Squadron: Survivor Similarity Scale Heatmap

- +

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.

4.3 Similarity Score
72% Diagnosis:
859/1200 Comparison Points
Rogue-lite 1/1
Auto-Fire / Auto-Battle 0/1
Real Time 1/1
Top Down or Isometric 0/1
Direct Control of Single Avatar 1/1
Arcade Style 1/1
Bullet Heaven A (Many Player Bullets) 0.4/1
Bullet Heaven B (Few Enemy Bullets) -1/1
One Handed Play (w Controller) -1/1
Move Only 0/1
No Dash -1/1
No Trigger -1/1
No Special Move 0/1
No Aiming -1/1
No On-Aim / On-Fire Movement Penalty 1/1
Timed / Boss Ended Survival 1/1
Endless Mode 0/1
Organic / Unannounced Waves 1/1
High Enemy Count (Horde) 0.8/1
Level Up on XP Gain Event 1/1
Streamlined Level Choices (Simple UI) 1/1
Currency Based Meta Unlocks 1/1
Goal Based Meta Unlocks 1/1
Build Crafting 0.4/1
0.5/1
Weapon Combination / "Evolution" 0/1
Interesting Item / Weapon / Ability Synergy 0.1/1
Broken / Invincible Builds Possible 0/1
Explorable Map -1/1
BIG Maps 1/1
XP on Ground 1/1
Health on Ground 0/1
Temp Powerups / Items on Ground 0.4/1
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 0.3/1
Many Challenges 0.6/1
Multiple Stages 0.6/1
Difficulty Modifiers 1/1
Bestiary / Lore 0/1
Achievements 1/1
Secrets 0.4/1
Retro / Pixel Art 1/1
Damage Numbers 1/1
Lofi Charm 1/1
Bumpin Music 1/1
Fun Writing 0.6/1
Subtle Humor 0/1
Panic & Zen Duo Vibe 0.5/1
Over the Top 0.6/1
"One More Run" / Short Runs 1/1
Difficulty Ramp 0.8/1
Fun Ramp 0.7/1
Low Price 0.1/1
Technical Check 1/1
Controls Check 0.9/1
Fun Check 0.8/1
Feels like VS 0.8/1

Whisker Squadron: Survivor 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.

8.7 Final Review
92% Positive Steam Reviews
180 Steam Reviews
8.4 Pure Vibes
8.4 Review Scale
360/400 Review Points
Not Buggy 1/1
Not Janky 1/1
Good UI 0.7/1
Controller and Deck 1/1
Lots of Content 0.3/1
Good Theme 0.4/1
Good Graphics and Sound 1/1
Fun Feel 1/1
Unique Twists 1/1
Vibe Check 1/1

Whisker Squadron: Survivor Tag Cloud

- +

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

LinuxMacSteam DeckWindows PCEA

Sorting Categories

Very Different

Genre and Control Style Tags

On-Rails ShooterRogueliteSurvivors-like

Aesthetic Tags

3DNeonRetroVector Inspired

Setting / Story Tags

AbstractFurryRobotsSci-fiShip (Air/Space)

Control Styles

Controller

Game Mode Tags

Currency MetaprogressionDropped Powerups30m

Features and Extras

SoundtrackSteam AchievementsSteam CloudSteam Trading Cards

Dev/Publisher

Flippfly LLC

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: 22
  • Steam Leaderboards: No
  • Steam Workshop: No
  • Steam Trading Cards: Yes

Extras, Etc.

  • NSFW: No
  • Demo Available: No
  • DLC Available: No
  • Soundtrack Available: Steam Bandcamp YouTube

Marketing Blurb

- +

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

"A cosmic roguelite on-rails shooter with wild 30-minute runs that will take your feline flight crew to thrilling new heights with each randomized adventure. Your plan is simple: wreak vengeance on the Swarm and try to survive."

"Embark on an ever-changing adventure across neon-laced roguelike levels featuring on-rails shooter runs that change with every 20-30 minute playthrough" "Design a fighter ship using randomized upgrades that can be built using scraps dropped throughout each level and Victory Points earned through play."

Run Times & Speedups

- +

Average Run Time: 30m

Run Time Notes

?

Speed Settings

?