Underplayed Gems

AST-Hero (2022)

AST-Hero cover
Developer
Twisted BrainZ, Shaman77
Publisher
Twisted BrainZ
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Action, Casual, Indie
Rating
5.0 of 5, 18 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 1.4 hours
Where to get it
Steam
The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A frantic and nostalgic arcade shooter that feels like a modernized bullet hell Asteroids, demanding quick reflexes and constant weapon upgrades.

classicfast-pacedintenseretroarcadedifficultupgrade-focusedatmospheric

What players say

Players describe it as an arcade shooter inspired by Asteroids and Robotron, with 40 levels, a boss every 10 waves, and five difficulty settings. The single-stick controls (movement and shooting direction are the same) polarize: some find it nostalgic, others challenging. There is no story. The difficulty is well tiered, from easy for newcomers to punishing hard modes.

Screenshots

AST-Hero screenshot 1AST-Hero screenshot 2AST-Hero screenshot 3AST-Hero screenshot 4AST-Hero screenshot 5

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.