Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Jan 15, 2015
    75
    It’s a spellbinding, colorful and beautiful world that is hard to shake, even if it occasionally shoots in the wrong direction.
  2. Jan 5, 2015
    70
    Kromaia is an obscure piece on how it goes (not) and looks (not) in the universe. Action arcade brings a lot of adrenaline fun, but also oddities that some just may not take.
  3. Nov 5, 2014
    70
    There are some aspects with some room for improvement (like the lack of content), but still fans of the genre will definitely enjoy this experience. We think it’s a little bit pricey for what it offers, though.
  4. Nov 4, 2014
    70
    Kromaia is by no means a perfect game, but the action at its heart has an excellent flow.
  5. Dec 15, 2014
    62
    Pretty retro design isn’t everything. While the art design is creative, the action remains simple. Games like Resogun or Child of Eden deliver way more tension.
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Jan 17, 2015
    9
    Kromaia is Shadow of the Colossus blasted through a warp portal and transformed into a 6DOF bullet-hell extravaganza where planets spin to theKromaia is Shadow of the Colossus blasted through a warp portal and transformed into a 6DOF bullet-hell extravaganza where planets spin to the rhythm of a techno beat.

    The game begins with a message from a disembodied voice that calls itself "Mother." She has a vendetta against four gods who have somehow wronged her. She gives you a task. Kill them. To fulfill her wish, you must journey through neon-drenched dreamscapes that are strewn with strange ruins and populated by abstract machine-creatures intent upon destroying you.

    Luckily, mother doesn’t send you on your quest for revenge without the proper attire needed for committing godocide. Your first “armor," as the ships are called, can obliterate swarms of enemies and weave deftly past obstacles. And for every "divine" corpse you produce, you are rewarded with a new armor. Each comes equipped with a unique weapon of mass destruction--ranging from a shotgun-like scatter shot to an energy disc that can slice through multiple foes. These tools are distinct enough to require modifying one's playstyle. Put these features together with the game's adaptive enemey AI, and the result is exciting (and challenging!) shmup gameplay.

    Good gameplay is essential for any successful shmup, but Kromaia offers more than fast ships, cool enemies, and big explosions. Kromaia is an aesthetic marvel: it creates an atmosphere of wonder that few games manage to capture. Mother’s ominous commands are cryptic alien echoes. Armors an anatomy of moving, detailed parts. Gods are mechanical behemoths slumbering among the pillars of temples that float on a sea of stars. All these elements add up to a unique game that should be experienced not only by shmup fans but also by anyone who enjoys gaming.

    This game is a criminally underappreciated gem that deserves way more attention that it has received. Do yourself a favor, and add this game to your collection.
    Full Review »
  2. Jan 18, 2015
    10
    OMG Kromaia is amazing - Kromaia basically directly plugs into the pleasure center of my brain.

    Gameplay/controls wise plays like Descent
    OMG Kromaia is amazing - Kromaia basically directly plugs into the pleasure center of my brain.

    Gameplay/controls wise plays like Descent (6 DOF physics based shooter) while being its own game - a space shooter physics-heavy bullet-hell-shmup with a good dash of norse-mayan-tron-aesthetic.

    The music, enemies patterns and swarms, graceful movement are entrancing (and entering a meditative state while playing definitely seems to help me!).

    The videos do it justice, so I wont describe the gameplay more than simply saying it plays as good as it looks in the vids, I find it simply brilliant, and if the videos look even vaguely interesting to you that you should give it a go.

    Special note: The devs are very responsive in adding options (eg for graphics), discussing control scheme options etc - this is a game which is already great and will improve with age.
    Full Review »