Luna Abyss review

I blow hot and cold when it comes to bullet hell experiences. When they are done well, I adore the madness on offer. However, when things go south, I find it extremely frustrating. Thankfully, Luna Abyss sits in the first camp. This fast-paced experience focuses on never-ending projectiles, stylish parkour moments, and deep lore that is told through hidden text logs. Although I would have preferred the latter to be more fluid, it worked well with the weird sci-fi theme.

Kwalee Labs has developed this smooth first-person shooter. It is a single-player game that is included in the Game Pass subscription. Accordingly, you have nothing to lose if you fancy giving it a go. Yet, if you are still on the fence, hopefully this review will push you into downloading it. The story, setting, and exceptionally enjoyable platforming elements were fantastic. But it has its flaws. The lore slows things down, and the combat is a little repetitive. Consequently, it isn’t as polished as I’d have liked.

Luna Abyss tells an odd story.

You play the role of Fawkes, a mutated prisoner with glowing red eyes. It is the special powers that make this prisoner stand out from the crowd. Subsequently, you are deemed worthy of taking on a suicide mission. You must gather ancient alien technology to aid your adventure and make Aylin happy. As you descend the depths, you will encounter the “Scourge”. The further you go, the weirder things become. It is this journey that is challenging and fascinating in equal measure.

The story was great, and I enjoyed the healthy pacing. Although the enemies felt like they were never-ending, the story flowed nicely as you moved through each enormous level. The use of verticality and massive ancient structures worked well. The large chasms, tight platforms, and maze-like rooms add pressure to the bullet hell moments. The combination of each element should have been overwhelming, but it wasn’t. The game’s difficulty was just right, and no matter your skill level, you’ll enjoy Luna Abyss.

Plenty to contend with.

Luna Abyss mixes minor puzzles with some of the best bullet hell combat I’ve experienced. Unlike traditional shooters, your foes fire orbs in a set pattern. Your job is to memorise, understand, and overcome each one without being hit. Alongside this, you must master tight movement as you jump platforms, avoid obstacles, and dodge projectiles.

If this wasn’t enough, you must select the correct weapon for the job you face. If you do not pick the right tool for the task at hand, you will fail to wipe out your foes. Therefore, you must contemplate many different layers as you destroy your enemies and search for each piece of alien tech. This may seem like a lot, but it is nicely considered, and once you master what is asked of you, you’ll enjoy the bizarre sci-fi romp.

Luna Abyss looks amazing.

I played this on Xbox Series X, and it plays exceptionally well. Furthermore, each level is nicely varied. The deeper you go, the weirder things become. This allows the developer to go crazy with their ideas, and they didn’t hold back. The result is a strange experience that will surprise you at each turn. The audio is one of the standout elements of this game. It mixes melancholy and haunting sounds with aggressive and upbeat combat layers. The result is a dynamic soundscape that brings the action to life while enhancing the horror edge.

The controls are well considered. The excellent UI ensures that you can swap between weapons with speed, and this was essential. Moreover, the inputs are tight, and this supports each platforming moment. Consequently, despite the challenges you’ll face, the control setup will not get in your way. Sadly, Luna Abyss is painfully short. I think I invested around 15 hours, and I took my time. Had I pushed harder, I would have completed it in around 10 hours. This was unfortunate, but a good return for an AA title.

Luna Abyss is a great addition to Game Pass.

I wouldn’t have been disappointed if I had to buy Luna Abyss. The story is fantastic, the gameplay is captivating, and the smooth action does not disappoint. However, luckily, it is included with Game Pass, so you don’t need to invest if you wish to play it. Yes, there are a few drawbacks, but these shouldn’t put you off. Accordingly, I like it and recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox store!