Ignore the Zero Stars, Do not purchase review. The game has been updated multiple times since then, including the day of this review, and is at time of writing up to 2.011a. Here are the details: https://www.gogdb.org/product/1716978185#builds It sucks for the developers when misinformation like this is flagged as 'most helpful'.
If you liked the 1st Vaporum, you'll probably like this. I think the hardest combats are as hard as in the first Vaporum, and there are a similar quantity, too. A few of the puzzles are perhaps harder than puzzles in the first game, and there is a tendency towards more 'thinky' puzzles rather than timing (these do exist) or memorization puzzles. You might be more used to Grimrock, if you've tried this genre. The fights are harder and more creative (builds are better, too), you play a single character, and the puzzles are much harder, but don't require a unintuitive logic leaps - are just challenging. This and the first Vaporum are worth a try!
First of all, answers to two questions I had that aren't well-explained by the store page: 1. Yes, the game is getting updates here! So you get all the content you would on steam/itch, even though the store page doesn't mention the updates (like it does on steam). 2. Yes, there is a linux native version available here, and it works great! (The 'works on' sidebar for the store page is incomplete). This game is the whole package - there is a reason this has 97% approval on steam! The battle system is fresh, clever, and fast-paced. Your tactical abilities are far more important than RNG or finding lucky items in a run. The encounter design is amazing - the many allies and enemies are unique with great mechanics and lots of cool synergies. The music is awesome (go check out the official OST on youtube). The art covers foul ideas (fish wearing corpses like fleshy battle mechs), but is somehow cute and endearing. The atmosphere, characters, lore, and humor are bizarre and well done. Lots of variety - things to unlock, achieve, teams to build, bosses to fight etc. The roguelike progression is about unlocking new things to encounter, not about persistent bonuses across runs - so you can win on your first run or get destroyed on your thousandth.
TL;DR Don't bother with the Linux binary. Everything is an out-of-date headache and you will most likely waste 20 gigs download time + time required to refund. Game may be fine, but Linux installer does not set up prerequisite libraries. Furthermore, only 32-bit version is available and current repo does not contain the needed packages anymore. The launcher throws a Inconsistency detected by ld.so: dl-version.c: 204: _dl_check_map_versions: if you try to use current packages. Don't bother.
TLDR; Incredibly solid game design with a lot of heart and replayability. Get it! This is a fully turn-based tactics game. You control 4 robots who can each load 4 equipment items. Game loop: Home phase: In the 'home' phase, you can use currency to shop in the store or buy permanent intrinsic upgrades for your mechs. You can 'lock' up to two items in the shop to buy later. Then you choose a mission - each shows the objective type, difficulty level, and rewards you'll get if you win. In the mission: You take turns in an "alternating activation" style - you spend your mechs' moves and attacks in any order you like, they the enemy all move/attack. Features: "fog of war", fully destructible environment, great and varied status effects and enemy types, environmental hazards/boons, some basic stealth, occasional allies or enemy spawners/repair stations/reinforcements. If you win, you get rewards and back to the Home phase. If you lose the run is over, but you get points towards a new unit unlock and for selectable unlocks based on your progress. If you lose, What's great: The overall game design is downright amazing. There is enough complexity to make play super engaging but not enough to bog anything down. Snappy controls/animations, respects your time! Meta progression - unlock cool new gear that keeps adding to the possibilities. The enemy types, AI, mission types, and difficulty curve are all well designed and provide challenge. Lots of great status effects and build possibilities - this is probably the heart of the game. Fun synthwave music and cohesive (if simple) visuals. The value - how is the price this low! What's bad: Only that these developers haven't put out more games yet! They are working on one though. Highly recommended for anyone who likes turn-based small squad tactics, and nerding out on build possibilities.
