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Assault Android Cactus is easily one of the absolute best indie twin-stick shooters around and it's now bigger and better again. Note: My key was originally from a PR team years ago.

Just today, Witch Beam released the Assault Android Cactus+ update which includes a new Campaign+ game mode. This newer mode, originally in the Nintendo Switch version mixes the gameplay up something fierce, giving you a fresh challenge with rebuilt stages and new enemy waves along with "amped up boss fights".

Also, if you previously found the game too difficult, there's a new Automatic Aim option found in the Main Menu under Accessibility Options. This allows you to worry about the action, without needing precise aim and saving your thumb a little. I've tested it and it works very well, making it a smoother experience and likely a lot better for a younger audience now too. Since it's an option, it doesn't change anything for experienced players or anyone looking for a challenge.

If you've never seen or played it, I honestly think you're missing out. Have a look at their original trailer below for what to expect:

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Other changes that came along with this update include a Movie Gallery, new Android costumes, you can now hold a button to revive when knocked down but it's slower than tapping, along with a Revive Assist accessibility option. They did also note "Too many fixes, improvements and adjustments to list" so overall it should be a smoother game.

The Linux version, as tested today on Ubuntu 19.04 continues to run beautifully.

You can find Assault Android Cactus on Humble Store (DRM-free + Steam key) and Steam. It should be going on sale today with 50% off, with a price increase once the sale is over.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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6 comments

M@GOid Apr 30, 2019
This is a game, together with Left 4 Dead 2, that once I installed it, never was uninstalled. It is that good (at last to me).

Managed to get the S+ score on all stages and the boss challenge (Boss Rush), and let me tell you, it wasn't easy. Too bad my ranking dropped from 9th to over 30 by now.

Looks like they fixed the problem with double input on Steam configured controllers (PS4 in my case), so the must have updated the Unity engine versions used in the game. That must had bring other improvements too.

I hope their team get together again for a second game, or some good DLC content. It is a game that deserves more attention than it have.
Cheeseness Apr 30, 2019
Quoting: M@GOidThis is a game, together with Left 4 Dead 2, that once I installed it, never was uninstalled. It is that good (at last to me).

Managed to get the S+ score on all stages and the boss challenge (Boss Rush), and let me tell you, it wasn't easy. Too bad my ranking dropped from 9th to over 30 by now.

Looks like they fixed the problem with double input on Steam configured controllers (PS4 in my case), so the must have updated the Unity engine versions used in the game. That must had bring other improvements too.

I hope their team get together again for a second game, or some good DLC content. It is a game that deserves more attention than it have.
Yeah, new Unity is one of the things that this version has. Should also fix intermittent crashes when moving the window around in windowed mode on Nvidia drivers.


It's something very different from Cactus (which is great - nobody wants to get boxed into making the same stuff, right?), but Witch Beam's next game is Unpacking. The presskit doesn't currently mention it, but it'll be shipping on Linux as well :)

If you keep an eye on Tim's Twitter acccount, you can also see some of the side projects and experiments he's messing with from time to time.

Nart's also fiddling with some ideas, but I'm not sure if any of that's been shared anywhere.


Last edited by Cheeseness on 30 April 2019 at 2:12 pm UTC
M@GOid Apr 30, 2019
Quoting: Cheeseness
Quoting: M@GOidThis is a game, together with Left 4 Dead 2, that once I installed it, never was uninstalled. It is that good (at last to me).

Managed to get the S+ score on all stages and the boss challenge (Boss Rush), and let me tell you, it wasn't easy. Too bad my ranking dropped from 9th to over 30 by now.

Looks like they fixed the problem with double input on Steam configured controllers (PS4 in my case), so the must have updated the Unity engine versions used in the game. That must had bring other improvements too.

I hope their team get together again for a second game, or some good DLC content. It is a game that deserves more attention than it have.
Yeah, new Unity is one of the things that this version has. Should also fix intermittent crashes when moving the window around in windowed mode on Nvidia drivers.


It's something very different from Cactus (which is great - nobody wants to get boxed into making the same stuff, right?), but Witch Beam's next game is Unpacking. The presskit doesn't currently mention it, but it'll be shipping on Linux as well :)

If you keep an eye on Tim's Twitter acccount, you can also see some of the side projects and experiments he's messing with from time to time.

Nart's also fiddling with some ideas, but I'm not sure if any of that's been shared anywhere.

Nice to see they are still active. There is something in AAC that makes it very attractive to me. The gameplay is tight, the music and sound effects are spot on, the whole game looks it was made by a large developer, not by a tiny team. It is by far the better and most solid game that I bought on Steam's Early Access, one of a couple that I didn't regret to buy before final release.

In fact, it was the poster child that I used to bash Might Number 9 when it came out.
Pit May 1, 2019
Oh, I do own that one, from one of the Humble Bundles!
Didn't get warm with it though - likely because I largely s**k at most of those twin-stick shooters.

So I definitely have to try this new auto-aim feature (although I for sure don't fall in the 'younger audience' class )
TheSyldat May 4, 2019
Quoting: PitOh, I do own that one, from one of the Humble Bundles!
Didn't get warm with it though - likely because I largely s**k at most of those twin-stick shooters.

So I definitely have to try this new auto-aim feature (although I for sure don't fall in the 'younger audience' class )
If you have a steam controller lying around I highly recommend trying to play with it you have no idea how much the touchpad can help tremendously on this one.


Last edited by TheSyldat on 22 January 2020 at 12:16 pm UTC
edo Jan 11, 2020
campaign+ is the same base campaign but harder
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