Gameplay Summary

Cosmantic Cluster is a match 3 puzzle game with many twists. The game features elements from both strategy and fighting games. Upon matching a set of orbs that are the same colour an ability is queued. When you launch your next orb the ability activates. There are 8 different abilities in total and each fall into a category of attack, defence or support.

Using abilities your goal is to achieve 1 of 5 different win conditions over your opponent. A match is a best of 3 against ether ai or friends locally. Each round will feature different layouts and orbs available chosen by players or based on a story level.

The game also features many different mechanics and resources at the players disposal. If you don’t like an orb or want to use it later, you can save it for later use. You can save a maximum of 3 orbs at one time. When you want to use those saved orbs, you can switch them out with your current launcher orb. Orbs are switched in the order you save them.

As you clear orbs in general you will fill the super meter. When the meter is full you can super charge your current launcher orb. Based on the orb colour you can ether gain an upgraded form of the ability or gain a plus one to a combo. The meter resets after using, so you can ether use it frequently or save it for certain situations.

A combo refers to clearing orbs of the same colour one after another. Instead of having your queued ability activate when you launch an orb, you could instead increase its power!

This can be devastating to unprepared opponents! Using the above mentioned mechanics, you can set yourself up for a combo or prepare defensive countermeasures instead.

At the top of each players area is a warp gate. When orbs are launched through here they appear on the opposite players area. Using the warp gate you can use your opponents orbs against them or target their star orb. You can also defend yourself by launching your orb into your opponents launched orb.

As you progress more orb colours will appear in levels and in your launchers rotation. The 8 orbs fall into 3 different categories being…

Attack - Directly affect the opponent by causing damage or hindering the opponent in some way. The orbs that fall into this category are Red, Blue, White and Black orbs.

Defence - Protect you from attacks or counter the abilities of your opponent. The orbs that fall into this category are Green and Purple orbs.

Support - Help you clear obstacles and free yourself from tight situations that you couldn’t escape otherwise. The orbs that fall into this category are Yellow and Orange orbs. Support orbs cannot be comboed with themselves.

Attack - Red - Fire

Damages the opponents health by 1. If comboed increases the amount of damage dealt.

Grey orbs - Planets

Grey orbs or Planets are created when a player uses the block ability. The amount created depends on the blue combo. As mentioned above a blue combo can be started by clearing a set of blue orbs. Then by clearing sets of orbs one after another regardless of colour, you can increase the combo. Orbs that are used in a blue combo do not active their effects. So it’s your choice to use your resources to commit to a blue combo or save them.

Grey orbs have 4 states that they can be in. When they first spawn they form into a sphere. If a launched orb collides with a spawning grey orb it stops the launched orb. So pay attention to when your opponent may try to block you. Idle grey orbs act as a regular orb that any orb can connect too. However they can’t be removed by normal means. If you clear orbs that are connected to grey orbs you can damage them. Once damaged clearing more orbs connected to them can destroy them. You can also use the support abilities to damage or destroy them.

Win Conditions Summary

There are 5 different ways to win a round in Cosmantic Cluster. All 5 win conditions are active at all times during a game. Depending on the circumstances you may have to change strategies mid way through a round. The game state constantly changes depending on layout, resources available and what your opponent does.

Reduce enemy health to zero

Both players start with 5 health points at the start of each round. Using the fire ability decrease the opponents health to 0. Defend yourself by increasing your health or dispelling the enemies red combo’s, to lesson the damage you take. Be aware that even if your opponent is far below in their area. If you don’t manage your health you could get surprised by a come from behind victory!

If an orb is on the edge of crossing the death line you will see a blinking red line appear. This indicates that you are in danger! If an orb crosses this line you lose instantly! This can happen by pushing your opponent down by spawning grey orbs. If your opponent is on the cusp of crossing over. It might only take spawning 1 grey orb for them to lose. The defending player should clear the danger to avoid a sudden loss. Make use of your support abilities to clear large sections of clutter!

Destroy the opponents star orb

Each round an orb on each side spawns as a star orb. A star orb acts as your flag. If its destroyed or falls then you lose instantly. The colour your star orb takes is random each round. It’s location depends on the level. Orbs launched through the top of the screen will appear on your opponents side. Target the opposing star orb while avoiding destroying your own by mistake!

Clear all orbs in your area to get an All Clear

If you manage to remove all your orbs on your side, then you can win by getting an “All Clear”. This method is for the speedy who can systematically clear their orbs as fast as possible. To achieve this you must clear your star orb last. This method is similar to pocketing the eight ball last in pool. Be watchful for sudden grey orb spawns and your opponent sending orbs to your side last second!

When a round starts the timer starts counting down from 5 minutes. If the the timer reaches 0 and no winner has been determined yet. Then the player with the least orbs remaining is declared the winner. If the orbs remaining is tied then the player with the most health wins instead. If that is also tied, then the match is declared a draw. When its down to the final minute focus on clearing as many orbs as possible!