Info about Heavenly Bodies:

Official game description:
_Heavenly Bodies_ is a game about cosmonauts, the body, and the absence of gravity.
Discover the ever-changing nuances of weightless motion in this challenging physics game. Wrangle control of your cosmonaut’s arms with the left and right thumbsticks to push, pull, and clamber through fully physically simulated scenarios aboard a scientific research station.
Your celestial duties await
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You have been entrusted to bring into operation Earth’s proudest feat of engineering. With only radio contact with mission control as your aid, you will have to use your sharp mind and dexterous limbs to assemble space telescopes, maintain delicate solar arrays and research cosmic botany. But without gravity, nothing is still, nothing is secure, and nothing is simple.
Controller highly recommended
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Heavenly Bodies has a highly unique movement system designed to use a dual-analog joystick controller. Rebindable keyboard and mouse controls are technically supported, but they do not provide the intended experience.
Features:
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*   A collection of stellar scenarios inspired by the feats of space explorers and researchers throughout history.
*   Expressively control every limb of a weightless cosmonaut to perform challenging and delicate maneuvers.
*   Play single player or with a friend via local-coop. You'll be able to play missions either solo or with a space friend.
*   Play online with Steam's Remote Play Together.
*   Manipulate incredibly expensive space vehicles and elaborate machinery.
*   Stylised 70s visual aesthetic influenced by archival space photography and technical illustration.
*   Customisable control mode difficulty
*   Rebindable controls
Accessibility
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A comprehensive list of accessibility features and notes can be found at the Family Gaming Database.

Release date: Dec 7, 2021

Categories: Physics Simulation, Cooperative Multiplayer, Puzzle Solving, Local Co-op, Single-player, Space Simulation, Zero-G Exploration

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 5; verdict: Works Well; summary: Based on limited but clear user feedback, the game works out of the box on Proton with no Linux-specific issues. One ambiguous remote play report does not indicate a Proton compatibility problem.
- Steam Deck: score 15; verdict: Seamless on Deck; summary: The game runs smoothly on Steam Deck with basic Proton configuration, offering great performance and battery life. The controller-focused gameplay is highly praised, though some minor remote play instability was reported. No forced launchers, text size issues, or crashes were observed.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Available performance reports for the Windows 12-15GB VRAM cohort are limited and negative, indicating input lag and low frame rates.
  - Sample size: 28 (5% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (negative, 9 reports): One player with 16GB VRAM (within cohort range) reports input lag and sub-50 fps; no positive reports among provided snippets.
  - Caveats: 28 of 615 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews indicate that the current base price of $19.99 is too high relative to the game's short length. Several users explicitly recommend purchasing on sale, and one states that paying more than the current price would not be worthwhile. This suggests a fair price range below $20, likely between $10 and $15.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 9.0h
  - Story completion: 4.5h
  - Session length: 0.8h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews provide total playthrough times around 4-5 hours for the main story, and 8-10 hours for full completion including achievements. Per-level times of 30-45 minutes suggest typical session length. No reliable endgame hours were reported.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players find Heavenly Bodies immediately fun due to its unique physics-based humor in co-op, despite a steep learning curve and lack of online multiplayer. The fun starts within the first few minutes when chaos ensues, and the game remains enjoyable for those with patience and a good sense of humor.
  - Stance: Positive
  - Anchor: First funny physics failure in co-op
  - Time to anchor: 0h 5m
  - Friction: steep learning curve for controls; no native online multiplayer; remote play has issues; shared screen can be inconvenient; frustrating controls for some; repetitive in later content
  - Unlock drivers: co-op chaos and humor; unique physics-based gameplay; satisfying teamwork moments; good pacing and level variety; fun despite frustration; hilarious failures
  - Conditions: play with a friend or co-op partner; tolerate frustrating controls; use remote play or local co-op; have a good sense of humor; patience for learning curve; prefer chaotic gameplay; not for those who want easy solo experience; enjoy physics sandbox
- Player Archetypes:
  - Co-op Chaos Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Shared laughter and teamwork through physics-based chaos
    - Playstyle: Cooperative, embraces failure as part of the fun, coordinates with partner
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: couch co-op lover; chaos enjoyer; teamwork appreciator
    - Reference games: Overcooked; It Takes Two; Human: Fall Flat
  - Control Challenge Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastering difficult controls for a sense of accomplishment
    - Playstyle: Persistent, methodical, practices repeatedly to improve
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: patient gamer; challenge seeker; physics enthusiast
    - Reference games: Human: Fall Flat
  - Solo Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Engaging puzzles and space immersion in single-player mode
    - Playstyle: Solo, focused on exploration and puzzle completion at own pace
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: solo player; space lover; patient explorer
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Online Multiplayer Demander (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Ability to play with distant friends without relying on Remote Play
    - Playstyle: Cooperative, but restricted by lack of online matchmaking or hosting
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: online co-op seeker; remote play critic
    - Reference games: It Takes Two


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Co-op experience is excellent (weight 0.86): Many reviews highlight that the game shines in cooperative or multiplayer modes, with local co-op and remote play being especially praised for creating memorable, fun, and hilarious moments with friends.
- Physics puzzles are engaging (weight 0.27): The game's physics-based puzzles are a standout feature, noted for being impressive, interesting, and fun, with a good balance of challenge and relaxation.
- Remote play works great (weight 0.17): Support for local play and Steam Remote Play Together is praised, with remote play working excellently and allowing friends to join from their own devices.
- Game provides rewarding challenge (weight 0.17): Players find the game both fun and challenging, with a rewarding sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when achieving goals.
- Graphics are visually appealing (weight 0.16): Reviewers consistently describe the game as visually beautiful, with positive comments on the aesthetics and graphics.
- DLC content is enjoyable (weight 0.16): The DLC content is well-received, with many noting it is good, fun, and even better than the main game, especially when played with friends.
- Controls are challenging but rewarding (weight 0.13): While the controls can be difficult, players find them rewarding and fun, contributing to the game's charm rather than being a drawback.
- Newtonian mode is a highlight (weight 0.1): The Newtonian physics mode is specifically highlighted as a fun and extremely enjoyable feature, adding a unique twist to gameplay.
- Missions are varied and well-designed (weight 0.1): The game offers a nice variety of missions with well-designed, progressive difficulty and multiple ways to complete them, enhancing replayability.
- Throwing friends is a fun mechanic (weight 0.1): A specific humorous mechanic—throwing friends out of the airlock—is frequently mentioned as a joyous and fun aspect of the co-op experience.

Common complaints:
- No online co-op support (weight 0.47): The game only offers local co-op without any online multiplayer, forcing players to rely on problematic remote play services like Steam Remote Play. This setup causes connection issues, lag, and input delay, making it difficult to enjoy the co-op experience with friends.
- Controls are extremely aggravating (weight 0.38): Players report that the controls are highly aggravating, janky, and unintuitive, with movement remaining frustrating even after completing the game. This difficulty is persistent across keyboard and joystick setups, creating a steep learning curve that can turn the experience sour.
- Game is too short (weight 0.33): The base game is very short, lasting only 3.5 to 4 hours with only 7 levels, which is not enough content for many players. This brevity makes the full price hard to justify, as players wish the experience was longer.
- Keyboard controls are poor (weight 0.2): Keyboard and mouse controls are not properly supported and are difficult to use, making the game very uncomfortable without a controller. This creates a steep learning curve that frustrates players accustomed to forgiving controls.
- Movement requires practice (weight 0.17): Movement mechanics require a lot of patience and practice to master, and they remain frustrating even after completing the game. The movement is not as easy as in trailers, contributing to the steep learning curve.
- Not fun to play alone (weight 0.12): The solo experience is poor and not recommended, as the lack of multiplayer makes the game feel empty and less fun. Without friends to play with, the overall enjoyment drops significantly.

Gameplay feedback:
- Co-op gameplay is central (weight 0.34): Multiple reviews mention that the game supports co-op, including local two-player and up to four-player modes. This is a central feature that players highlight positively.
- Multiple difficulty modes available (weight 0.27): Multiple difficulty or control modes are available, including a Newtonian mode that removes assistance for more realistic physics. Players appreciate having options like Classic and Newton modes.
- Steam Remote Play supported (weight 0.17): Steam Remote Play Together is supported, allowing online co-op for up to four players. This feature extends the game's cooperative play beyond local setups.
- Physics-based mechanics praised (weight 0.16): Players note that the game features physics-based gameplay, with interactions and challenges that rely on realistic physics. This is a key mechanic that shapes the experience.
- Only local and remote co-op (weight 0.1): Currently, the game offers only single-player and local co-op, with online play via Remote Play Together. This limitation is noted by players.
- Space station setting noted (weight 0.1): The game is set in a space station environment, focusing on space-themed tasks and upkeep. This setting is a distinct feature appreciated by players.
- Puzzle challenges highlighted (weight 0.07): The game involves puzzle-based challenges that require solving problems, often in co-op. This is a core element of gameplay.
- QWOP-style controls used (weight 0.07): The control scheme is compared to QWOP, with movement requiring coordination of individual limbs. This makes controls intentionally challenging.
- Designed for two-player co-op (weight 0.07): Designed primarily for two-player co-op, though some modes allow up to three. This focus is clear in reviews.
- Game is relatively short (weight 0.07): Some players mention the game is relatively short in length, which may affect replay value but is not a major complaint.
- DLC adds extra levels (weight 0.07): DLC content that unlocks additional levels is mentioned, providing extra gameplay beyond the base game.
- Local multiplayer available (weight 0.07): Local multiplayer is supported, though it's a subset of the co-op features. This is noted positively by players.
- Space astronaut theme present (weight 0.07): The game has a space astronaut theme with zero-gravity tasks. This thematic element is often mentioned in reviews.
- Controller recommended (weight 0.07): A controller is recommended for better gameplay, and support for controllers is provided. This advice comes from player experience.
- Single and multiplayer modes (weight 0.07): The game supports both single-player and local co-op modes, catering to different play styles.
- High difficulty noted (weight 0.07): The game is described as having high difficulty overall, especially in later tasks or modes. This appeals to some players.
- Arm control physics realistic (weight 0.07): Physics-based control of astronaut arms in a vacuum is a unique mechanic, requiring precision and coordination.

Performance notes:
- Optimization great on PC (weight 0.16): Feedback from multiple sources indicates the game is well-optimized for various PC configurations. It runs smoothly on low to medium hardware, performs well on Steam Deck, and functions without issues on Linux via Proton.
- Lag with network issues (weight 0.08): Users report that the game can become unplayable with slight ping and experiences lag during Steam Remote Play. These issues suggest network stability problems that affect performance during online play.
- Input lag experienced (weight 0.04): A player reports experiencing input lag, which can severely impact gameplay responsiveness. This feedback indicates a control responsiveness problem that may frustrate users.
- Low frame rate reported (weight 0.04): A user notes frame rates dropping below 50 fps, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay. This performance issue could affect the visual experience and playability.
- No bugs encountered yet (weight 0.04): One player states they have encountered no bugs so far, suggesting a relatively stable game build. This positive feedback contrasts with other performance concerns.

Recommendations:
- Co-op with friend recommended (weight 0.38): Many players strongly advise playing this game with a friend, especially in local co-op, as it significantly enhances the experience. Single-player is less recommended due to the game's design.
- Highly recommended overall (weight 0.29): Several users give the game a strong recommendation, with some rating it 10/10. This suggests a generally positive reception from those who enjoyed it.
- Better on sale (weight 0.24): Many reviewers recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing, indicating that while the game is enjoyable, it may not be worth the full price.
- Requires patience (weight 0.23): Reviewers note that the game is best for patient players willing to learn through practice, especially in co-op settings. It is not for those seeking instant gratification.
- Not for online play (weight 0.19): A common complaint is the lack of online co-op, with many reviewers specifically not recommending the game for online multiplayer. This is a significant drawback for some.
- Great for space fans (weight 0.14): The game is particularly recommended for fans of space, physics-based games, and challenging space themes. This audience finds it highly appealing.
- Newtonian physics mode praised (weight 0.12): The Newtonian physics mode is highlighted as a standout feature, with some strongly recommending playing on that difficulty for a more rewarding experience.
- Use controller recommended (weight 0.1): Players find the game much better when played with a controller or joystick, suggesting control issues with keyboard/mouse.
- Long-term play potential (weight 0.06): The game is strongly recommended for those wanting a long, fun experience whether solo or co-op, suggesting good replay value.
- Worth the price (weight 0.06): Some reviewers simply state the game is worth buying and worth the price, indicating satisfaction with value.
- Recommend for challenge seekers (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for those looking for a challenge, particularly with Newtonian physics mode or difficult controls.
- Remote Play issues (weight 0.06): Broken Remote Play functionality is cited as a reason for requesting a refund, tied to the lack of online co-op.
- DLC worth getting (weight 0.06): Some reviewers found the DLC worth purchasing, especially if on sale, adding value to the base game.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.19): The controls are consistently criticized as janky, unpredictable, and unintuitive, causing accidental flips, reversed movement, and difficulty with precise actions like grabbing or swimming. Many players report that the lack of proper online co-op forces reliance on problematic Remote Play, while steep learning curves and unclear physics instructions compound the difficulty, making even simple tasks time-consuming and mentally taxing.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players find the game extremely fun when played with friends in local or remote co-op, praising the chaotic physics mechanics, engaging puzzles, and the sense of accomplishment from mastering the complex movement. The co-op experience is highlighted as bringing laughter and memorable moments, while the game's detailed design, beautiful visuals, and space theme contribute to overall enjoyment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Satisfaction comes from overcoming the game's challenging controls and physics, with players feeling rewarded after completing levels and missions despite initial difficulty. The game's theming, sound design, and well-polished mechanics are praised, and many find value in the balanced difficulty and playtime, especially when played cooperatively with friends.
- Joy (weight 0.07): Joy is derived from the co-op chaos and hilarious interactions with friends, such as accidental grabs, flinging each other into space, and sharing laughter for hours. The game's unique mechanics and fun gameplay provide a memorable and engaging experience, with players describing it as one of the best gaming moments in their lives.
- Amusement (weight 0.07): The game's chaotic physics and clumsy astronaut movements create constant humorous moments, with players laughing at mishaps like ejecting friends, drifting away, or fighting over equipment. The difficulty of controls is turned into comedy when shared with others, leading to unforgettable stories and good-natured shouting.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players express excitement over the brilliant physics-based gameplay, zero-gravity challenges, and unique Newtonian physics mode, describing it as immersive, fun, and a masterpiece. The game's co-op experience, particularly with multiple players, and the thrill of space exploration fuel high enthusiasm and a desire to fully complete the game.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Disappointment stems from the game's short length, lack of online co-op support, and limited content, with many feeling it ends too quickly or doesn't justify its price. The absence of modding support, paywalled DLC, and issues with controls or cultural baggage further detract from the experience, especially for solo players.
- Fun (weight 0.04): Fun is consistently reported from the hilarious and rage-inducing gameplay, especially when interacting with friends through co-op chaos and varied missions. The game's charming visuals, physics challenges, and goofy moments make it an entertaining experience despite its short duration.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players love the game for its well-made single-player and co-op modes, unique zero-gravity mechanics, and challenging gameplay that allows freedom to explore. The emotional connection is deepened by playing with family or friends, making it a favorite game for many due to its art style and connected missions.
- Desire (weight 0.02): The primary desire is for native online co-op support to avoid remote play issues, along with more levels or a level generator to extend the fun. Many players wish the game had more content and better multiplayer options to make it perfect.
- Happiness (weight 0.02): Happiness arises from the terrific co-op experience with friends or family, leading to fun, laughter, and memorable moments. The game's entertaining gameplay and control-based fun bring joy, with players appreciating the time spent together completing it.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): Relaxation is found in the game's laid-back gameplay, visually pleasant scenes, and the ability to drift in space after a stressful day. The forgiving mechanics and T-posing moments provide a calm, meditative experience.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is triggered by repeated failures in grabbing lines, lack of online co-op support, and forced reliance on remote play. The developer's neglect of core features and control issues lead to rage-quit desires, further exacerbated by controller compatibility problems.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance stems from setup issues with remote play, camera problems, and control difficulties that make the game feel unplaytested. Minor disputes over color assignment or friends leaving for achievements also contribute to the frustration.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is expressed for the game's visual beauty, stunning graphics, and beautiful story, which make it a gem despite its difficulty. The art style and narrative are praised for creating a memorable experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from the mind-blowing lack of online support for a co-op game, the incredible quality from a simple concept, and the game's unexpectedly short completion time. These surprises lead to both positive and negative reactions.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation is given for the unique mechanics, choice of difficulty per player, non-verbal storytelling, and constant new locations. The co-op mechanics and overall fun experience are highly valued, making the game stand out.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from the unique but unintuitive controls, difficulty figuring out how to play with friends, and getting lost in the game. The lack of clear instructions, especially on keyboard/mouse, adds to the bewilderment.
- Accomplishment (weight 0.01): Accomplishment is felt after completing challenging missions and overcoming the game's difficulty, providing a sense of achievement. The satisfaction of mastering the controls and finishing levels rewards the player's persistence.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom occurs when players lack patience for the game's repetitive aspects, such as the middle sections dragging on, or find the DLC uninteresting. The slow pacing can cause disengagement for some.}