Umihara Kawase
Amazing game. Umihara Kawase is a platformer where most of the gameplay revolves around using an elastic fishing line to get around the level and attack enemies. Think the grappling hook from worms - except the elasticity adds a huge amount of complexity. Combined with the rock-solid physics, this leads to a very fun game that ramps up the difficulty to insane levels, requiring serious speedrunner rubberband tactics to just pass later levels.
The fishing line has a seemingly infinite learning curve, 40 hours in and I’m still learning new techniques. Initially you’ll be using it to swing across pits and climb upwards, but soon you’ll find yourself using the tension to slingshot yourself across levels, or ‘rocket jump’ over hazards. The layout of the levels make this as much puzzle as platforming: particular levels can take forever to figure out, though if you are having difficulty you can consult the library of replays that the community shares through the steam workshop integration.
– Real player with 50.0 hrs in game
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My favorite of the Umihara Kawase games, through the least forgiving. UK is a purely arcade experience, with no story or any other unnecessary trappings. The game is presented in stages, where you start at point a and try to get to point b, mainly by experimenting with the physics of your fishing hook.
The big draw is that a lot of the stages have multiple exits and/or can be beaten in a different manner depending on the level of your skill with the fishing hook. The hook has some cool physics, especially considering how the old game is. The original UK has the best gameplay “feel” to me; it feels faster and the hook physics just seem more springy in a good way than the sequels. Learning how to use the hook to throw Umi all over the place in very rewarding.
– Real player with 32.0 hrs in game
Octahedron: Transfixed Edition
OCTAHEDRON is simply pure bliss from start to finish for anyone who’s a fan of challenging platformers. With its punchy neon aesthetics and fantastic soundtrack, once you’re past the short, intuitive tutorial you’re straight into the meat of the game with no hand-holding necessary. There are some unobtrusive story cutscenes at the start and end of the game, however everything in between can be played through with no barriers, or any text to read.
Practically every level has a unique mechanic that never gets exhausted, with new enemies, obstacles and platforms that are introduced and swiftly subverted, not to mention the surfing platforms you create yourself which give a great sense of freedom. Collectibles of varying difficulty are strewn across the level but rarely feel like a slog, particularly due to careful level design that allows you to backtrack and collect everything in one sitting regardless of later upgrades. They rarely gate progress, and the harder items simply unlock bonus levels that aren’t required to beat the game, thus allow for some extra challenge. Not to mention the medals for completing levels in as few platforms as possible, or with no deaths.
– Real player with 498.9 hrs in game
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This game’s unreal.
It’s stylish from the moment you start it up, and really easy to pick up and play. I was (pun intended) transfixed from the moment I started playing it, and have gotten amazing value out of the game so far (all achievements in just under 40 hours). The game encourages multiple playthroughs of each level, and each time you will be approaching the level differently to earn different medals for fast completion, collecting 100% of the items in the level, and efficient platforming.
– Real player with 38.0 hrs in game
SEEP Universe
It’s not entirely fair to not at all recommend this game so I’m giving it a positive review but truly my rating is “meh.” While this game isn’t terrible it’s also not great and much better can be had for $12. I got it cheap in a bundle, otherwise I likely wouldn’t have picked it up at all.
The gameplay is decent, typical platformer fare though occasionally I found myself going through blocks or not quite being able to make precise jumps. You have a (very) short-range punch, special abilities that change per level and the boss fights are nicely varied in type. There’s a co-op mode as well but I’ve not tried it and likely never will.
– Real player with 18.1 hrs in game
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Yes, sure, this game doesn’t have the quality of Shovel Knight, but this game is a cheaper production created by only two people and is their first experience.
With the last upgrade the game has improved a lot. The mechanics are solid and the graphics and characters are very cool. The game works great for all fans of retro-games.
I’ve seen no bugs, apart from some acceptable glitches with some blocks. And I have completed the game three times, I was not limited to gaining cards to sell… .
Anyway, I think the game is not just simply a “cut and paste” of some great titles of the past. The developers tried to create something new with the concept and the gameplay. It is more of a mix of many platform games of the past, like Super Mario, Castlevania, Kid Chameleon and others. The result is incredibly good for those who have the patience to learn how to play.
– Real player with 7.7 hrs in game
You Have to Win the Game
What really defines a “retro game?”
Sure, there are quite a few two-dimensional one-afternoon’s-scope games out there with chunky, obvious pixels and “chiptune” soundtracks – how I hate that appellation, much as I dig the genre itself – and surely you’ve encountered buckets of ‘em in your travels. They’re clearly trying to appeal to a certain nostalgic market, but I find that many of these so-called “retro” games don’t really understand what it is to which they’re alleging to pay homage.
You Have To Win The Game has no such difficulty. It understands its audience quite intimately.
– Real player with 17.4 hrs in game
FANTASTIC LITTLE FREE GAME
“You Have to Win the Game” is a simple, well done old-school hardcore platformer offered for the low, low price of FREE. I’ve gotten about 8+ hours of enjoyment out of this game so far, so it’s emphatically been an incredible value. If you like games like Super Meat Boy, hell even if you don’t, download this game. It’s free, so what have you got to lose?!
[GOOD]
- Plenty of presentation options. Play in the old school looking default settings, or if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, set it up the way you want with the multitude of display options available. 8-bit color, 16-bit color, fullscreen, monitor border, there’s a lot there.
– Real player with 15.8 hrs in game
Abduction Bit
I like this game because it has a very simple 80s platform style. It reminded me of an 80s platformer called Hunky Egg (which apparently was a rip off of Chunky Egg). It’s basic gaming before games were simulations. It’s certainly not near the best of it’s genre. But it’s fun and annoying with it’s demands for precision in your jumps. Well gamers under 35 want to play such a game? I’m not sure. Actually I’m not sure how many over 35 would want to play such a game
One reviewer said it’s buggy. It’s more a case of every jump has to be perfect down to the milimetre while timing baddies perfectly, which is very frustrating. You die very easily in this game. I had to forget playing the game at any type of pace because of this if I wanted to progress. Like 80s games once you’re out of lives you start again at the very beggining. Which is also annoying. Because I probably will never finish it.
– Real player with 22.7 hrs in game
This is great little gem for fans of the golden age of arcade games. Particularly those early Nintendo releases(Donkey Kong, Popeye, Mario Bros.), as this is heavily modeled after those games. You can expect simple gameplay, high difficulty, and a surprisingly large amount of replayability. There are two packs(8-bit and 16-bit) with 20 levels each, which can be played on one of 3 difficulties. I’ve finished both packs on each difficulty, which took me about a month to get all the achievements(granted, I was juggling 3 other games at the same time). It’ll keep you busy for longer than you would expect.
– Real player with 7.7 hrs in game
Katana Soul
Gran gioco, rispettoso dello spirito da cui prende spunto e rigiocabilità perfettamente in sintonia con lo spirito, se vogliamo, arcade che lo contraddistingue. Qui trovate anche la puntata in cui lo abbiamo giocato assieme agli sviluppatori! :)
– Real player with 6.0 hrs in game
If you like a challenge then this is it.
Amazing soundtrack, excellent graphic style.
Thank you dev’s for this xp :)
– Real player with 4.5 hrs in game
Tcheco in the Castle of Lucio
Yesterday I was talking to my girlfriend about the time when someone decided to make a small documentary and make the world aware that the Galvão birds were in the verge of extinction. Any Brazilian knew from the first second it was a hoax, a prank to turn offenses against a soccer commentator into a trending topic on Twitter. The truth eventually came out, but one question still remains: why would anyone spend a lot of time to make a professional documentary for no other reason than fooling people with an innocent joke? And why does it sound so reasonable for any Brazilian to do so?
– Real player with 5.9 hrs in game
For the average person, this is a bad game. The main character’s art has the ugliest drawing of facial hair ever. Lucio seems to be a pedophile version of Chad Thundercock based on the opening image, but most people will never face him. This game starts out feeling tough but manageable. But it keeps going on and damage gets to a default two points rather than just one on literally everything, which is terrible. You can have health beyond the limit shown and there is a cheat code to start with 30 health, but even with that cheat, I don’t think 90% of people can beat this game.
– Real player with 5.7 hrs in game
Heads Run
fantastic and amazing little game, really love playing it, the visuals and layout of levels is so gorgeous, it’s really rewarding to speedrun, can’t reccommend this eonugh if you like platformers. The only downsides to the game are that the wall jump timing for inputs is a bit weird/clunky and takes some getting used to, and that I wish there was 50 more levels because I just want it to keep going
– Real player with 76.3 hrs in game
Heads run has both bad and good. If you are looking for a fun game to speed run or play for 2-5 hours depending on your skill. Heads run is only 4 dollars and a great option.
The Good -
The game for the most part does a great job setting a fast pace to making you want to rush and speed thru the level. The level has slight changes as you hit or interact with walls and floors and adds to the feel of the world. It also has an interesting artstyle that combines with the rest to create an enjoyable experience.
– Real player with 5.0 hrs in game
Dragon Climax
I bought the game hoping to see some dragon climax, instead what I got was an 80s side-scrolling platform-fighting game with big anime tiddies.*
The game is really buggy and kinda unfair in combat sometimes (all enemies run faster than you and each hit they do to you causes you to be stunned –- they will hit you the instant the stun wears of, and it’s a vicious cycle. You just have to mash the attack button and pray it’ll work), and the story is really cheesy. The grammar is also very bad. The first level seems almost impossible and I’ve replayed it a few times even with all upgrades purchased and it’s still very hard.
– Real player with 68.6 hrs in game
awesome game. a must play for any fan of retro Double Dragon kung fu style beat em ups
– Real player with 10.1 hrs in game