Basty
Active member
Now this is going to be brutal and honest opinion of the winner of the Byte-off 2020.
If you are one of the sensitive types who doesn't like brutal honesty, I suggest you to look away and not read what I've got to say. Or rather... Write-
Anyways, here are few ground rules. Brutal honesty is not here to set you down but to help you improve and help you do better what you do.
Considering that you are not intentionally pushing out garbage and I WILL call it out for being such.
It is also flavored with my own deranged sense of humor so don't worry, I am not going to go full Gordon Ramsey on this but hoo-boy, do I have a word or two to say?
I do. I've got 50 games to rate and review so this is going to be one busy night.
1.
1000 Stars - Fuvka games
As I started the game, Music and title screen instantly reminded me of Ocean/Mindscape's NES 'era games.
It can only mean one of the two things. Game is either decent or as awful as movie licenses of that area used to be.
And sure enough, game was decent enough to actually play.
While graphics aren't anything noteworthy, music is actually pretty nice.
Aside for being apparently a complete game, I cannot really compliment it being entertaining or fun.
It just... Is...
I did beat the game and I wish to congratulate you and I wish you will have a healthy son.
3/5
2.
2600AD - Crazygrouptrio
What can I say? It's technically space invaders with 3 enemy vessels on screen at once, ice physics and really repetitive music which feels like a water torture in a long run.
Game works but it is far from pinnacle of entertainment. As the name implies, it came from Atari and you can probably find a copy of this game from
Atari landfill among with all the E.T copies it still harbors.
2/5
3.
A simple platformer game - LCM
Now this is certainly an odd little cookie to crack which greets you with repetive gameplay of single stage and taunts you with DYK messages to play same stage
over and over again. It's not as much fun as it is curious game which flips it's gameplay over it's head after a few play through.
At the end of every level you are greeted with treasure and dapping until game decides to collapse on itself as an ending screen.
Worst thing is, I can't really say anything bad about the graphics either since they were intentionally designed the way they are.
Was it fun? No... But it most certainly did it's intended purpose and wasted your time.
2/5
4.
Allison of Astra
How not to start your game? With a wall of text with pointless ramble which really doesn't contribute anything to anything.
From what I gather this is apparently supposed to be an adventure game. To which I'd really suggest put more emphasis on more detailed graphics.
There's not much to do or say about this one due to how short it is. I can't really even compliment the game on it's humor either.
It might be on point once the project is finished and might find it's niche heart warming audience but as for now, it's not much.
1/5
5.
An Elf's Tale - Chris Bardley
I suppose this is NES maker's first christmas game or so I would imagine.
Because why not. Every console needs it's game based on a holiday season.
While title screen is very boorish, I do have to complement game for being rather colorful despite consisting lots of white as you might imagine.
If I were to describe this game somehow, I would say it's poor man's Zelda. It has the elements minus fun, especially when you reach the first dungeon
which hugely suffers from rinse and repeat syndrome with lack of enemy or puzzle variations. Just kill same old enemies to progress till you reach the boss
or start screaming at screen for game to stop repeating itself.
It also ain't very enjoyable to read bunch of uninteresting billboards which really doesn't have anything important to say.
Good effort but still needs much more polishing, interesting enemy variations as well as puzzles, other than retrace to fetch an acorn.
3/5
6.
Ashen House - Crazygrouptrio
Now this is a game I find really interesting as a concept. Plus the fact it reminds me of Phantom fighter at it's core.
Graphics and sound design are really nice and I really love it how doors open at Sweet Home style revealing a threat inside.
Creepy atmosphere and encounters also adds to the charm.
With more polish on the combat system, more enemies and having NPCs to interact with, we might have an actual timeless cult classic for the NES maker at hand.
4/5
7.
Attack from Planet X - Crazygrouptrio
Now ugh... Could the title be any more cliché than that? Only Mars Attacks sounds more generic than a 60's budged B movie.
What's worse, the game is very self aware of it's own existence.
Anyhoo... Game's music is rather nice and it is nice to see that you can actually interact with people.
Graphics ain't half bad either to be honest, however... Game gives you a weapon that's completely useless against enemies.
Sure it stuns them but doesn't do much else.
Now due to game being short I cannot give any proper scoring for the game but at least concept itself has it's heart at it's right place.
Despite crashing and screenlocking here and there. Only future will tell if this is actually a good game or B budged trash.
3/5
8.
Boxgame
Okay... But why though?
This has to be some trolls idea of a good time. This is literally something you scam people with
on a steam sale and despite not spending a single penny on this, I still feel scammed.
It's nothing more but a single screen game where you travel through highlighted labyrinth to a flag and you get simple message "You win"
That's that. Or the game crashed. Still, even if there was more, I most certainly don't want to see it.
0/5
9.
Brayden Bech tolds FLC - Bray Bray
I don't know why but this game gives me NES Barbie vibes. Drawings on the intro screen seems decent enough so gudos for artistic talent.
Game itself however is a different can of worms. Everything looks bright and boorish right down to a character designs which at worst
blend in to the backgrounds themselves which is a big no no when you design an NES game.
Main character's animation is also stiffer than my right knee that hurts as much as the color usage of this game hurt my eyes.
While art design is pretty good, sprite art most certainly doesn't live up to the hype.
When after a lot of dialogue you get a sword, it's bright pink box that doesn't even work right. When I stab down, sword appear above the character sideways.
Now I can give the game a benefit of a doubt and blame Mesen on this but I hardly think so.
What's worse, you can actually get stuck in to the walls when you enter from one room to another.
Grammatical errors doesn't really win the game any favors either, though I have to admit translation in a lot of NES games back in a day wasn't really top notch either.
But when you are trying to immerse player in to a wall of text and some sort of story, at least ask someone to proofread the content first so you don't end up with
"Your him, again" or "Your no hero" There's is a famous quote I'd like to borrow when it comes to handling your and you're but unfortunately I think it'll break more rules
than one in this site. But the important thing is, it is important to know the difference between knowing your hero and knowing you're a hero.
Also, unavoidable two pixel traps? No... You just don't do that. You just do not put a player in to impossible situation like that.
Now... The game tries. It really tries I give it that and music ain't bad either.
But enemy and over all graphics design could use for an overhaul to be way more pleasing to the eyes.
Final note. NES just isn't really a console for artsy, narrative driven games.
3/5
10.
Breakfast of Champions - Justin Francoeur
Now while the art style and humor is cute, this game is... Well... It's okay but not very interesting.
And certainly far away from becoming NES maker's mascots.
Two of the first "boss"'es are sorta interesting but third one is just down right impossible.
Maybe there is a way to deal with him but I'm not going to figure out how.
Concept is alright and graphics are alright but game itself isn't much as of now.
I suppose you could say humor is fitting for 80's cereal mascot but, eh... Mine's darker than that.
2/5
11.
CoOperating - Mihoshi
This most certainly is a game that was made to impress and show-off right from the get go.
Intro graphics were impressive colorful and massive.
Also title screens music reminds me heavily of Activision's Wizards and Warriors which I like.
Puzzle elements in the game are alright and graphics and rooms are actually interesting and pleasant to look at.
While the game is short, it shows a lot of potential of being a great co-op as well as single player puzzle game
if and when honed to it's finest and this is coming from a guy who'se puzzle solving skills are that of a handicapped chimpanzee.
5/5
> Cont 1/5
If you are one of the sensitive types who doesn't like brutal honesty, I suggest you to look away and not read what I've got to say. Or rather... Write-
Anyways, here are few ground rules. Brutal honesty is not here to set you down but to help you improve and help you do better what you do.
Considering that you are not intentionally pushing out garbage and I WILL call it out for being such.
It is also flavored with my own deranged sense of humor so don't worry, I am not going to go full Gordon Ramsey on this but hoo-boy, do I have a word or two to say?
I do. I've got 50 games to rate and review so this is going to be one busy night.
1.
1000 Stars - Fuvka games
As I started the game, Music and title screen instantly reminded me of Ocean/Mindscape's NES 'era games.
It can only mean one of the two things. Game is either decent or as awful as movie licenses of that area used to be.
And sure enough, game was decent enough to actually play.
While graphics aren't anything noteworthy, music is actually pretty nice.
Aside for being apparently a complete game, I cannot really compliment it being entertaining or fun.
It just... Is...
I did beat the game and I wish to congratulate you and I wish you will have a healthy son.
3/5
2.
2600AD - Crazygrouptrio
What can I say? It's technically space invaders with 3 enemy vessels on screen at once, ice physics and really repetitive music which feels like a water torture in a long run.
Game works but it is far from pinnacle of entertainment. As the name implies, it came from Atari and you can probably find a copy of this game from
Atari landfill among with all the E.T copies it still harbors.
2/5
3.
A simple platformer game - LCM
Now this is certainly an odd little cookie to crack which greets you with repetive gameplay of single stage and taunts you with DYK messages to play same stage
over and over again. It's not as much fun as it is curious game which flips it's gameplay over it's head after a few play through.
At the end of every level you are greeted with treasure and dapping until game decides to collapse on itself as an ending screen.
Worst thing is, I can't really say anything bad about the graphics either since they were intentionally designed the way they are.
Was it fun? No... But it most certainly did it's intended purpose and wasted your time.
2/5
4.
Allison of Astra
How not to start your game? With a wall of text with pointless ramble which really doesn't contribute anything to anything.
From what I gather this is apparently supposed to be an adventure game. To which I'd really suggest put more emphasis on more detailed graphics.
There's not much to do or say about this one due to how short it is. I can't really even compliment the game on it's humor either.
It might be on point once the project is finished and might find it's niche heart warming audience but as for now, it's not much.
1/5
5.
An Elf's Tale - Chris Bardley
I suppose this is NES maker's first christmas game or so I would imagine.
Because why not. Every console needs it's game based on a holiday season.
While title screen is very boorish, I do have to complement game for being rather colorful despite consisting lots of white as you might imagine.
If I were to describe this game somehow, I would say it's poor man's Zelda. It has the elements minus fun, especially when you reach the first dungeon
which hugely suffers from rinse and repeat syndrome with lack of enemy or puzzle variations. Just kill same old enemies to progress till you reach the boss
or start screaming at screen for game to stop repeating itself.
It also ain't very enjoyable to read bunch of uninteresting billboards which really doesn't have anything important to say.
Good effort but still needs much more polishing, interesting enemy variations as well as puzzles, other than retrace to fetch an acorn.
3/5
6.
Ashen House - Crazygrouptrio
Now this is a game I find really interesting as a concept. Plus the fact it reminds me of Phantom fighter at it's core.
Graphics and sound design are really nice and I really love it how doors open at Sweet Home style revealing a threat inside.
Creepy atmosphere and encounters also adds to the charm.
With more polish on the combat system, more enemies and having NPCs to interact with, we might have an actual timeless cult classic for the NES maker at hand.
4/5
7.
Attack from Planet X - Crazygrouptrio
Now ugh... Could the title be any more cliché than that? Only Mars Attacks sounds more generic than a 60's budged B movie.
What's worse, the game is very self aware of it's own existence.
Anyhoo... Game's music is rather nice and it is nice to see that you can actually interact with people.
Graphics ain't half bad either to be honest, however... Game gives you a weapon that's completely useless against enemies.
Sure it stuns them but doesn't do much else.
Now due to game being short I cannot give any proper scoring for the game but at least concept itself has it's heart at it's right place.
Despite crashing and screenlocking here and there. Only future will tell if this is actually a good game or B budged trash.
3/5
8.
Boxgame
Okay... But why though?
This has to be some trolls idea of a good time. This is literally something you scam people with
on a steam sale and despite not spending a single penny on this, I still feel scammed.
It's nothing more but a single screen game where you travel through highlighted labyrinth to a flag and you get simple message "You win"
That's that. Or the game crashed. Still, even if there was more, I most certainly don't want to see it.
0/5
9.
Brayden Bech tolds FLC - Bray Bray
I don't know why but this game gives me NES Barbie vibes. Drawings on the intro screen seems decent enough so gudos for artistic talent.
Game itself however is a different can of worms. Everything looks bright and boorish right down to a character designs which at worst
blend in to the backgrounds themselves which is a big no no when you design an NES game.
Main character's animation is also stiffer than my right knee that hurts as much as the color usage of this game hurt my eyes.
While art design is pretty good, sprite art most certainly doesn't live up to the hype.
When after a lot of dialogue you get a sword, it's bright pink box that doesn't even work right. When I stab down, sword appear above the character sideways.
Now I can give the game a benefit of a doubt and blame Mesen on this but I hardly think so.
What's worse, you can actually get stuck in to the walls when you enter from one room to another.
Grammatical errors doesn't really win the game any favors either, though I have to admit translation in a lot of NES games back in a day wasn't really top notch either.
But when you are trying to immerse player in to a wall of text and some sort of story, at least ask someone to proofread the content first so you don't end up with
"Your him, again" or "Your no hero" There's is a famous quote I'd like to borrow when it comes to handling your and you're but unfortunately I think it'll break more rules
than one in this site. But the important thing is, it is important to know the difference between knowing your hero and knowing you're a hero.
Also, unavoidable two pixel traps? No... You just don't do that. You just do not put a player in to impossible situation like that.
Now... The game tries. It really tries I give it that and music ain't bad either.
But enemy and over all graphics design could use for an overhaul to be way more pleasing to the eyes.
Final note. NES just isn't really a console for artsy, narrative driven games.
3/5
10.
Breakfast of Champions - Justin Francoeur
Now while the art style and humor is cute, this game is... Well... It's okay but not very interesting.
And certainly far away from becoming NES maker's mascots.
Two of the first "boss"'es are sorta interesting but third one is just down right impossible.
Maybe there is a way to deal with him but I'm not going to figure out how.
Concept is alright and graphics are alright but game itself isn't much as of now.
I suppose you could say humor is fitting for 80's cereal mascot but, eh... Mine's darker than that.
2/5
11.
CoOperating - Mihoshi
This most certainly is a game that was made to impress and show-off right from the get go.
Intro graphics were impressive colorful and massive.
Also title screens music reminds me heavily of Activision's Wizards and Warriors which I like.
Puzzle elements in the game are alright and graphics and rooms are actually interesting and pleasant to look at.
While the game is short, it shows a lot of potential of being a great co-op as well as single player puzzle game
if and when honed to it's finest and this is coming from a guy who'se puzzle solving skills are that of a handicapped chimpanzee.
5/5
> Cont 1/5
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HAHA... I would be an awful dad if I would say otherwise.
