88 Heroes

About

"88 Heroes" is a fast-paced 2D platformer featuring 88 unique characters, each with their own abilities. The goal is to complete 88 levels within 88 minutes, as time ticks down relentlessly. It's a humorous and challenging experience that offers a fresh take on the classic arcade genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

humor16 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and humorous concept with 88 quirky characters, each having their own abilities and personalities, which adds variety and creativity to the gameplay.
The retro aesthetic and references to pop culture from the 80s and 90s are well-executed, providing a nostalgic experience for players.
Despite its difficulty, the game can be fun and engaging for those who enjoy challenging platformers and experimenting with different characters.

The game suffers from poor level design and frustrating mechanics, such as a small play area and a time limit that can lead to tedious gameplay and repeated failures.
Many of the characters are either useless or have controls that hinder gameplay, making it difficult to progress and enjoy the experience fully.
The overall difficulty is often seen as unfair, with players frequently losing heroes without a chance to explore their abilities, leading to a frustrating experience.

humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its inventiveness and clever references to both classic and contemporary gaming, movies, and pop culture. With 88 unique characters, each bringing their own comedic flair, players find the humor to be engaging and well-executed, complemented by amusing animations and sound effects. Overall, the game delivers a fun and lighthearted experience that resonates particularly well with retro enthusiasts.
- “On the one hand, it's endlessly inventive, funny, and has great gaming references both new and old.”
- “First the good, the humor and references in this game are fantastic.”
- “It's very retro-ish, and parodies Mario, Ninja Turtles, Portal, a ton of movies, and some other funny little things.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay features a unique mechanic of controlling a diverse cast of 88 quirky characters, each with distinct abilities and humorous designs, which adds creativity to the action platformer genre. However, opinions are mixed; while some players appreciate the chaotic and frenetic nature of the gameplay, others find it lacking depth and more frustrating than enjoyable. Overall, the game may appeal to those looking for a lighthearted experience, particularly for livestreaming, but it may not satisfy players seeking a more polished gameplay experience.
- “Having to play as a large group of quirky characters (based on pop culture icons) is a unique mechanic that sets this apart from most action platformers.”
- “The fact that there are 88 different playable characters and that they each have unique mechanics and appearances is wonderfully creative (a lot are quite funny, too).”
- “One final note I'll make, that isn't relevant to most potential buyers, is that this game strikes me as especially well-suited to livestreaming, given the frenetic, chaotic gameplay and endearing characters.”
- “Most have a gimmick which either helps or hinders your gameplay.”
- “Not a bad option if that's what you're after, but if you want this style of gameplay done better, stick with broforce.”
- “We know the story here is an instant classic, so how are things in the gameplay department?”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The graphics of the game are celebrated for their vibrant 80's and 90's aesthetic, reminiscent of classic British computer games and Sega Genesis titles. Reviewers appreciate the unique pixel art style that distinguishes playable characters from NPCs and levels, contributing to an overall enjoyable visual experience that enhances the gameplay journey.
- “88 Heroes isn't just some generic retro-styled game - it positively reeks of the aesthetic of 80's and 90's British computer games.”
- “It's got that pixelated art style but also has its own unique look that works very well with what the game is trying to be.”
- “The art style for the NPCs and the levels is totally different from the art style of the playable characters.”
- “The art style for the NPCs and the levels is totally different from the art style of the playable characters.”
- “The graphics have a vibrant 80's aesthetic which I very much enjoy.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story is minimal and largely serves as a backdrop for gameplay, revolving around a villain threatening the world for ransom while heroes attempt to thwart him. Players can expect little in terms of narrative depth, cutscenes, or character development, as the focus is primarily on the variety of characters and levels rather than a compelling storyline. While the characters have brief backstories and unique mechanics, the overall experience is more about experimentation and repetition than engaging storytelling.
- “You can see the developers put much more work into the characters than the rest of the game, as each has a unique set of moves, a brief backstory to give you an idea of where they come from, and distinct voices that make you like them more or less.”
- “At 8 AM on August 8th, 1988, Dr. H8 announces to the citizens of Earth that if he doesn't receive 88 octillion US dollars within 88 minutes, he will throw 88 nukes at the planet from atop his 88-story space tower!”
- “We know the story here is an instant classic, so how are things in the gameplay department?”
- “Unfortunately, I should put a much more negative review than I want to for this game as it is enjoyable only for the variety of characters, not for its story. It's bare to the bones: a big bad alien tries to make quick cash by taking the world hostage, and misfit heroes try to stop him. That's it; no more is given to you than that. Don't expect cutscenes, character dialogue with the villain, or an epic ending (more of a 'roll the credits' situation).”
- “With no story, the game leaves you with a bunch of levels to beat, and there are 88 of them. They're not randomized, and you will learn to know them quickly. The first 20-something levels are fun, but little by little, you can see that the enemies don't change much, especially in the last levels. It feels like the developers put too much effort into making levels crazy unbeatable rather than fun, leading to a lot of luck and repetition.”
- “Is there a story here?”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The optimization of the game is notably poor, with significant performance issues such as stuttering during critical gameplay moments, which can severely impact player experience. While some users find entertainment value in the game, the technical shortcomings detract from its overall enjoyment.
- “Good performance and entertainment value.”
- “In the end, it's fun to have around, and you can tell that his perspective and general opinion on the heroes' performance will be pretty much your own.”
- “On top of that, despite being a basic pixel art 2D platformer, the performance is horrendous, stuttering madly every time the player so much as kills an enemy. In a one-hit-kill precision platformer, this means you're as good as dead whenever this happens.”
- “The optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and a frustrating gameplay experience.”
- “It's disappointing to see such poor optimization in a game that could have been enjoyable; the constant lag makes it nearly unplayable.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development is highlighted by the creativity and humor evident in the unique character designs, which are well-executed and distinct from one another. While the backgrounds may appear plain, this choice helps to emphasize the diverse and detailed character sprites without causing visual clutter.
- “There's clearly a lot of creativity and humor on display here in the character design.”
- “The character designs are also done very well, and they all stand out from each other thanks to the amount of work put into their sprites.”
- “I think the backgrounds are a little plain, but that might be a necessary choice to prevent such a variety of different character designs from getting lost in visual muddle.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affect character growth throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game features a decent soundtrack that draws inspiration from retro games, though it fails to offer anything particularly innovative or memorable. While the sound quality is acceptable, it does not elevate the overall experience significantly.
- “Open worlds and excellent soundtracks abounded in those days.”
- “The sound is decent; the soundtrack isn't great but isn't bad either.”
- “88 Heroes features a soundtrack that is heavily inspired by retro games, but it does nothing new to stand out.”
- “The music in this game feels repetitive and lacks the creativity needed to keep players engaged.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the overall music composition is forgettable and fails to enhance the gaming experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and disruptive, detracting from the overall action and enjoyment. Despite having promising ideas, the execution leads to a frustrating experience that discourages continued play.
- “This just takes away from the action and makes progressing very tedious as you are constantly stopping to see what is coming next.”
- “The best word to describe this game is tedious; it has so many good ideas, but they are all implemented so poorly that it just makes you not want to play.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report a high level of stability, with no crashes or freezes experienced during gameplay, allowing for uninterrupted sessions.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players find the game highly replayable due to its diverse character roster and a unique charm that enhances the overall experience.
- “The variety of characters adds to the game's replayability, and there's a unique charm that permeates the entire experience.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the diverse character options, making me want to dive back in for more.”
- “The game's charm and character diversity create a compelling reason to replay it multiple times.”
- “The number of characters helps make the game replayable, and there is an odd charm present throughout the game.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”