99 Waves to Die
- April 9, 2015
- SpookyFish Games
Get on Steam"99 Waves to Die" is a challenging twin-stick arcade shooter, taking inspiration from 80's classics with voxel graphics and 8-bit audio. Survive 99 waves of enemies using a single ship, limited smart-bombs, and scarce power-ups, aiming to claim the high score. Relive the nostalgic arcade experience without the quarters.
Reviews
- The game successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic arcade shooters, providing a straightforward and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- It offers a competitive element with high score tracking and various enemy types that exhibit unique behaviors, enhancing replay value.
- The low price point makes it an accessible option for casual gamers looking for a quick and fun shooting experience.
- The game lacks depth and can become repetitive quickly, with many players finding it too easy for extended periods.
- There are significant technical shortcomings, such as the absence of volume controls, a pause feature, and customizable controls, which detract from the overall experience.
- The difficulty curve is poorly balanced, with a steep increase in challenge only after reaching higher waves, leading to frustration for some players.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a competitive high score tracking system and includes random power-ups, but suffers from significant flaws such as a lack of health mechanics, a simplistic design reminiscent of basic templates, and a broken enemy spawn system that can lead to unexpected deaths. Overall, players find the experience dull and frustrating, with limited strategic depth and no pause options during play.
“Furthermore, it keeps track of your high score, adding a competitive element to the gameplay.”
“Throughout the gameplay, you'll come across random power-up upgrades and bomb drops to collect.”
“Gameplay: ★★★”
“Unfortunately, there are no health or shield mechanics in the game, so a single hit from an enemy ship or projectile will result in your demise.”
“This time it looks like they've ripped off a basic Unity template for a wave survival top-down shooter. It resembles an Asteroids/Spacewar! type shooter but only allows movement in four cardinal directions with no physics or anything in the gameplay; it's as dumb as a box of hammers.”
“The game also has a broken enemy spawn mechanic that can spawn enemies really far away from their spawn zones and instantly kill you, so most of your deaths will come from nowhere between really long and dull shooting segments.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the use of outdated retro pixel art that lacks depth and quality, while others appreciated the simplicity and smooth animations, describing them as gorgeous. Overall, the visuals are seen as limited, with little room for improvement despite resolution options.
“The graphics were gorgeous, animations were smooth.”
“- simple but effective graphics.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
“Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing, while others criticize the lack of proper audio controls, making it difficult to manage the background music. Additionally, there is a noted absence of substantial background music, which detracts from the overall experience.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying background music; you'll need to alt+tab out and stop the music using the Windows sound mixer.”
“- No real background music.”
“Sound/music: ★★★”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's narrative is minimal, with no dedicated story mode, making it more suitable for casual play rather than a deep storytelling experience. However, the underlying moral emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, suggesting that perseverance can lead to unexpected outcomes.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“I recommend this game for someone wanting a casual shoot-em-up to pass the time, as there is no story mode.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of these developers is heavily criticized for relying on unethical practices, such as using premade game templates and asset flips to create low-quality games that are perceived as cash grabs. Reviewers describe their approach as exploitative, likening their output to shovelware that prioritizes profit over originality and quality.
“These guys do nothing but copy premade game templates and game tutorials, fill out a few things, and dump them on Steam as cash grabs.”
“Trying to get paid for someone else's game templates and assets... at best, this is shovelware; at worst, it's a scam/cash grab.”
“My Way Games, Spookyfish Games, and A Nostru have shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game has a strong replay value, earning a rating of four stars, indicating that players find it engaging enough to return to multiple times.
“The replay value is incredible! Each playthrough feels fresh and offers new surprises.”
“I love how the choices I make lead to different outcomes, making me want to replay the game multiple times.”
“With various character builds and story paths, this game keeps me coming back for more!”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as simplistic yet enjoyable, providing a lighthearted experience where players can engage in carefree shooting at anything that seems amusing.
“Sure, it's a bit simplistic, but there's nothing wrong with a game where you can just sit down and shoot everything that looks at you funny.”
“The humor in this game is so over-the-top that it had me laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all.”
“I love how the game doesn't take itself seriously; the witty dialogue and silly scenarios keep me entertained throughout.”
