99Vidas
- December 22, 2016
- QUByte Interactive
99 Vidas is a perfectly charming, if uneven take on the side-scrolling brawler that spends far too much time with one eye on the past rather than looking to the future of the genre.
Get on Steam"99Vidas" is a Comedy Hack and Slash game with fantastic visuals and a fabulous soundtrack, offering both local multi-player and single-player experiences. The game pays homage to classic beat 'em ups, with 6 stages set in different parts of the world filled with enemies and bosses. It includes co-op, PvP, and split-screen modes for up to 2 players, modernizing the genre while celebrating its 80s and 90s roots.
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Playstation Vita
Xbox
Reviews
- 99 Vidas is a fun homage to classic beat 'em ups, capturing the essence of games like Streets of Rage and Double Dragon.
- The game features a charming art style and a humorous narrative, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- Local and online co-op modes enhance the experience, allowing for more fun when playing with friends.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with simplistic mechanics that may not satisfy seasoned players.
- Boss fights can be frustrating due to unbalanced difficulty and unintuitive mechanics, leading to a lack of enjoyment.
- The game suffers from issues like slow controls and poor enemy AI, which can detract from the overall experience.
- music48 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising it as a nostalgic homage to Sega Genesis-era soundtracks, particularly reminiscent of Yuzo Koshiro's work. While some find the music outstanding and fitting for the game's aesthetic, others criticize it for being derivative and lacking originality, with a few tracks feeling uninspired or low-quality. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as one of the game's stronger aspects, despite some reservations about its execution.
“The music in the game is a love letter to Sega Genesis/Mega Drive-era music and fits the game flawlessly.”
“A lot of love was put into this game and the music is great.”
“Soundtrack will get you hype!”
“The most unsettling part for me is the music.”
“The fighting isn't fun, the music feels uninspired, and the gameplay is a little lacking in nuance.”
“Music is also on the low-quality side, it just kind of drags on and isn't fun to listen to.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of 99vidas has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth due to oversimplified mechanics and frustrating design choices. While the game pays homage to classic beat-em-ups with its pixelated graphics and nostalgic elements, it suffers from poor responsiveness and a lack of challenge, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging experience. Despite some praise for its aesthetics and charm, the overall gameplay experience is seen as underwhelming and in need of improvement.
“99vidas is a well-presented and mechanically sound beat-em-up that is hampered only by some very strange and downright bad design choices.”
“Developed by Qubyte Interactive, this brawler pays homage to classics like Final Fight, Double Dragon, and Streets of Rage while infusing it with modern gameplay mechanics.”
“With its blend of classic gameplay, modern mechanics, and pixel-perfect visuals, it offers a nostalgic journey through arcade history.”
“Gameplay is repetitive, poor mechanics (like weapons without damage modification) and slow response for moves.”
“The mechanics are so poorly designed that it manages to give a frustrating experience without providing a challenge.”
“Basically, the game feels like a chore to play, due to antiquated mechanics/controls, easy first order optimal strategies that destroy any feeling of challenge or mastery, and a style that seems like it's trying too hard to be self-aware.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature a vibrant 16-bit pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic arcade titles, with lively sprites and detailed environments. While many players appreciate the deliberate mixing of pixel sizes and the overall aesthetic, some find the visuals distracting and note that the gameplay does not live up to the graphical quality. Overall, the art style is praised for its charm and modern polish, but it is often overshadowed by criticisms of the game's mechanics and design.
“The game's pixelated graphics and vibrant color palette evoke nostalgia for arcade classics, but it also incorporates modern gameplay mechanics.”
“The 16-bit pixel art style transports players back to the era of classic arcade cabinets, with lively sprites and detailed environments.”
“From neon-lit city streets to lush jungle landscapes, the graphics capture the essence of retro gaming while adding a modern polish.”
“Every time I purchase one of these style graphical games, I get issues with the game looking overly pixelated.”
“But graphics aren't everything, and the gameplay is... okay, I guess.”
“This game deserves top marks for its aesthetics and charm, but its mechanics and overall design leave something to be desired.”
- humor16 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quirky and funny, appealing primarily to a niche audience familiar with the 99vidas series, which may alienate mainstream gamers. While some find the dialogue amusing and reminiscent of works like "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," others criticize it as lacking broader appeal and being overly tailored to a specific fan base. Overall, the humor is seen as hit-or-miss, with some enjoying it while others find it unfunny or too obscure.
“Quirky and funny.”
“Also has a good soundtrack and is humorous.”
“The game also has a decent sense of humor, similar to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
“Mainstream gamers are the largest community in the gaming industry, so with all the unfunny, lame, goofy stuff they included, they missed the biggest money-making community in gaming.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse characters and their unique traits, which encourage players to explore different playthroughs. While some users note the game's length as a potential drawback, the variety of experiences available compensates for it.
“Great game with a lot of replay value.”
“If I had to critique something, it would be the length, yet the many characters and their peculiarities make up for that in replayability.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story in the game is described as lacking depth and brevity, with players able to complete it in just a few hours. While it may not engage all gamers, there are elements like local and online co-op and unlockable characters that provide some entertainment value. Overall, the narrative is considered secondary to the gameplay experience.
“There’s not a lot of content and you can run through the story mode in a few hours, but local and online co-op, unlockable characters, and the promise of more levels should give it some lasting appeal.”
“While the beat ‘em up genre will be lost on most gamers, and the story experience isn’t that long in 99vidas to keep some engaged, there is still some fun to be had in this game.”
“There’s not a lot of content, and you can run through the story mode in a few hours. While local and online co-op, unlockable characters, and the promise of more levels should give it some lasting appeal, the story itself feels lacking.”
“While the beat 'em up genre may not resonate with all gamers, the story experience in 99vidas is too short to keep many engaged, leaving players wanting more depth and narrative.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its grotesque enemy designs, which stand out in contrast to the relatively bland player characters, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall depth and engagement of the character portrayals.
“The character designs can also be grotesque to some, but more so the enemies rather than the fairly bland player characters.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding for lives is effective in the four new bonus stages, but this method does not apply to the bonus stages available in the regular levels.
“Farming for lives using the bonus stage works, but only in the 4 new bonus stages, not the ones that can be accessed in the regular stages.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is noted as interesting and aesthetically appealing, but it is overshadowed by the overall lack of value in gameplay mechanics and design. Reviewers suggest that while the aesthetic may be engaging, it does not compensate for the game's shortcomings.
Critic Reviews
99Vidas Review
99 Vidas is a perfectly charming, if uneven take on the side-scrolling brawler that spends far too much time with one eye on the past rather than looking to the future of the genre.
65%99Vidas Review
99Vidas is an affectionate homage to scrolling beat em ups of the 80s and 90s. It’s also a fun game to spend an afternoon with, regardless of age and skill. There’s not a lot of content and you can run through the story mode in a few hours, but local and online co-op, unlockable characters, and the promise of more levels should give it some lasting appeal.
70%99Vidas Review
What it all comes down to is that 99Vidas simply isn't as fun as it could be. A good beat 'em up is more than just hitting bad guys until they fall over. There has to be enough nuance and depth for skilful players to develop their own style, while using very little, if any, resources, such as health restoring food or lives. There also have to be enough leniencies to make the game appealing to someone who just wants a "mindless" yet still entertaining button masher. This game deserves top marks for its aesthetics and charm, but its mechanics and overall design leave something to be desired. If the difficulty was better balanced and the heroes had more viable attack options, this would be a title deserving of a spot in any brawler fan's library.
50%
