A Game Called Paako
- March 22, 2024
- Team Paako
Get on SteamA Game Called Paako is a pixel-art 2D platformer metagame that tells the story of a game major grad student named Chaoran making his thesis game project A Game Called Paako.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- A Game Called Paako offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the game development process, making it an inspiring experience for aspiring game developers.
- The humor and charm of the game, along with its engaging storytelling, create a memorable experience that resonates with players.
- The game is free to play, providing an opportunity for players to explore its creative concepts without any financial commitment.
- The game suffers from pacing issues and long dialogue sequences that can feel tedious and unskippable, detracting from the overall experience.
- Some players have reported bugs that hinder gameplay, such as text stopping or the game freezing, which can be frustrating.
- The requirement to purchase DLC to fully complete the game has been criticized as a negative aspect, especially since it wasn't clearly communicated upfront.
- story12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a humorous and insightful exploration of an indie developer's journey, blending personal narrative with gameplay in a unique way. While some players appreciate the depth and charm of the storytelling, others criticize its heavy reliance on meta references and lengthy text. Overall, the narrative is seen as a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience, reminiscent of titles like "The Stanley Parable."
“The gameplay is pretty solid, the charm of Paako is pretty fun, and the story of the developer himself is inspiring.”
“It's a story-rich 2D platformer beyond what's necessary to succeed in this genre.”
“A funny game that tells the story of an indie developer who is about to graduate from university; this game is basically his graduation project/thesis.”
“The indie dev brand humor and cliché one-track story concept of being an indie dev, the deep dive into the dev's ego, and the large amount of text that essentially cannot be skipped... I could not name a single positive element.”
“But those had at least some gameplay and some story beyond the meta references.”
“☐ no story”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally solid and enjoyable, with a unique balance between mechanics and storytelling that many players appreciate. However, some find the dash mechanic poorly implemented and the overall experience can feel repetitive and lacking in engaging gameplay elements, leading to mixed feelings about its depth and excitement.
“The gameplay is pretty solid, the charm of Paako is pretty fun, and the story of the developer himself is inspiring.”
“The jokes are on point and the balance between the gameplay and the storytelling is so unique for a game; I love it.”
“Each section lets you check out certain mechanics and ideas that are supposed to show up in the full game.”
“Frankly, I'd have finished it if the dash mechanic hadn't been so horribly implemented.”
“This mechanic is introduced after a while, and nothing in the game prepares you for it.”
“It's kind of a cool game but it's very boring, to be honest; there's a lot of reading and there isn't much gameplay to it.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of meta-commentary and indie developer clichés, with some players finding it amusing while others feel it falls flat due to excessive text and pacing issues. While some moments are genuinely funny, the overall experience can feel tedious, leading to mixed reactions about its comedic effectiveness.
“Paako provides a unique experience; the funny thing is that all things are done purposefully.”
“Simple and funny.”
“I love the humor lol”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are noted for their unique and personal style, effectively complementing the autobiographical narrative. Players appreciate the artistic choices that enhance the emotional depth of the experience, making the visuals a standout feature. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's storytelling and immersive quality.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game has some stability issues, describing it as "bit buggy" during gameplay.
“The game is quite buggy from my experience.”
“I encountered frequent crashes that made it hard to enjoy the game.”
“There are numerous glitches that disrupt gameplay.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
