A Pixel Story
- March 29, 2015
- Lamplight Studios
As someone who gamed through the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, I was mildly concerned by A Pixel Story‘s assertion that it ‘charts the evolution of video games’. Would this also entail reliving the less desirable aspects of said eras?
Get on Steam"A Pixel Story" is a nostalgic platformer that takes you through the evolution of video games. Starting in a 8-bit world, you journey through four different generations of game graphics, each with their own unique challenges and puzzles. The goal is to reach the core of an evil operating system and delete it, saving your pixel world from certain doom. With tight controls and clever level design, "A Pixel Story" is a love letter to the history of video games.
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Charming pixel art and a delightful soundtrack that evoke nostalgia and enhance the gaming experience.
- Clever level design and inventive mechanics, such as the teleportation ability, provide engaging puzzles and challenges.
- Offers a mix of casual exploration and intense challenge rooms, appealing to both casual players and hardcore platforming fans.
- Awkward and imprecise movement mechanics, particularly during jumping, lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Difficulty spikes and punishing controls can alienate both casual players and those seeking a balanced challenge.
- Lack of control customization and some ambiguous graphics can hinder the overall enjoyment and accessibility of the game.
- story18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story of "A Pixel Story" receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and humorous, filled with video game references, while others feel it lacks depth and integration into gameplay. Many appreciate the nostalgic atmosphere and the potential for a compelling narrative, but criticize the delivery, as much of the story is relegated to menu flavor text rather than being woven into the gameplay experience. Overall, while the story has its moments, it doesn't fully realize its potential, leaving some players wanting more.
“The story is hilarious (lots of references) and the atmosphere was wonderful.”
“A great story and some really good music earns this game a 10 out of 10 from me.”
“The puzzles keep me on edge and though the story is fairly cliché, it is keeping me interested enough to continue speculation of what's to come.”
“I originally intended to at least complete the story of the game, but I'm not sure I can force myself to do so, nor that I want to despite only scratching the surface of the second area.”
“You can essentially progress through the game without ever reading any substantial storyline.”
“I wish they integrated the story a bit better.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring inventive mechanics and unique worlds that evolve the platforming experience, but it suffers from awkward vertical movement and frustrating difficulty spikes. While some players appreciate the classic platformer feel and the introduction of new mechanics like teleportation and programmable NPCs, others find the controls stiff and the overall gameplay stale. Despite these criticisms, the game offers a nostalgic challenge reminiscent of childhood gaming experiences.
“Reminds me of my childhood due to the difficult levels and intense gameplay.”
“What begins as very simple platforming quickly becomes a fun and inventive trip through several unique worlds, each adding on to the existing mechanics in play, ranging from a teleporting mechanic to having programmable NPCs that need to perform specific tasks to help you get through an area.”
“This game has very fun, classic platformer mechanics with a twist.”
“Even after playing through the whole game, I cannot figure out why the developer wanted to include such awkward vertical movement mechanics in it.”
“But the game also has some atrocious difficulty spikes that, combined with the awkward movement mechanics, make for a very weird experience.”
“Some of the mechanics are designed so that they don't work the moment you respawn.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their vibrant pixel art style and clever design, enhancing the overall experience with humor and gaming references. However, some players find certain graphical elements ambiguous and note that the jumping mechanics can feel stiff, which detracts from the gameplay. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the lively world and engaging content.
“Love how the graphics keep improving as you travel through the genres, and it keeps introducing new mechanics to keep you on your toes from beginning to end.”
“I love the pixel-styled artwork as well as the numerous computer-related humor and gaming references throughout.”
“Clever level design, smart writing, well-crafted graphics.”
“Jumping is far too stiff while springboards are frustratingly finicky. The graphics can be ambiguous, and the gameplay is mostly unvaried and stale.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and quality, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the great soundtrack and its alignment with the game's humor and storytelling, often rating it highly.
“The music and art are charming and lovely, and the game's sense of humor is very much worn on its sleeve.”
“Great soundtrack!”
“A great story and some really good music earn this game a 10 out of 10 from me.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is prominently featured, with a charming and whimsical atmosphere that includes numerous gaming and computer-related references. Players find the story to be hilarious, enhancing the overall experience with its lighthearted tone and pixel-styled artwork.
“The game's sense of humor is very much worn on its sleeve.”
“The story is hilarious, filled with references, and the atmosphere is wonderful.”
“I love the pixel-styled artwork as well as the numerous computer-related humor and gaming references throughout.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its nostalgic charm, evoking fond memories reminiscent of classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, while also being enriched by a humorous story filled with references. Overall, it creates a delightful and engaging experience for players.
“The story is hilarious (lots of references) and the atmosphere was wonderful.”
“As a fan of the genre, I've found exactly the same feeling as when I played Crash Bandicoot on my PS1 when I was a child (atmospherically speaking).”
Critic Reviews
A Pixel Story Review
As someone who gamed through the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, I was mildly concerned by A Pixel Story‘s assertion that it ‘charts the evolution of video games’. Would this also entail reliving the less desirable aspects of said eras?
80%A Pixel Story Review
A Pixel Story is as close to perfect as a game can get, but it falls a bit short. It highlights a lot of the issues other Metroidvania games have, and can feel like an aimless walk from time to time. Rest assured, though, every annoyance you stumble across will be paid back in kind, and with a game so fun and enticing, you may find yourself lost in the System, as well.
90%A Pixel Story Review
A Pixel Story has the potential to be great, but falls just short of capturing that potential. The basic mechanic here is a clever one, and the developers to a good job getting a lot out of it. Unfortunately, they fall just short of elevating it to something truly special, and the final result is a bit more basic than expected. Puzzles are good, but repetitive, and exploration is fun, but simple. This combined with floaty, imprecise controls and an odd insistence from the game to focus on them, makes this fall just below the top tier of puzzle platformers. Fans of the genre might still want to check this out, but everyone else might want to see what other stories are out there.
60%
