Abort, Retry, Fail

About

Abort, Retry, Fail is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Manpukuken Ramen and was released on May 17, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Abort, Retry, Fail is a top-down roguelike action adventure in which you play as a lazy programmer that has to generate his own weapon and shoot his way through hordes of enemies. Are you brave enough to help him escape from computer hell of Windows 98?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 41 reviews

music3 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and unique concept with interesting weapon combinations and solid controls.
Despite its short length, the game has a charming retro vibe and is enjoyable for a quick playthrough.
It's free to play, making it an accessible option for those looking for a brief gaming experience.

The game is extremely short, with most players finishing it in about 5 to 10 minutes, leading to a lack of content.
The graphics are poorly received, described as 'godawful pixelcrap' and detracting from the overall experience.
The use of procedural generation results in repetitive and soulless levels, making the gameplay feel monotonous quickly.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The gameplay of "abort, retry, fail" features a unique mechanic where players program their own weapons in a retro 2D top-down shooter format. While the mechanics are interesting, the overall combat lacks depth and the game feels both cluttered and empty, leading to a mixed experience. Additionally, the game is criticized for its brevity, with some players finding it too short and others feeling it drags on.
- “Abort, Retry, Fail is an unusual 2D retro pixel top-down shooter with a gimmick where you need to 'program' your own weapon to get through the incredibly short gameplay.”
- “Cool gameplay; my only critique is that it is much too long.”
- “The soundtrack is cool, but the gameplay is quite basic and the game itself is extremely short.”
- “The developer chose not to do the job of a real game developer and create meaningful bespoke levels, narrative-based gameplay progression, and so on.”
- “'Abort, Retry, Fail' is an unusual 2D retro pixel top-down shooter with a gimmick where you need to 'program' your own weapon to get through the incredibly short gameplay.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing them as low-quality pixel art that detracts from the overall experience, while others appreciate the simplicity and charm of the art style. Despite the lack of advanced visuals, some players feel that the game can still succeed in other areas, similar to titles like Terraria and Stardew Valley.
- “Love the art style and music.”
- “This features really godawful pixel crap 'art' instead of real graphics.”
- “It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to create 3D visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter.”
- “The graphics are pretty simple, same with the level design and the world around you.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some appreciate the cool soundtrack and retro style, others find it average and repetitive, leading to potential frustration due to its lack of variety and short duration. Overall, the music enhances the aesthetic but may not sustain interest throughout the gameplay.
- “Love the art style and music.”
- “The soundtrack is cool and adds a nice touch to the overall experience.”
- “The music complements the retro style of the game beautifully.”
- “Music is pretty average for a retro style game, but almost borderline aggravating after a minute or two.”
- “Balancing issues, no variety in music, one level.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight a strong sense of replayability, indicating that the game offers numerous opportunities for players to engage with it multiple times.
- “There's definitely a lot of replayability in this game.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making it hard to put down.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The story aspect of the game receives mixed feedback, with some praising it as great, while others feel it lacks depth and could benefit from further development and additional narrative elements. Overall, there is a desire for a more fleshed-out storyline.
- “Great story.”
- “It would be cool to see this concept fleshed out and turned into something with more acts and maybe a very small story.”
- “I could give it a thumbs up if it had a story.”
- “It'd be cool to see this concept fleshed out and turned into something with more acts and maybe a very small story.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is brief but effective, delivering laughs within its short five-minute playtime. While the controls may feel a bit stiff, the overall comedic experience is enjoyable and worth the time, especially considering it's free.
- “It's only about five minutes long start-to-finish, and isn't particularly difficult once you get to grips with the slightly stiff controls, but it's free and made me laugh.”
- “Funny”