Axel & Pixel
- October 6, 2010
- Silver Wish Games
Get on Steam"Axel & Pixel" is a hand-drawn, high-definition game where players help Axel and his dog Pixel escape a dream world. To get home, they must solve puzzles across 24 chapters set in four seasons. This artistic adventure features vehicle minigames and a focus on Axel's aspiration to paint all four seasons in one picture.
Reviews
- Charming art style and beautiful hand-drawn landscapes that create a visually stunning experience.
- Fun and engaging gameplay with clever puzzles that respect the player's time, making it a good casual experience.
- Good music and sound effects that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Frustrating mini-games that cannot be skipped, which can be particularly challenging for players with dexterity issues.
- Gameplay can be hindered by performance issues, such as frame rate affecting game speed, making it unplayable for some users.
- Some puzzles are overly simplistic or tedious, leading to a lack of challenge and engagement.
- story20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Axel and Pixel" follows the titular characters as they navigate a dream world filled with puzzles and obstacles in their quest for escape. While many players appreciate the game's unique narrative style and unexpected plot twists, some find the story lacking depth and criticize the tedious mini-games that hinder progression. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging visuals and enjoyable gameplay, despite some frustrations with its storytelling approach.
“In conclusion, Axel and Pixel is like a masterpiece with a few unexpected plot twists.”
“The story follows Axel and Pixel as they try to escape the dream world they're trapped in by solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles.”
“In addition to the beauty of Axel & Pixel's majesty and the depth of its story, the game is simply unmatched as a pure video gaming experience.”
“Additionally, there's not enough of a story to keep me going.”
“The mini-games cannot be skipped to continue on with the story; they are tedious and a total pain.”
“An eccentric, intriguing port of a very short XBLA game - but I do wonder if the developers tried too hard with the eclectic beatnik style; it seems forced and contrived, and the puzzles often have no relationship to the story.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are described as a unique blend of quirky and surreal aesthetics, reminiscent of classic indie titles like Machinarium and Samorost. Players appreciate the handcrafted backdrops and charming character designs, though some find the overall visual style to be a bizarre mash-up that may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the art style is praised for its originality and ability to enhance the casual gaming experience, despite some criticisms regarding its execution.
“I think this game has a wonderful art style and good music and sound effects for the casual experience, and out of the many point-and-click games I've played, I think this one respects your time the most.”
“The contrast between the lovingly handcrafted backdrops and the minimalist aesthetic of our two heroes will keep your eyes glued to the screen for hours on end.”
“It's a fantastic little adventure complemented by a beautiful art style, an excellent soundtrack, and oodles of style, grace, and humor that is sure to leave a smile on your face.”
“Just keep in mind the strange graphical mash-up, some annoying sound choices, and the lack of a real challenge.”
“It's a really bizarre and quirky point & click adventure with an equally peculiar aesthetic to match; as if the developers kind of cut and pasted their simple graphics onto photos of a weird Tolkien landscape from some obscure magazine.”
“The puzzles are irritatingly repetitive and easy, the music isn't very good, and the artwork looks like poorly made flash cartoons superimposed on top of something that was photoshopped together at the last second.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of point-and-click mechanics and puzzles, with some enjoyable moments and atmospheric music, but it is marred by tedious vehicle levels and pixel-hunting puzzles. While the core gameplay is fun and reminiscent of other adventure games, it suffers from frustrating quick-time events and a lack of interactivity, leading to a less polished experience overall.
“With that being said, the core gameplay is still fun, the atmospheric music is pretty great, and the minigames make some of the vehicles a lot more enjoyable.”
“Solid point-and-click gameplay, easygoing puzzles, and an appropriately-priced runtime add up to a recommendation in my book.”
“The game surpassed all of my expectations regarding its design, story, and gameplay.”
“It also tries to mix its gameplay up on occasion, and while that leads to cool moments like connecting pipes, it hits a low with three tedious and frustrating vehicle levels (which become more bearable if you set your refresh rate to 60 Hz).”
“Sadly, I find the gameplay tedious.”
“The gameplay isn't so hot, though: pixel-hunting puzzles with stuff being usable that wasn't moments before, too many quick-time events and minigames, and too many opportunities lost for making the displays more interactive mean that this gem isn't as polished as it should be.”
- music12 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and beautiful soundtrack, enhancing the overall casual experience. Many players find it relaxing and enjoyable, contributing positively to the game's charm and art style. However, some critiques mention that the music may not resonate with everyone, with a few players describing it as lacking in quality.
“I think this game has a wonderful art style and good music and sound effects for the casual experience. Out of the many point-and-click games I've played, I think this one respects your time the most.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and the puzzles are medium/easy in difficulty, making it generally smooth to progress.”
“It's a fantastic little adventure complemented by a beautiful art style, an excellent soundtrack, and oodles of style, grace, and humor that is sure to leave a smile on your face.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and lacks variety.”
“The music feels repetitive and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
“While you can listen to the soundtrack again in the game's files, it doesn't make up for its overall mediocrity.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to long animations and mandatory mini-games that cannot be skipped, which disrupt the flow of the story. While there are moments of engaging gameplay, such as connecting pipes, the overall experience is marred by repetitive and time-consuming elements.
“Sadly, I find the gameplay tedious.”
“The mini-games cannot be skipped to continue on with the story; they are tedious and a total pain in the ass.”
“Speaking of tedious, the animations can also last way too long for how often you'll probably be repeating them.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised, with users highlighting the atmospheric music and the enchanting world that evokes a sense of childlike wonder. Overall, the ambiance enhances the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable and immersive.
“The atmospheric music is pretty great, and the minigames make some of the vehicles a lot more enjoyable.”
“I found this game many years ago perusing the Xbox Arcade, and the atmosphere and world of Axel and Pixel filled me with childlike wonder.”
“The atmosphere is quite nice; I definitely enjoyed playing through it.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game incorporates a delightful blend of humor, particularly noted for its clever environmental jokes, which add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience. Players appreciate the effort and love put into crafting these comedic elements, making it a standout feature of the title.
“A dash of humor adds some laughter to the mix.”
“Here you get a smaller-scale title with a lot of love put into it, featuring some of the funniest environmental humor I have ever experienced.”
“Mix everything together with a dash of humor until well-combined.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers a moderate level of replayability, typical of adventure games, allowing players to revisit the experience with some variation.
“There is some replayability to this game, much like most adventure games.”
“There is some replayability to this game, much like most adventure games.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its compelling narrative, thrilling action, and heartwarming moments, particularly the bond between the characters. Players find it to be a charming and heartwarming adventure, showcasing the game's strength in evoking genuine feelings.
“This narratively driven wonder compels the player to progress through its thrilling action, shocking twists, and heartwarming man-on-dog bonding.”
“However, it's possibly one of the most charming, heartwarming adventures I've ever had with a point-and-click game, and that is where Axel & Pixel shines.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character designs are charming and the overall aesthetic is pleasant, the reviews indicate that the character development itself falls short, leaving players wanting more depth and growth in the characters.
“The character designs are charming, and the music and art direction create a very pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.”
“The depth of character development really draws you into the story, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming more complex as the plot unfolds.”
“It's a shame because I really wanted to give it a fair chance; the character designs are charming, and the music and art direction are very pleasant and relaxing.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way throughout the game.”
