Backfire

About

A small action game for 1-2 players, walk about and blast as many enemies as you can, and hopefully make it to the end.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

40%

Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

story1 negative mentions

The game features a good retro style and has full controller support, enhancing the gameplay experience.
The soundtrack is enjoyable, and the varied enemy designs, along with their violent death animations, add a level of excitement.
Playing with a friend can make the game more enjoyable, providing a fun, arcade-like experience despite its flaws.

The controls are clunky and unresponsive, making gameplay frustrating, especially with the inability to shoot in multiple directions.
The artwork is of very low quality, resembling amateurish MS-Paint style graphics, which detracts from the overall experience.
Technical issues, such as a lack of audio controls and game-breaking level progression problems, significantly hinder the gameplay.

graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
29%
29%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the low-quality, amateurish artwork reminiscent of retro pixel art and MS Paint drawings, leading to a perception of poor visual quality. Conversely, others appreciate the simplicity and uniqueness of the art style, finding it charming rather than off-putting. Overall, the lack of resolution options and graphics tweaks detracts from the experience for many users.
- “This game has been released some time ago on itch, and I thought the idea was cool and the graphics looked simple, but unique.”
- “Also, like I said before, the art style is simple; it does look like it's made in paint, but it is far from an eyesore.”
- “Frankly, I like the art style and the environments.”
- “The artwork here is terrible; it's a blend of old retro pixel 'art' used as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics, and some of the most amateurish MS Paint style drawings I've ever seen.”
- “It's unclear if this is due to a lack of budget to hire someone who can do graphics properly, or a lack of talent. Regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low as a result of these decisions.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The gameplay is described as janky and unsatisfying, with a lack of polish in the controls and responsiveness, which detracts from the overall experience. While it pays homage to old-school shooters and may appeal to fans of that genre, the simplicity of the gameplay is overshadowed by its handling issues, leaving it feeling unrefined. Overall, the game could be enjoyable if the control scheme were improved.
- “But the gameplay is simple and enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay would be fun if the controls were a little better.”
- “It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
- “Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing.”
- “The gameplay is nothing revolutionary and more an homage to old-school/retro shooters, but if you're a fan of that era of game then you will probably enjoy this as well.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's soundtrack is praised for its retro electro vibe and overall quality, enhancing the arcade experience. However, users are frustrated by the lack of proper audio controls, making it difficult to turn off the background music without using external methods. Despite this annoyance, the music contributes positively to the game's charm, especially considering its low price.
- “The soundtrack, in particular, is quite good.”
- “For the game's very cheap asking price, you get a full, arcade-y, retro experience with some cool art and a good soundtrack.”
- “The music feels very retro electro, and I dig it.”
- “Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying background music. You'll need to alt+tab out and stop the music using the Windows sound mixer.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The story in this game is largely considered inconsequential, with many users noting that it is not essential for enjoying the overall experience.
- “The story is... well, you do not need the story in this game to enjoy it.”