Ballistick

About

Ballistick is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Bomb Shelter Games and was released on October 14, 2016. It received negative reviews from players.

The stick figure days are back! Ballistick combines tactical combat, over-the-top gore, and realistic gun mechanics to create an experience like no other. Lock, load, and get ready to relive the glory days of stick figure combat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

30%

Audience ScoreBased on 181 reviews

story11 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

Fun little sidescrolling shooter with nostalgic stick figure gameplay.
Offers a variety of tactical elements like stealth mechanics and different weapon loadouts.
Great value for the price, providing a decent amount of gameplay for a low cost.

Controls are clunky and unresponsive, making gameplay frustrating.
Graphics and overall presentation are low quality, resembling a poorly made flash game.
Stealth missions can be overly punishing, with instant failure mechanics that detract from the experience.

story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
74%
11%
The game's story is generally considered unoriginal, resembling typical stickman narratives, but it does provide some engaging elements and humor that can enhance the experience. While the missions vary in style, including stealth and action, many players find the gameplay mechanics frustrating, particularly in stealth missions where instant failure can lead to repetitive gameplay. Overall, the story has potential and some well-written moments, but it often gets overshadowed by clunky controls and mission design issues.
- “The story is surprisingly good and has some very well-written elements that help set up the mission and make the character seem like a badass.”
- “This game had me laughing from the opening cutscenes to the dialogue in the mission prep, which is a nice bonus and I didn't expect.”
- “What is truly great is the storyline and concept, adding depth to the gameplay experience.”
- “The story is very similar to what you would see in these types of stickman media.”
- “It's a stick figure game... with clunky controls and an uncreative story.”
- “Looks bad, plays poorly, story is poorly written... doesn't really have much going for it.”
gameplay
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
60%
18%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its clunky mechanics, poor stealth implementation, and repetitive nature, making it feel unengaging and frustrating. While some appreciate the unique reload mechanics and the blend of stealth and action, others find the overall experience lacking polish and depth, often comparing it unfavorably to flash games. Overall, the game struggles to deliver a compelling gameplay experience, with many players feeling it falls short of its potential.
- “The gameplay is interesting and all, with a mixture of stealth and rampage missions to satisfy many different types of players.”
- “Smooth gameplay, a decent storyline, and enough variety to give it replay value worth at least a second playthrough.”
- “I particularly like the gun mechanics, which take a while to get used to but add a level of realism lost on modern games.”
- “Simply moving a flash game to Steam isn't enough to generate a compelling experience due to the inherent gameplay limitations.”
- “Gameplay feels like a chore and controls are clunky and frustrating.”
- “The gameplay is horrible, sneaking is bad, and cover doesn't work half the time.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for their low quality, often described as "deplorably lazy" and reminiscent of outdated flash animations or stick figure art. Many reviewers noted the visuals as a significant drawback, with simplistic designs and numerous glitches detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciated the nostalgic art style, the consensus is that the graphics are a major weakness, lacking polish and depth.
- “The art style mimics the nostalgic look of flash stickman animation almost spot on; even the environments feel like something you would see in those types of games and short movies.”
- “Graphics are good.”
- “Nice simplified graphics with a focus on fun gameplay.”
- “The visuals in this game are a complete joke; it's seriously just a bunch of MS Paint sprites/images that look like they were lazily scrawled out over the space of a couple of hours.”
- “It's unclear if this is due to a lack of budget to arrange someone who can create graphical assets properly, or a lack of talent; regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low, enough on its own to deter gamers.”
- “The graphics are stick figure graphics from an era where developers didn’t have the tools or art to really make anything better.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is largely criticized for being repetitive, forgettable, and poorly integrated, with many users finding it annoying and distracting. The lack of options to adjust volume or rebind controls further exacerbates the negative experience, making the soundtrack one of the game's weakest aspects. Overall, while some find it tolerable for a low price, the general consensus is that the music detracts significantly from the gameplay experience.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The main menu music has a unique vibe that sets the tone for the game.”
- “The background music creates an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “Music is incredibly forgettable, almost like it was ripped out of those stickmen fighting videos.”
- “The looping music is infuriating.”
- “Monotonous music, not many sounds.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of quirky, tongue-in-cheek elements reminiscent of "Kingdom of Loathing," combined with edgy flash game humor that may not resonate with everyone. Players appreciate the comedic dialogue and amusing quests, finding the game consistently funny from the opening cutscenes to mission preparations, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy lighthearted humor. Overall, while some humor may feel hit-or-miss, the game's comedic approach adds a unique charm to its gameplay.
- “Feels like the humor of Kingdom of Loathing married the gameplay style of Into the Eagle's Nest, then got bit by Metal Gear Solid while pregnant and finally gave birth to this mutant.”
- “Worth $2-3 bucks for the tongue-in-cheek humor and getting to slaughter stick-people... in the name of saving other stick people, naturally.”
- “This game had me laughing from the opening cutscenes to the dialog in the mission prep, which is a nice bonus I didn't expect.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and imprecise controls that significantly hinder gameplay. Many describe it as a "buggy mess," reminiscent of poorly executed flash games, leading to frustrating experiences such as unresponsive character actions and graphical issues. While some players find enjoyment in the nostalgia, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from serious stability problems.
- “So, apart from the fact that it's literally a flash game running as an .exe... this game is buggy as hell. Your stickman isn't taking cover when you're standing next to the actual cover location, and then you die. Enemies just shoot you continuously; it's hard because of it, with some levels requiring you to not be seen, ever!”
- “Simplistic with numerous graphical glitches and imprecise controls.”
- “It's been a while since I've played any stick figure games. It's nice to recall all these memories, playing old flash games and whatnot. I enjoy this game, but it's still flawed; it's buggy, and I've come across a few glitches. Otherwise, it's fun—short, but fun.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the smooth gameplay and variety that encourage at least a second playthrough, others feel that the short storyline and quick completion limit its long-term appeal. The ability to choose different approaches adds a tactical element, but many users express disappointment in the overall replay potential.
- “Smooth gameplay, a decent storyline, and enough variety to give it replay value worth at least a second playthrough.”
- “You pick how you want to enter the facility as well, so it has replay value and a bit of tactical depth.”
- “There's also a lot of missed replayability potential.”
- “I 100% completed the game pretty quickly, so I can't say it has much, if any, replay value.”
- “The story's almost disappointingly short, but it does have some replayability.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant performance issues on Windows 10, with some experiencing difficulties getting their GPU to recognize the game, preventing it from running in fullscreen mode.
- “Crazy performance issues on Windows 10 - I can't get my GPU to recognize this as a game, so it won't run even in fullscreen mode.”
- “The optimization is terrible; I experience constant frame drops and stuttering, making it unplayable.”
- “Even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, which is incredibly frustrating.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating and tedious, as it requires repeatedly executing the same simple tasks and can lead to significant setbacks from minor mistakes, forcing them to restart levels.
- “This game features a clunky, tedious killbot stickman who solves problems by repeating the same simple routine over and over, particularly because a single mistake will send you back to the beginning of a level to try again.”