Bang-On Balls: Chronicles
- March 2, 2021
- Exit Plan Games
- 5h median play time
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is a wonderful 3d platformer, with dense and creative worlds to explore and loads of cosmetics to try on.
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Get on Xbox Games Store"Bang-On Balls: Chronicles" is a 3D platformer game with an intriguing story, offering both single-player and local multi-player modes for up to 4 players in co-op or split screen. The game features outstanding visuals, good music, and plenty of humor as you customize your character and journey through historically-themed levels, from the Viking era to Feudal Japan, Wild West, and beyond. Regular updates will add new features, skins, and maps.
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Windows
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Xbox Series X|S
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Reviews
- The game features a beautifully realized art style with vibrant graphics and imaginative level design.
- Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a mix of exploration, combat, and collectibles that keeps players entertained.
- The game is enjoyable both solo and in co-op mode, making it a great choice for playing with friends.
- Currently, the game has limited content with only a few levels available, which may leave players wanting more.
- Some players have reported bugs and performance issues, particularly with controls and camera angles.
- The game's name has drawn criticism, as it may lead to misunderstandings about its content.
- gameplay130 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of exploration, humor, and physics-based mechanics, offering a mix of casual fun and engaging challenges. While many players appreciate the vibrant graphics and varied environments, opinions are divided on the depth and complexity of the gameplay, with some finding it simplistic or slow. Overall, the game is praised for its enjoyable mechanics and cooperative play, though some feel it lacks sufficient content for its price.
“The gameplay focuses on exploration and combat, with various objectives, collectibles, and interactive elements in each level.”
“Developed by Exit Plan Games, the game brings a refreshing blend of humor, exploration, and fun gameplay mechanics that keep players rolling through each level.”
“The gameplay and mechanics of this game are simple but extremely effective at making the perfect experience, and the feeling of playing as a country is awesome!”
“The gameplay is slow and awkward.”
“There is not much of a gameplay; it's like visiting a museum, it's just eye candy.”
“Def not worth it for the price with how little gameplay there is, get it on sale.”
- graphics110 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant, colorful, and imaginative art style, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the detailed environments and character designs, noting that the visuals are both charming and well-optimized, although some have mentioned that the graphics can be overly busy or distracting at times. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal and enjoyment.
“Beautifully realized art style, glorious, imaginative platforming, and stellar level design far beyond what you'd expect from an unknown studio.”
“The graphics are colorful, vibrant, and detailed, with each historical setting like Viking and pirate worlds filled with interactive elements and easter eggs.”
“The colorful and quirky graphics immediately draw you in, and the gameplay is addictive.”
“The visuals are way too busy and distracting.”
“I'm not gonna lie, this game is objectively very well-made, but I just find it aesthetically revolting. A staggering amount of content, but it's so audiovisually messy and chaotic, and none of the comedy lands for me whatsoever.”
“In my opinion, releasing the game in version 1.0 should be fixed, lack of legibility in some situations, what to do and where to go, and not very sharp graphics. I felt like I was playing games from the PS3 era.”
- humor83 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its fun, light-hearted tone and engaging, cartoonish art style, making it an enjoyable experience for players, especially in multiplayer settings. Many reviews highlight the unpredictable physics and random comedic moments that contribute to its charm, while the playful character designs and humorous achievements add to the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is recommended for those looking for a silly, entertaining platformer that encourages laughter and exploration.
“Developed by Exit Plan Games, the game brings a refreshing blend of humor, exploration, and fun gameplay mechanics that keep players rolling through each level.”
“Every sandbox level is crammed to the brim with wacky and funny things happening you might miss if you're not paying attention.”
“What I got was an amazing 3D platformer game with genuinely funny jokes that anyone can enjoy.”
“The humor feels forced and often falls flat, making it more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
“I expected clever jokes, but instead, I got a series of tired clichés that just didn't land.”
“The attempts at humor are so over-the-top that they detract from the overall experience rather than enhance it.”
- story76 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as minimal or lacking depth, with many players noting that it primarily consists of simple tasks and loose plots tied to various levels. While some appreciate the humor and light-hearted nature of the missions, others express a desire for a more cohesive narrative. Overall, the game is seen as fun and engaging, but it does not offer a compelling storyline, focusing instead on gameplay and exploration.
“As a countryball fan, this is the best game alive, amazing storyline, good graphics, and the game is just overall good. Can't wait for any future updates.”
“The levels are amazing and each one has its own unique story to tell.”
“Simply an amazing game, fun for hours or until you end the story, even then, the game isn't done; there's tons of side content to do and a world of fun to be had.”
“The game feels a little too aimless and there isn't really much story; it just throws you in a big open world and gives you some tasks.”
“The downsides are that it really doesn't have a story that makes sense; it's just going into worlds to annoy a yellow guy.”
“The story is practically non-existent, with no real dialogue in the game at all and the entire premise being found on this game's store page.”
- music30 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and dynamic nature, enhancing the overall experience with lively sound effects and memorable tracks that fit various areas and stages. While many players enjoy the soundtrack, some note that it can become repetitive, and a few express a desire for more variety, particularly during boss battles. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the fun and energetic atmosphere of the game, making it a standout feature.
“The sound design complements the action perfectly, with catchy music, lively sound effects, and satisfying impact sounds as players knock into obstacles and enemies.”
“The soundtrack is a joy to listen to; every song is a banger.”
“Fun, chaotic, actually challenging and with really energetic music.”
“The only thing I feel is missing is maybe some music for the boss battles.”
“The music is alright but it doesn't stand out and is not very memorable to me.”
“Oh wait, I forgot the music!”
- grinding13 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find it dull and excessively time-consuming, others appreciate the lack of microtransactions and enjoy the grind for experience points. The varied environments help mitigate the grind for some, making it feel less tedious, but overall, many feel it requires a significant time investment.
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Not for me, way too dull, grindy, and slow paced.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“E.g. where are games that are full action, require your concentration on story or sound, then there is a grinding mission.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it offers smooth controls and impressive graphics, many players report performance issues, particularly on average or lower-end machines. Some users have experienced the need to lower settings significantly to maintain performance, and there are lingering graphical bugs and particle effects that can impact gameplay. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and visually appealing, it requires further optimization to enhance accessibility and performance.
“Fun, cute and fun animations, smooth controls, great performance, far exceeded my modest expectations.”
“A true to form action platformer that is gorgeous as hell, well optimized and a blast to play around in; breaking everything, exploring every nook and cranny of evidently lovingly crafted levels, fighting with all kinds of balls.”
“It's a beautiful platformer, it runs smoothly, plays well, and has plenty to do even in its current state of only a few levels.”
“The game is optimized horribly; I had to run everything on medium on my new custom-built computer, or my core temperature went through the roof.”
“However, if your machine is average or worse, this game is incredibly fun and well put together, yet marred by sub-par performance.”
“It needs a bit of work in terms of optimization; for example, lots of particles will stay floating if you don't catch them, even after an hour on the level. I think that affects performance in one way or another.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, stability in the game is mixed; while some players report experiencing visual glitches and lag on lower-end PCs, others have had a smooth experience with minimal bugs. Minor issues are noted, but many feel they are overshadowed by the enjoyable gameplay.
“I had a few visual glitches during the game, like objects not loading properly.”
“Another thing is that it lags a lot on lesser PCs like mine, and it's pretty buggy at times.”
“I tried doing remote play with a friend, and that seemed to be buggy, so I can't chime in on co-op at the moment.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its large open worlds, extensive customization options, and engaging gameplay, making it a great value for its price. However, some players feel that replay value diminishes after the initial experience, suggesting it may not sustain long-term interest for everyone. Despite this, many find it enjoyable enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“Only four levels now (albeit very large), with one apparently coming as a free DLC later, but overall this is an incredible amount of value and replayability for only $25.”
“It has large open worlds with a lot of stuff to do, tons of weapons and customizability for your character that give the game a lot of replay value and genuinely amazing graphics on par with a lot of AAA games!”
“Really funny, and very replayable, even after finishing the game so far.”
“It lacks replay value after that, but it was well worth the money I paid for it.”
“It lacks replayability a lot, but if you are looking for a quick experience of around 30 hours, this is a game for you.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features no microtransactions, allowing players to earn in-game currency through gameplay to unlock cosmetics and tools, which some users find grindy but manageable. This monetization model is praised for providing a rewarding experience without the pressure of spending real money or making difficult choices between cosmetic options.
“No microtransactions, open world chaos sandbox with some silly missions here and there to keep you moving from area to area.”
“The cosmetics are also pretty grindy; however, it's not unbearable and it doesn't have microtransactions, so it's a pretty good deal.”
“It allows you to find whichever tools and cosmetics in its open world that you are daring enough to reach, and rewards you with those items by letting you spend the in-game currency that you've earned through having fun in this game on them, and never punishes you by making you spend any real money (yes, absolutely no microtransactions, as promised by the developers) or making you doubt your choice in selecting one cosmetic over another at a given time.”
“The monetization model is frustratingly aggressive, pushing players to spend real money for basic features that should be included in the game.”
“It's disappointing to see that the game relies heavily on microtransactions, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine gaming experience.”
“The in-game purchases are poorly balanced, often making it feel like you can't progress without spending extra money.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as fun and vibrant, enriched with numerous Easter eggs from various media, contributing to a lively and engaging experience. It stands out as a rare 3D platformer that combines action with a dynamic atmosphere, showcasing efforts to diversify the overall ambiance.
“It had a fun atmosphere with lots of Easter eggs from movies, shows, and games that you might see in the game.”
“One of the scarce 3D platformers that serves up action and an absolutely fantastic atmosphere.”
“Great attempts at diversifying the atmosphere though.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally resonant, evoking nostalgia for classic childhood titles like Taz: Wanted and Jazz Jackrabbit 2. Its cute and wholesome premise adds to the overall charm, creating a lighthearted and enjoyable experience.
“It also made me feel nostalgic for some reason by reminding me of some good old gems that I played as a kid, stuff like Taz: Wanted and Jazz Jackrabbit 2.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in "Bang on Balls" is marked by humorous designs and engaging sound effects, contributing to an overall entertaining experience that keeps players laughing throughout.
