BARRIER X

About

BARRIER X is a single player arcade racing game. It was developed by Noclip and was released on May 27, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Barrier X" is a lightning-fast rhythm-based shooter game with intense barriers to dodge, enemies to shoot, and seven endless levels to conquer. The game speeds up every 15 seconds, challenging your reaction speed and perception. With electronic music beats to guide you and competitive leaderboards to climb, see how far you can go in this ultimate test of reflexes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 682 reviews

music71 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Visually stunning with vibrant colors and a psychedelic aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience.
Fast-paced and challenging, providing a rewarding sense of accomplishment as players improve their reflexes and beat their best times.
Great soundtrack that fits well with the game's intense atmosphere, making it engaging and enjoyable.

The game can be overwhelmingly difficult, with some players finding it frustrating due to the rapid speed and chaotic visuals.
Input lag and control locking mechanics can lead to unfair deaths, making the gameplay feel less skill-based and more reliant on luck.
Limited variety in levels and mechanics can lead to repetitive gameplay, causing some players to lose interest quickly.

music
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many reviewers highlighting its catchy electronic and chiptune tracks that fit well with the game's fast-paced action. However, some players expressed disappointment over the limited number of tracks, which can lead to repetitiveness over time. Overall, while the soundtrack is well-received, a desire for more variety and smoother integration with gameplay elements was noted.
- “The music is amazing, although there are few tracks.”
- “The art style and music really add to the experience of the game, adding a different feel and motivation for each song that is available.”
- “The soundtrack is top notch; to older people, that means really good.”
- “Lastly, I wasn't a big fan of the low number of soundtracks in the game.”
- “It's not satisfying and the soundtrack is not anything special.”
- “The boring gameplay in combination with the below average music is a deal breaker.”
gameplay
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced mechanics that gradually introduce new elements across seven levels, but many players find it repetitive and frustrating due to inconsistent controls and overwhelming visual effects. While some appreciate the simple yet challenging mechanics and engaging soundtrack, others criticize the game for its lack of depth, accessibility issues, and a reliance on random elements that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of excitement and irritation, appealing primarily to those who enjoy high-difficulty arcade-style gameplay.
- “There are 7 levels in the game, and each level differs from the previous one with more mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is simple but fun.”
- “The gameplay feels quite smooth, and the animations are juicy and responsive, so after a bit of playing, you kind of feel like you have become the plane.”
- “The gameplay gets boring very quickly.”
- “There is not much going on visually or in terms of gameplay as the entire game boils down to smashing 3 buttons as fast as you can while trying not to get a seizure from the non-stop flashing kaleidoscope of color.”
- “But the gameplay just isn't fun; it's unengaging and boring.”
graphics
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
46%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the vibrant and artistic visuals that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize them for being overly flashy and distracting, making gameplay difficult. Many users note that the retro-style graphics are decent, but the excessive effects can obscure important gameplay elements, leading to frustrating experiences. Overall, while the aesthetics are often praised, they can detract from the game's functionality and enjoyment.
- “And visuals - a piece of art: all these cosmic stripes and neon lines syncing with nice electronic music.”
- “The graphics are super fast and intense!”
- “The graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay are amazing.”
- “The graphics in this game are quite simple; the plane that you control is actually just a tiny spec of a paper plane in the middle while the ground is just colored and added some effects.”
- “In addition, the display is pretty in terms of aesthetics, but in terms of gameplay, it is nearly impossible to see what's in front of you, which defeats the entire purpose of the game.”
- “The main concern I have with this game is in the visuals; I believe this is a case where a visual art style has gotten in the way of a functional game.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
64%
27%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of a coherent narrative or progression, with players noting the absence of a storyline or meaningful elements that would motivate continued play. While some users hint at a moral lesson about perseverance, the overall consensus is that the missions feel disconnected and fail to provide a compelling story experience.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “There is no storyline here, no unlocking of the next ships we control or any other elements that would encourage us to play further.”
- “What story?”
- “Somewhat of a story?”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players finding it simple, funny, and addictive, despite some challenges in gameplay. Many reviews highlight the game's comedic elements as a standout feature, contributing to an enjoyable experience overall. However, some users noted that the humor can become repetitive over time.
- “Simple and funny.”
- “It's funny, addictive, hard; the soundtrack may not be the best, but it's still good.”
- “A funny game, easy and nice.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it can be enjoyable and rewarding initially, it becomes tedious over time due to issues like RNG, control locking, and repetitive combat mechanics. Although some players appreciate the challenge, the overall grind is not recommended for those seeking a fulfilling achievement farming experience.
- “Tl;dr: a well-priced game that can be fun and rewarding, but falls short due to a number of issues including RNG, control locking, tedious fighting mechanics, occasional performance dips, and an unfortunate lack of accessibility features.”
- “That's a little tedious, but the enemies that spawn are actually the issue at hand.”
- “I had lots of fun while playing this game for an hour and 20 minutes straight; after that, it became a little tedious, but it was still a fair challenge; your deaths never feel cheap.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by visually appealing graphics and vibrant colors, contributing to an engaging experience. While some players find the graphics occasionally distracting, the music is consistently praised for its atmospheric quality, making it enjoyable and fun to listen to. Overall, the combination of visuals and sound creates a compelling atmosphere that players appreciate.
- “The music is a 5/5 for being atmospheric and fun to listen to.”
- “Great music, good atmosphere, and nice graphics make it easy and fun to play.”
- “On the one hand, the graphics are okay; they even give the game atmosphere, but on the other hand, they get in the way terribly.”
- “Visually, it is appealing; there are a lot of bright colors which add to the game's atmosphere.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's replayability is largely dependent on its challenging difficulty and leaderboard competition, appealing primarily to players who enjoy punishing gameplay. However, many users find it less engaging compared to other free-to-play reflex games, suggesting that its replay value may be limited for a broader audience.
- “But I've had free-to-play reflex games that are less strenuous and have more replay value than this.”
- “There's little to say about the core mechanics or replay value unless the leaderboards interest you, and the game's main feature is its really high and potentially alienating degree of difficulty.”
- “I've had free-to-play reflex games that are less strenuous and have more replay value than this.”
- “Lots of replay value for the roughest of masochists!”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is criticized for performance issues, particularly on low-spec PCs, where players experience input lag and occasional performance dips. Additionally, the lack of accessibility features and tedious fighting mechanics further detracts from the overall experience.
- “A well-priced game that can be fun and rewarding, but falls short due to a number of issues including RNG, control locking, tedious fighting mechanics, occasional performance dips, and an unfortunate lack of accessibility features.”
- “Performance issues on low-spec PCs.”
- “Seems to have input lag on my low-performance PC.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Users express frustration with the game's monetization strategy, particularly regarding microtransactions and perceived deceptive advertising practices. There is a call for the developer, Valve, to address these issues or consider delisting the game.
- “The microtransactions in this game are fair and don't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization model is optional and doesn't hinder gameplay; you can fully enjoy the game without spending a dime.”
- “The game offers a balanced approach to monetization, providing cosmetic items that enhance the experience without affecting gameplay.”
- “Microtransactions are excessive and ruin the overall experience.”
- “Valve, fix that or delist this for deceiving advertising!”
- “I took issue with the method of advertising used by the developers for their new game and became angry; they have since done away with the offending advertisement.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game's stability has been criticized for being plagued with bugs, particularly affecting controls that frequently get stuck, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences and unintended deaths.
- “Controls get stuck on numerous occasions because the game is buggy as hell, meaning you can't fast-switch lanes and therefore you'll die.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which severely impacted my gameplay experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game evokes strong emotional responses, with some experiencing tears within the first hour of gameplay, highlighting its impactful storytelling and character development.
- “I'm less than an hour in and it has already made me cry.”