Bat Boy

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 149 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Bat Boy Game Cover
Bat Boy is a great action platforming game that has everything we loved about these games in the past, from catchy music to great visuals and controls. It’s fun to see a game influenced by sports that aren’t actually a sports game!
Starting at $7.49Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

Bat Boy is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer where you play as Bat Boy, on a mission to rescue his brainwashed teammates from the clutches of the evil Lord Vicious. Traverse through different regions, battling enemies and learning new skills from your freed teammates in this nostalgic 8-bit game. The Trials of Darkness await as you fight to reach the final confrontation with Lord Vicious.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 149 reviews
gameplay13 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • Bat Boy features tight controls and responsive gameplay, reminiscent of classic platformers like Mega Man and Shovel Knight.
  • The game has a charming aesthetic with gorgeous pixel art and a fun sports-themed narrative that adds uniqueness to the experience.
  • Players enjoy the variety of abilities unlocked from defeating bosses, which encourages exploration and experimentation in gameplay.
  • The level design can be overly forgiving, allowing players to brute force through sections without fully engaging with the mechanics.
  • Many abilities feel underutilized, leading to a lack of depth in gameplay as players often rely on just a few core moves.
  • The game suffers from some bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in certain levels, impacting overall enjoyment.
  • gameplay41 mentions

    The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring a variety of mechanics and levels that encourage experimentation, though it often feels underutilized and lacks depth. While the bouncing mechanic is central to traversal, some players noted issues with hit detection and a desire for more exploration of the game's abilities. Overall, the game offers a fun experience with clean controls, vibrant graphics, and a catchy soundtrack, but it leaves players wanting more from its mechanics and length.

    • “The story doesn't do much, but the gameplay is where this game shines.”
    • “Controls feel clean and the drip feed of new mechanics keeps the game fresh.”
    • “Great gameplay, tons of cool moves, fun bosses, and a unique story that fit perfectly!”
    • “Sometimes the bouncing mechanic and hit boxes felt off, which resulted in me taking damage instead of bouncing.”
    • “The amount of abilities and skills you learn felt a little underutilized in my experience, and it also felt like the batting mechanic could've perhaps been explored more.”
    • “The only real issues with the game is it feels like it only scratches the surface of what is possible with the many mechanics and attacks they give you.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and catchy quality, complementing the vibrant pixel art and responsive controls. While many tracks are described as memorable and pulse-pounding, some players noted that the soundtrack can feel repetitive and lacks lasting impact. Overall, the music enhances the gameplay experience, making it a standout feature of this action platformer.

    • “The soundtrack hits, the movement is good, and the mechanics encourage experimentation to break the level design in tiny but meaningful ways.”
    • “It's a love letter to oldschool games, it's super fun, the pixel art is gorgeous, the game feeling is amazing and the soundtrack is top notch!”
    • “The OST is loaded with very pulse-pounding tracks that are pretty memorable and really push you forward, befitting the speedrun focus.”
    • “The only critiques I have are that a lot of learned abilities are a bit lackluster compared to others, and the soundtrack, while serviceable, feels a bit underwhelming.”
    • “The soundtrack is also a bit repetitive.”
    • “The music and aesthetic nail what they are going for, and the controls are tight and responsive.”
  • story24 mentions

    The story is generally considered enjoyable but not groundbreaking, serving primarily to support the gameplay rather than stand out on its own. While it features some decent plot twists and a blend of influences reminiscent of classic games and anime, many reviewers note that the narrative is basic and short, with a playtime of around six hours. Overall, the story is seen as a fun complement to the engaging gameplay rather than a central highlight.

    • “The story had 'chef's kiss' perfect anime styling with an over-the-top premise that mixed Mega Man gameplay with early episode Kill la Kill story.”
    • “Great gameplay, tons of cool moves, fun bosses, and a unique story that fit perfectly!”
    • “Feels like a nice blend of Mega Man and Ninja Gaiden with an old school anime feel to the story and characters.”
    • “The story doesn't do much, but the gameplay is where this game shines.”
    • “The shorter play time to complete the story, it took me just 6 hours, only adds to that feel.”
    • “Well, that’s for you to find out since there are some decent plot twists here and there, but nothing mind-blowing since the storyline is mostly there to fill the void.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics of the game are praised for their vibrant and inspired art style, reminiscent of classic titles like Shovel Knight. Players appreciate the tight controls and the unique stage designs, which include impressive platforming setpieces that stand out despite the 8-bit aesthetic. Overall, the visuals and presentation effectively complement the game's nostalgic charm and engaging mechanics.

    • “Loving the art style.”
    • “The art and theme of the game are really vibrant and inspired, and there are a ton of unique stage gimmicks and enemy varieties throughout the game that culminate well in the final act (there are a couple of platforming set pieces that actually wowed me, which is hard for a game with 8-bit graphics).”
    • “Bat Boy is a great action platforming game that has everything we loved about these games in the past, from catchy music to great visuals and controls.”
    • “The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
    • “The character models look blocky and unrefined, making it hard to connect with the game.”
    • “The environments feel bland and repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, while some users reported minor glitches and difficulty spikes, the game is generally considered stable, running smoothly and free from major bugs that would hinder gameplay. Most players found it to be well-designed and manageable, despite some community concerns about its stability.

    • “I saw a lot of gripes about the game being buggy in the community discussions.”
    • “[no reason to use many abilities, absurd difficulty spikes, a handful of frustrating glitches]”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is highlighted positively, with unique character designs and engaging dialogues that enhance the gameplay experience. Each boss is creatively tied to a specific sport, showcasing distinct attack patterns that reflect their athletic themes.

    • “The character design and dialogues are a big plus for me; every boss represents a sport and has attacks based around those sports.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, combining charm and heartfelt storytelling with challenging gameplay, reminiscent of the nostalgic experience of classic Game Boy titles.

    • “This is a charming, heartfelt, and challenging game that harkens back to the Game Boy's heyday.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization features primarily come into play during optional levels and the 11th stage, with additional moves enhancing run efficiency and stamina management, particularly the wall jump, which becomes essential shortly after acquisition.

    • “The additional moves you get are pretty much only required of you in the optional levels and the 11th stage, barring the wall jump that gets regular use as soon as you acquire it, and are almost entirely there for run optimization alongside stamina management.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Reviews on grinding highlight a stark divide in player experiences: some find it mindlessly easy and enjoyable, while others view it as excessively tedious and frustrating.

    • “Grinding is either mindless facerolling or incredibly tedious.”
    • “Grinding is either mindless facerolling or incredibly tedious.”
    • “The grinding mechanics make the game feel like a chore rather than fun.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted to be unintentional, as players find it amusing that the time spent on the demo is included in the total playtime, highlighting that the demo is perceived as the most enjoyable aspect of the game.

    • “I requested a refund for this, and now seriously, the game added the time I played the demo to the total time played... which is funny, given that the demo is the best part so far.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

Buy Bat Boy

Videos

Similar Games

Game News