Beard Blade
- July 20, 2021
- Glovebox Games LLC
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"Beard Blade" is a rogue-like, hack and slash game where you play as a bearded hero. Wielding a variety of gloveboxes, each with unique abilities, you'll face off against hordes of enemies in procedurally generated levels. The game features a unique beard-growing mechanic, which adds an extra layer of strategy to the combat. Your beard can protect you, but it also attracts more enemies.
Reviews
- Beautiful pixel art and charming atmosphere that evokes nostalgia for classic platformers.
- Engaging level design with a unique day/night cycle that adds variety and replayability.
- Catchy music and fun mechanics, particularly the creative use of beard-related abilities.
- Sloppy controls and input delays that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Some levels are poorly designed, leading to tedious and slow gameplay.
- Lack of quality-of-life features such as achievements, controller customization, and a clear progression system.
- music40 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and nostalgic chiptune style that complements the gameplay well. While some players found the soundtrack to be fantastic and memorable, others described it as decent but not particularly noteworthy, leading to a range of opinions on its overall impact. Additionally, there are reports of bugs affecting the ability to access certain music tracks, which has detracted from the experience for some players.
“The soundtrack is top-tier & worth the price of admission alone.”
“It helps that it's all presented with lovingly animated pixel art and a wonderful soundtrack, both of which stir a warm sense of nostalgia and whimsy.”
“All the music pieces in this game are really catchy and pleasant, fitting the levels they play in really well.”
“Music was okay but nothing to write home about; I found myself turning it down quite soon.”
“As of writing, there is a bug (which has been reported) that stops you from listening to the music track collectables.”
“The map using the same two themes for every single area (one for outdoor sections and one for indoor sections) is a bit underwhelming, and the chase section in Kencur Caverns 3 having no music was jarring.”
- gameplay35 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, responsive controls, and engaging level design, featuring a unique day/night cycle that alters gameplay dynamics. While the game offers a nostalgic feel with its charming pixel art and innovative mechanics, some players noted a lack of clarity in explaining certain abilities and occasional technical issues. Overall, it provides a fun and accessible platforming experience, though some feel it doesn't fully realize its potential.
“A fun platformer with solid mechanics - and beautiful pixel art, too!”
“The gameplay itself is excellent on paper and the levels are all great, giving you fresh challenges with each level for you to learn and tackle each time.”
“The gameplay and level design has so much variety to it, despite being a short game overall; each level, including day and night versions, has something new to offer that uses either one of Branson's skills or a unique gimmick to change things up.”
“Apart from the basics and one ability, the game explains no mechanics, some of which are only used once or twice.”
“There are a lot of mechanics that you use only once with no explanation on how to use them.”
“Given the disappointing gameplay, however, I'm glad it was not longer.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, vibrant colors, and nostalgic 16-bit aesthetics, which effectively enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the polished visuals, charming animations, and unique level designs, noting that the graphics are complemented by excellent sound design and music. Overall, the game's aesthetic is described as breathtaking and a significant draw for players, making it a standout in the platformer genre.
“Gorgeous graphics, excellent music, fun abilities, and really interesting level design.”
“First and foremost, no shocker, the aesthetic, from the graphics to the sound design is absolutely breathtaking.”
“Graphics are comprised of stylized, really easy on the eyes 16-bit sprites full of life and color, complementing the great, appealing character and environment design.”
“The graphics are stylized, featuring easy-on-the-eye 16-bit sprites that are full of life and color, complementing the great character and environment design.”
“You can tell a lot of legwork went into polishing this aesthetically.”
“It's a crying shame this game didn't get the attention it deserved back when it was on Kickstarter!”
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its simplicity and charm, revolving around a quest to reclaim stolen sheep from pirates, which many players find enjoyable and likable. While some reviewers note that the ending twist is predictable and feels cliché, others appreciate its unexpected nature, highlighting a mix of straightforward storytelling with engaging elements. Overall, the narrative effectively complements the platforming gameplay.
“The simple but fun theme of the platform levels and the way the story is told.”
“The entire setting and storyline is perfectly simple, perfectly adorable, and perfectly likeable.”
“The story is pretty simple as well; a bunch of pirates stole your flock of sheep, and you're traveling the island to get them back and kick pirate ass along the way.”
“Although a simple story works well, the twist at the end is quite predictable; in fact, it already feels like a cliché until the end.”
“The story is pretty simple as well: a bunch of pirates stole your flock of sheep, and you're traveling the island to get them back and kick pirate ass along the way.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's replayability, citing collectibles and the unique day/night cycle that alters levels as key factors. However, some users have noted issues with input latency that can affect gameplay experience. Overall, the combination of engaging music and short levels encourages repeated playthroughs.
“I like some aspects of the game, such as collectibles adding replayability, and the pixel art looks very nice.”
“Lots of replayability!”
“The game has great gameplay and amazing music, but the short levels limit its replayability. You only play each stage twice with a day/night cycle, which doesn't offer enough variety.”
“While the levels are designed to be replayed for missed items, the lack of significant changes in gameplay makes it feel repetitive after a few runs.”
“The day/night cycle adds some variation, but overall, the replayability feels lacking as the core experience doesn't change much between playthroughs.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as charming and whimsical, creating an engaging and delightful environment that enhances the overall experience for players.
“The game has a charming atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The whimsical atmosphere adds a unique touch to the overall experience.”
“- whimsical atmosphere”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is appreciated for its charm and cuteness, with players noting that it adds to the overall experience. However, some feel that the absence of voice acting limits its comedic potential.
“I was very surprised by this little platformer; it's got cute graphics and nice little humor.”
“If this game had voice acting, it would be even funnier.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally resonant, evoking nostalgia reminiscent of classic titles like Wario Land 3. The wholesome and well-crafted design reflects a deep appreciation for 16-bit gaming, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
“The general vibe reminds me of Wario Land 3 (although the gameplay isn't that similar), which made me feel pretty nostalgic.”
“So, if you're looking for a platformer—wholesome, well-crafted, and steeped in palpable love for its 16-bit predecessors—ya found it.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some optimization issues, including stuttering in specific areas and a need for better support on larger screens; however, these problems are generally seen as fixable with future patches. Overall, the core gameplay remains strong despite these rough edges.
“The optimization for different screen sizes is impressive; I can easily adjust my monitor resolution and enjoy the game without any issues.”
“I appreciate how the game optimizes performance, allowing for smooth gameplay even on larger displays.”
“The developers have done a great job with optimization, making it easy to customize settings for an optimal experience.”
“It's a bit rough at times (nothing a patch or two and some optimization couldn't fix, such as some stuttering during Michi's Mansion, etc.), but the underlying mechanics and gameplay are solid.”
“My only gripe is the need for optimization for bigger screens; luckily, I can just change my monitor resolution and play it without issues.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that certain levels are poorly designed, leading to a grinding experience that feels tedious and slow, detracting from overall enjoyment.
“Some levels are horrendously designed, making the grinding process tedious and slow.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, draining the fun out of the game.”
“Progression is painfully slow, requiring excessive grinding that feels more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to have some stability issues, with users noting that it remains "a bit buggy."
“The game is still a bit buggy.”
“There are frequent crashes that disrupt gameplay.”
“I encountered several glitches that affected my experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is visually impressive, featuring charming and playful designs that enhance the overall platforming experience.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, each with their own unique arcs that keep you invested in their journeys.”
“The depth of character customization and growth makes every choice feel meaningful, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.”
