Bearnard
- August 12, 2024
- Michał Wikliński
"Bearnard" is a single-player adventure game with phenomenal gameplay and good music. As Bearnard, a brave bear on a mission to defend his woodland, players will journey through various landscapes, confront enemies, and solve physics-driven puzzles. Unleash the power of different cards in turn-based battles, collecting and improving cards along the way to defeat hostile creatures and complete the journey.
Reviews
- Bearnard combines engaging turn-based combat with card mechanics, creating a captivating and addictive gameplay experience that encourages strategic thinking.
- The charming pixel art and delightful soundtrack enhance the overall atmosphere, making it a visually appealing and enjoyable game for players of all ages.
- The game features clever puzzle design and a humorous narrative, providing a refreshing and cozy indie experience that stands out in the platformer genre.
- The game can feel overwhelming at the beginning, with some cards being less useful in certain biomes, which may frustrate new players.
- Some players have reported bugs and issues, such as losing cards after exiting challenges, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
- The lack of a deck-building mechanic may disappoint those who prefer more control over their card strategies, as cards are single-use and not retained for future battles.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Bearnard" is praised for its innovative blend of platforming, turn-based combat, and card mechanics, creating a challenging yet enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the depth of the card system, which enhances strategy and keeps the gameplay engaging, while the gradual introduction of mechanics ensures a welcoming learning curve. Overall, the game is noted for its polished design, addictive nature, and the thoughtful integration of various gameplay elements.
“The cards are a nice addition and core mechanics of the entire game, and it fits perfectly.”
“It's clear that the creator of Bearnard spent a lot of time introducing smart mechanics that might seem trivial from the player's perspective, but greatly enhance the quality of gameplay.”
“Addictive gameplay combining platforming with turn-based card-based combat.”
“I am not fond of platformers with card mechanics.”
“The card-based mechanics have such depth that they make 'Slay the Spire' look like tic-tac-toe.”
“Light platforming combined with a physics-based arrow shooting mechanic is a pretty unconventional combination, right?”
- music9 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback for its engaging and diverse soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay experience across various biomes. Players appreciate the epic rock tracks and the overall vibe, although some find the music not particularly memorable. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong complement to the game's art and combat mechanics.
“Finally, it's also worth mentioning the cool soundtrack and the main character's biting sense of humor.”
“The best part is the epic rock music forest level.”
“The platforming environmental puzzles greatly diversify the gameplay, and the soundtrack perfectly captures the character of each biome.”
“It's like missing the third coming of Christ, only with better graphics and a soundtrack.”
“The music feels repetitive and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I expected a dynamic soundtrack, but it ended up being bland and forgettable.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming 16-bit visuals and captivating pixel art that create an enchanting atmosphere. While some reviews note that the graphics are pleasant yet somewhat raw, the overall art style is praised for its humor and the passion evident in the design. The combination of cute characters and intuitive presentation enhances the engaging experience.
“The charming visuals and delightful art style immediately drew me in, creating an enchanting atmosphere that kept me engaged.”
“Charming title from a single developer, captivating pixel art graphics, interesting bear character written with a large dose of humor.”
“Art style is also great, you can feel the passion in this project.”
“It's like missing the third coming of Christ, only with better graphics and a soundtrack.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted by its witty dialogue, charming character interactions, and a cleverly written story, all of which contribute to an engaging experience. Players appreciate the main character's sharp sense of humor and the amusing banter that enhances the overall charm of the game. The combination of humor with well-designed mechanics and captivating pixel art creates a delightful atmosphere.
“Finally, it's also worth mentioning the cool soundtrack and the main character's biting sense of humor.”
“Great turn-based combat, dressed in cute 16-bit graphics with some funny banter between characters, and wittily written story.”
“Charming title from a single developer, captivating pixel art graphics, interesting bear character written with a large dose of humor.”
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story, while not the primary focus, is engaging and well-crafted, featuring witty dialogue and humorous interactions that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the charming 16-bit graphics and the likable protagonist, Bearnard, whose comments add a delightful touch to the narrative. Although the story serves mainly to motivate gameplay, it is thoughtfully integrated and contributes to the game's polished design.
“Great turn-based combat, dressed in cute 16-bit graphics with some funny banter between characters, and a wittily written story.”
“There is even a little bit of a story to follow (some dialogues and notes to find), and the comments of the main protagonist, Bernard, after a won fight are sometimes priceless.”
“Add on top of this a story and humor, and that all every aspect of the game is very well designed and really technically refined, with each game mechanic really thought through and polished.”
“Storyline?”
“I don't think you'll play the game for the story, but it exists to motivate the actions of the protagonist, who in turn is a very sympathetic and likeable bear with a sense of humor.”
“There is even a little bit of a story to follow (some dialogues and notes to find) and the comments of the main protagonist, Bernard, after a won fight are sometimes priceless.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's charming visuals and delightful art style create an enchanting atmosphere that captivates players, while the turn-based combat and card mechanics foster an addictive and competitive environment that encourages continued play.
“The charming visuals and delightful art style immediately drew me in, creating an enchanting atmosphere that kept me engaged.”
“Turn-based combat plus the cards create a very addictive, competitive atmosphere that makes you want to play more and more.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a deeply moving narrative, with players expressing that the story of Bernard's fight for his forest evokes intense feelings, even leading some to tears. Many consider it one of the most touching narratives in gaming, drawing comparisons to classic literature like Homer's Odyssey.
“The tale of Bernard fighting for his forest is so moving that I cried rivers.”
“I dare say it’s the most touching narrative since Homer’s Odyssey.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates impressive stability, with users noting it is less buggy and more cohesive than many larger titles developed by extensive teams. This suggests a strong attention to detail and quality despite the smaller development team size.
“Even though the game was made by a small team, it is less buggy and more cohesive than games made by teams of hundreds of people, who are not even sure to still be with the company after such games are released.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is highly optimized, allowing it to run smoothly even on very old hardware.
“Greatly optimized, works even on very old hardware.”