Berserk Boy

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 390 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
Berserk Boy Game Cover
Berserk Boy's platforming action manages to eclipse its inspiration, leading to an experience that is an absolute must for fans of the genre.
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"Berserk Boy" is a high-speed action game set in a future where a mad scientist and his army of darkness threaten to enslave humanity. Players control Kei, a rookie hero transformed into Berserk Boy, who must use Orb energy to defeat enemies and save the world. The game features new abilities, combos, and special attacks, as well as exploration of New Hope City and beyond.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 390 reviews
music108 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • Berserk Boy features fun level design that encourages exploration and replayability with multiple forms and abilities.
  • The game has an amazing soundtrack by Tee Lopes, enhancing the overall experience and nostalgia.
  • The controls are tight and responsive, making the fast-paced gameplay feel fluid and satisfying.
  • Some boss fights can feel tedious and overly long, leading to moments of waiting rather than action.
  • The upgrade system can be expensive, making it difficult for players to fully explore combat options without grinding.
  • The story and character development are minimal, which may leave some players wanting more narrative depth.
  • music195 mentions

    The music in "Berserk Boy," composed by Tee Lopes, is widely praised for its energetic and catchy quality, effectively enhancing the game's fast-paced action and nostalgic vibe reminiscent of classic platformers. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, often describing it as a masterpiece that elevates the overall experience, despite some concerns about voice audio levels being overshadowed by the music. Overall, the combination of vibrant visuals and a dynamic soundtrack creates an engaging atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The soundtrack is wonderful and iconic; I immediately fell in love with it.”
    • “The music fuels the frenzy, with beats that complement every jump, attack, and new discovery.”
    • “Overall, the music in this game is a blast to listen to and is easily a 10/10 masterpiece!”
    • “Voice audio is too low, and can't be fixed in the settings as there's just music and master volume.”
    • “A bit of impact from all the shouting is taken away when it's drowned out by the music, and lines and quips are barely audible as is.”
    • “Not all dialogue was voiced and even the ones that were voiced none of them were memorable to me, and my biggest problem was that most of the voiced lines were too low volume-wise and most of the time the area music played over those lines, making it very difficult to listen to what the characters were saying.”
  • gameplay158 mentions

    The gameplay of "Berserk Boy" is characterized by its smooth, fast-paced action and innovative mechanics, particularly the form-swapping system that enhances combat and mobility. While many players appreciate the nostalgic feel and fluid controls reminiscent of classic platformers, some criticize the repetitive nature of enemies and the lack of depth in boss encounters. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a vibrant aesthetic and engaging mechanics, though it could benefit from more varied level designs and additional checkpoints.

    • “I enjoyed the core gameplay and how much Kei's different forms changed your combat and mobility options.”
    • “Berserk Boy is an exciting and flashy romp that fuels itself with not only a nostalgic feel, but fluid gameplay, well-designed enemies and bosses, and gorgeous spritework.”
    • “The gameplay in Berserk Boy is very smooth and satisfying.”
    • “Final level is both heavy on 'wait' mechanics and sparse checkpoints.”
    • “I thought the berserk form would get a projectile or something as an upgrade to make its gameplay more varied, but it really only has one function and I understand the whole game's level design is designed around it, but it got really boring by the 2nd zone.”
    • “There's just problems with the core gameplay, really.”
  • story110 mentions

    The story in this game is generally viewed as simplistic and clichéd, often described as a cookie-cutter plot reminiscent of classic Mega Man titles, featuring a hero battling an evil antagonist for world domination. While some players find the lighthearted and nostalgic elements enjoyable, many criticize the lack of character development and depth, with characters feeling forgettable and the narrative largely serving as a backdrop to the gameplay. Overall, the story is considered serviceable but not a focal point, with players encouraged to focus on the engaging combat and platforming mechanics instead.

    • “Playing it is far smoother than the videos initially made it seem, the story is just the right side of SNES-era corn to be both amusing and genuinely engaging, and ye gods the flow.”
    • “Berserk boy is a wild ride of a game — super tight platforming, stellar level design, gorgeous artwork, a Saturday-morning-cartoon story and an absolutely brilliant soundtrack.”
    • “You can really tell the love and attention that have gone into this game, from the artwork, soundtrack, gameplay and story that I have experienced so far, it all comes together to create a masterpiece which I am glad I decided to give a go.”
    • “The story isn't strong enough to make them plot strong, and playing hide and seek in a big, annoying hub world sucks.”
    • “The story is about as cookie-cutter as it gets and the presentation and voice work could both use some TLC.”
    • “The story is pure incoherent garbage.”
  • graphics90 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received high praise for their vibrant retro pixel art and stylish visuals, effectively blending modern sensibilities with nostalgic aesthetics reminiscent of classic platformers. However, some reviewers noted inconsistencies between the cut-scene art and in-game graphics, as well as repetitive visuals in later stages. Overall, the game's art style and attention to detail contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a standout in the action-platformer genre.

    • “Everything from the visuals, level design, and of course the music is spectacular.”
    • “The graphics in this game are absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “Berserk boy is a wild ride of a game — super tight platforming, stellar level design, gorgeous artwork, a Saturday-morning-cartoon story, and an absolutely brilliant soundtrack.”
    • “The art-style differences from the cut-scenes and the in-game pixel art scream 'we hired different talented artists for these two things', which is okay sure.”
    • “But the cut-scene and promotional art have this 'fake anime' aesthetic, and the pixel art has this 'every character is wider with chibi-esque proportion' look that feels inconsistent.”
    • “Too many different art styles for the same characters.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its challenging missions, collectible secrets, and the ability to revisit levels with new abilities for higher scores and upgrades. Players appreciate the satisfying gameplay and diverse playstyles, although some note that repetitive encounters and a lack of narrative depth may slightly diminish the experience. The metroidvania elements enhance replay value, encouraging exploration and mastery of levels, despite some criticism regarding tediousness.

    • “Extremely satisfying gameplay and great replayability with collectibles and secrets that you can open with weapons you unlock later on.”
    • “Berserk Boy is a fantastic fast-paced 2D platformer that will most likely scratch that Mega Man/Sonic/Metroidvania itch with tons of replayability and multiple unique playstyles.”
    • “There’s even a Metroidvania-style aspect to the gameplay when revisiting previous levels to get all of the collectibles, so there’s plenty of replay value on offer if you want to get everything.”
    • “While the lack of narrative depth, repetitive boss encounters, and questionable replayability may detract slightly from the experience, the game's unique berserk orb mechanics outweigh its shortcomings.”
    • “[repetitive enemy encounters, lack of narrative depth, limited replayability]”
    • “[tedious exploration, lacks little touches to help replayability]”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its fun and quirky designs, which draw inspiration from various sources while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. While some players express mixed feelings about the character designs, the overall consensus appreciates the creativity and vibrancy that enhance the gaming experience. The engaging soundtrack further complements the character presentation, contributing to a lively atmosphere.

    • “After firing up the game for the first time and being greeted by a Toonami-esque cartoon intro, myself and my cat were already bobbing our heads to the music and grinning at the character design.”
    • “It looks amazing; the character design is fun and quirky with inspiration from a plethora of sources without it feeling too overt or obtuse.”
    • “Amazing platformer, great character design, and an absolute blast to play.”
    • “Not a big fan of any of the character designs.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Overall, grinding in the game is viewed as tedious and boring, with many players feeling it detracts from the overall experience. While some aspects like story and upgrades are considered neutral, the repetitive nature of tasks such as icon collecting and currency grinding is frequently criticized for adding little value to the gameplay.

    • “They add nothing, they're tedious and boring, and the game is only better without their inclusion.”
    • “Graphics, sound, and gameplay are all great; I enjoyed most of my time with the game. However, the icon collecting part at the end just to get to the last boss is tedious.”
    • “[Backtracking can be tedious, grinding for currency]”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by the engaging soundtrack composed by Tee Lopes, which resonates well with players. Reviewers appreciate the combination of vibrant sprite work, a cheesy yet enjoyable story, and well-designed levels that encourage replayability, all contributing to a captivating gaming experience. Overall, the music and visual elements create a cohesive and immersive atmosphere that players find highly enjoyable.

    • “But what truly sets the atmosphere is the pulse-pounding soundtrack by Tee Lopes, whose work on Sonic Mania resonated with fans worldwide.”
    • “The music is very nice as well; I love it a lot. It fits every level's atmosphere.”
    • “If there are three things I like about this game the most, it's going to be the music, the sprite work, and the combat.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, delivering a bug-free experience and flawless performance across various systems. Players appreciate the scoring system that allows for upgrades, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

    • “This game is tight as heck and bug-free, with flawless performance on anything I could throw at it.”
    • “It comes down to patience, and after each stage, you will be scored on your performance, which you can use those points to buy upgrades for each ability.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game features a player-friendly monetization model with no microtransactions or mandatory updates, ensuring that all challenges are fair and enjoyable. This approach contributes to a consistently fun gaming experience.

    • “No microtransactions, no mandatory updates, all the challenges are fair and fun, and it's all wrapped up in a package that will always be enjoyable.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players feel that the game effectively evokes nostalgia through its 90's and early 2000's pop culture references, creating a strong emotional connection that resonates with those familiar with that era.

    • “I could tell almost instantly that this was a game touching the right notes with the 90's/early 2000's pop culture inspiration.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is well-received, complementing its fun action platformer gameplay, engaging visuals, and catchy music, contributing to a high replay value. Players appreciate the comedic elements that enhance the overall experience.

    • “This fun action platformer is packed with humor, featuring great music and visuals that enhance the comedic experience.”
    • “The game's humor shines through in its witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions, making every playthrough enjoyable.”
    • “With its funny moments and clever jokes, this game keeps you laughing while you navigate through its exciting levels.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

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