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BLACK BIRD

Black Bird is one of the most interesting games I've played in a long time with loads of surprises all over the place.
BLACK BIRD Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
replayability, atmosphere
96% User Score Based on 52 reviews
Critic Score 68%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCMac OSPlaystation 4WindowsPlayStation
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BLACK BIRD Game Cover

About

BLACK BIRD is a single player role playing shooter game. It was developed by Onion Games and was released on October 30, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "BLACK BIRD" , players control a girl reborn as the ominous Black Bird, a calamity from ancient kingdom lore. The game features a darkly humorous world with pixel-art visuals and reveals more of the story upon completing stages. The unique audio/visual experience includes an operatic soundtrack synchronizing with enemy movement, creating a one-of-a-kind action-packed shooting game.

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BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
BLACK BIRD screenshot
+3
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews
music13 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Black Bird features a unique and charming visual style, combining pixel art with a quirky, operatic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • The game offers engaging mechanics with a risk/reward system, allowing players to evolve their character and strategize for high scores, making it highly replayable.
  • It strikes a good balance of challenge without being overly frustrating, appealing to both newcomers and seasoned shmup fans.
  • The game consists of only four levels, which may leave players feeling that there is insufficient content and little incentive to replay after completion.
  • Some players have noted issues with the game's mechanics, such as the inability to shoot in a fixed direction and a lack of a tutorial to explain certain features.
  • While the game is enjoyable, some reviews mention that it may not provide enough variety or depth to justify its price for all players.
  • music
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its unique and engaging qualities, featuring a chaotic operatic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate how the music syncs with enemy spawns, adding an interactive layer to the action, while the overall aesthetic combines charming visuals with a quirky yet melancholic soundscape. Many reviewers consider the soundtrack to be one of the best they've encountered in a video game, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and replayability.

    • “The music is amazing, the design of the enemies is very cool and the respective animations of the enemies and what happens in the background is really cute.”
    • “The soundtrack is varied as you progress through each level, becoming increasingly more intense as you fly around trying to dodge bullets and kill enemies.”
    • “A weird little bullet hell, set in a bittersweet bleak world that mixes cuteness with horror, accompanied by a delightfully insane soundtrack.”
    • “All the cartoonish designs and overly dramatic music feels at odds with the eerie atmosphere and apocalyptic scenario in a way that really draws you in and makes you want to see what else it has to offer.”
    • “This dark premise is offset by cute sprite work, silly animations, and a very eccentric soundtrack.”
    • “Its vintage-style art direction is charmingly melancholy, and its strange soundtrack only adds an extra layer of quirkiness to the proceedings.”
  • gameplay
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its engaging mechanics and charming pixel art, offering a well-balanced challenge that encourages replayability and high-score pursuits. Players appreciate the unique scoring system and the variety of mechanics that keep the experience fresh, despite the absence of a tutorial. The combination of tight combat, atmospheric visuals, and a captivating soundtrack enhances the overall enjoyment, making it a standout in the side-scrolling shooter genre.

    • “A great little side-scrolling shooter. Not only is there a lot of love and artistry put into every detail of the game (the soundtrack and visuals are both really unique and well-made), but it strikes a good balance of challenge without being too crushing. The gameplay, especially the scoring system, is very engaging and well thought out.”
    • “The core gameplay is unlike anything else I have played in recent times and is very enjoyable to pursue a high score for the online leaderboards.”
    • “The aesthetic of the game is entirely on point, from the dark and dreary fairy tale steampunk pixel art to the surreal operatic soundtrack that syncs up with the gameplay, and the in-game mechanics reinforce the need to replay and memorize every aspect of the game.”
    • “No tutorial explaining some of the game's mechanics.”
    • “In terms of mechanics, it's a very familiar setup: you have movement, shot, and bomb controls, and your bird's hitbox is the visible eye at the center of the creature.”
    • “The mechanics become more evident as well: similar to Mega Man, you have 4 projectiles that can be fired at any given time, and if all 4 are out, you cannot fire until one of them disappears.”
  • graphics
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming pixel art style, which combines a sepia-toned aesthetic with a steampunk influence. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in each level, the engaging atmosphere, and the seamless integration of visuals with the gameplay and soundtrack, creating a captivating experience that encourages replayability. Overall, the artistry and design contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it stand out in the shoot-'em-up genre.

    • “The graphics and attention to details in each level are really astonishing.”
    • “There is something about the wonderful pixel graphics and simplicity of the gameplay that just keeps you coming back for that 'one more go' feeling.”
    • “The aesthetic of the game is entirely on point, from the dark and dreary fairy tale steampunk pixel art to the surreal operatic soundtrack that syncs up with the gameplay.”
    • “It's a bit too hard for me, a rather new player in the shmup genre, even after the difficulty patch, but the visuals, music, atmosphere, story, and ideas are great.”
    • “From challenging gameplay to these old-looking charming graphics, this game really does have it all.”
    • “There is a certain charm to this game, with these old-looking graphics, accompanied by a challenging shoot 'em up style of gameplay.”
  • story
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is described as intriguing yet somewhat nonsensical, featuring short cutscenes that provide a glimpse into its deeper narrative. While it may not be the most complex or coherent, players appreciate the unique aesthetic and atmosphere, along with the engaging mechanics that encourage exploration of its story elements. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience for those willing to delve into its quirky narrative.

    • “However, what this game has in store is an interesting story with very short cutscenes played between each level.”
    • “It gives you more little crumbs of story.”
    • “The story, graphics, music, and environments are all well designed.”
    • “The story is... well not worth mentioning.”
    • “Yes, the story doesn't make much sense, but the mechanics are great.”
    • “Black Bird’s story is about a little girl that dies in the street.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability despite having only four stages, as they are designed for multiple playthroughs with various endings and a focus on score-chasing through online leaderboards. Players who enjoy competing for high scores will find the replay value particularly appealing, making it a worthwhile purchase, though some may prefer to wait for a sale.

    • “This game also provides Steam leaderboards that add to the replay value (if you're into getting high scores) along with multiple endings to the game.”
    • “Online leaderboards for global score chasing just add to the replay value.”
    • “Note that even though the game technically has only 4 stages, they are packed and built for replay value in many ways.”
    • “Worth the price of entry if you enjoy score-chasing, maybe wait for a sale if you're worried about replayability.”
    • “Online leaderboard for global score chasing just adds to the replay value.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique blend of grim comedy and eerie elements, enhanced by cartoonish designs and dramatic music that create a captivating contrast with its apocalyptic setting. This intriguing ambiance draws players in, making the experience memorable despite some challenges in gameplay difficulty. Overall, the visuals, music, and storytelling contribute significantly to the game's atmospheric appeal.

    • “The whole game has an atmosphere of grim comedy to it that does a lot of legwork towards making it a memorable experience.”
    • “All the cartoonish designs and overly dramatic music feel at odds with the eerie atmosphere and apocalyptic scenario in a way that really draws you in and makes you want to see what else it has to offer, and for the most part, it delivers.”
    • “The visuals, music, atmosphere, story, and ideas are great.”
    • “The cartoonish designs and overly dramatic music feel at odds with the eerie atmosphere and apocalyptic scenario, which detracts from the immersion and overall experience.”
    • “The game fails to create a cohesive atmosphere, as the bright visuals clash with the intended dark themes, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
    • “Despite the potential for a haunting environment, the atmosphere is undermined by inconsistent art styles and a lack of tension in the sound design.”
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68%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

BLACK BIRD is a role playing shooter game.

BLACK BIRD is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 4 and others.

BLACK BIRD was released on October 30, 2018.

BLACK BIRD was developed by Onion Games.

BLACK BIRD has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its replayability.

BLACK BIRD is a single player game.

Similar games include Steredenn: Binary Stars, Bleed, Steredenn, Star of Providence, DRAINUS and others.