BLACK BIRD

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

music10 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Black Bird is a highly polished and addictive shoot 'em up with a unique visual style and a captivating opera soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
The game offers a charming blend of quirky aesthetics and challenging mechanics, encouraging players to improve their skills and achieve high scores through replayability.
It features a compelling story with dark themes, interesting level designs, and unique bosses that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.

The game is relatively short, with only four levels, and some players feel that it lacks enough content to justify its price without replaying for high scores.
There are issues with gameplay mechanics, such as the inability to shoot in a fixed direction and a lack of a tutorial to explain certain features, which can frustrate new players.
The final boss's difficulty spikes significantly compared to the rest of the game, leading to a potentially frustrating experience for players who may not be accustomed to bullet hell challenges.

music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised for its unique and engaging qualities, featuring a chaotic and operatic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight how the music syncs with enemy spawns, adding an innovative layer to the mechanics, while the overall aesthetic combines cuteness with a darker atmosphere. Many consider the soundtrack to be one of the best they've encountered in gaming, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
- “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, and for the most part it delivers.”
- “This dark premise is offset by cute sprite work, silly animations, and a very eccentric soundtrack.”
- “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.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by its engaging mechanics and addictive simplicity, making it accessible yet challenging for players. The unique scoring system encourages replayability and mastery, while the charming pixel graphics and immersive soundtrack enhance the overall experience. However, the absence of a tutorial may leave some players struggling to grasp certain mechanics initially.
- “A great little side-scrolling shooter. I'm not really into the genre, but 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 play in pursuit of 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 at your 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.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The story in the game is described as intriguing yet somewhat nonsensical, featuring short cutscenes that provide a deeper narrative experience for those willing to explore it. While some players find the story not particularly complex or essential, others appreciate its unique aesthetic and the engaging atmosphere it creates. Overall, the narrative is seen as a rewarding aspect that complements the gameplay, despite its challenges.
- “While not the most complex game made, I do recommend it as an enjoyable mindless game to play, with a deep story to discover if you want that.”
- “However, what this game has in store is an interesting story with very short cutscenes played between each level.”
- “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.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their unique and charming pixel art style, described as a sepia-toned, steampunk aesthetic that enhances the overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the meticulous attention to detail in each level, which, combined with a captivating soundtrack, creates an engaging experience that encourages replayability. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite its challenging gameplay.
- “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 graphics and attention to details in each level are really astonishing.”
- “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.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
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 rewarding, while others may consider waiting for a sale if replayability is a concern.
- “There is a lot of replayability here.”
- “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.”
- “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 leaderboards for global score chasing just add to the replay value.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
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 combination draws players in, making the overall experience memorable, despite some challenges in gameplay for newcomers.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The cartoonish designs and overly dramatic music feel at odds with the eerie atmosphere and apocalyptic scenario, which detracts from the immersion and tension that the game tries to build.”
- “Despite the game's attempts to create a haunting atmosphere, the bright colors and whimsical character designs undermine the sense of dread and urgency.”
- “The juxtaposition of lighthearted visuals with a dark narrative creates a confusing atmosphere that fails to engage players on a deeper emotional level.”