Black Sand Drift

About

"Black Sand Drift" is a racing game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players compete in high-speed races across treacherous desert landscapes, using a variety of vehicles equipped with nitro boosts and weapons. The objective is to be the first to cross the finish line while battling against opponents and navigating through harsh environments.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

51%

Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews

music10 positive mentions

graphics5 negative mentions

The soundtrack is engaging and enjoyable, often considered the best aspect of the game.
The game offers a unique and colorful visual style that some players find charming.
At a low price point, it can be seen as a decent time-waster, especially for fans of simple shoot 'em up games.

The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with random enemy spawns and minimal interaction.
Graphics are considered poor, resembling amateurish designs that detract from the overall experience.
The music, while enjoyable to some, is often described as out of place and can be annoying, with no option to turn it off.

music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The music in the game has garnered mixed reviews, with many players praising its quality and composition, often considering it the standout feature despite the game's limitations. While some find the soundtrack enjoyable and a worthwhile addition, others feel it is mismatched with the gameplay, describing it as out of place or even annoying. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant draw for the game, with some players willing to purchase it separately, but opinions on its fit within the game vary widely.
- “The game also features a fantastic soundtrack consisting of 25 tracks, with guitars, bass, drums, and vocals, which is a rarity for games in this genre.”
- “The soundtrack is this game's main draw to me, and my hours came from enjoying listening to it while watching my character die over and over.”
- “What sold me, honestly, was the music; I found there was some work put into the composition and I liked the opening theme a lot.”
- “However, the music is not to my liking as it feels completely out of place.”
- “The graphics are mediocre at best, the gameplay is dull, the soundtrack is annoying and completely out of place for the game.”
- “The music felt like it was picked with literally no concern for its compatibility with the game.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
61%
12%
The gameplay has been widely criticized for being generic and dull, primarily consisting of automatic shooting at randomly spawning ships, with little depth or engaging mechanics. Many reviewers noted that the level design is uninspired and the overall experience feels limited, often overshadowed by a soundtrack that is deemed out of place. While some appreciate the simple graphics and experimental aspects, the consensus is that the gameplay lacks innovation and fails to provide a compelling experience.
- “Black Sand Drift is a unique and engaging shoot 'em up game that takes place in the Kotiro galaxy, where mechanical bots called Spiral have been oppressing the five planets and their citizens for over 300 years.”
- “Shooting is a constant automatic affair, so the real gameplay is avoiding getting shot at or crashing into enemy ships.”
- “Gameplay in the game is very good, and you will be able to quickly learn in-game.”
- “The gameplay consists of random ships appearing for you to shoot, with shooting being an automatic process.”
- “The graphics are mediocre at best, the gameplay is dull, the soundtrack is annoying and completely out of place for the game.”
- “Shooting is a constant automatic affair so the real gameplay is avoiding getting shot at or crashing into enemy ships.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
62%
24%
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers describing them as limited, mediocre, and reminiscent of outdated retro styles. While some appreciate the simplistic and trippy aesthetic, the overall visual quality is criticized for being low, with flat levels and amateurish artwork that detracts from the gameplay experience. Despite a few unique visual elements, such as filters, the consensus is that the graphics fail to meet modern standards and could benefit from significant improvement.
- “The graphics, music, controls, and story all come together to create an immersive experience that will keep you hooked for hours on end.”
- “The game has a unique soundtrack for each level, and there are some pretty trippy filters you can use for the game – changing graphics so they're pastel, inverted, and eye-bleeding.”
- “First impressions - the game is designed in an 80s graphic style - simple shapes, rusty outlines, and extremely bright colors.”
- “The graphics are mediocre at best; the gameplay is dull, the soundtrack is annoying, and completely out of place for the game.”
- “The artwork here is terrible; it's a blend of old retro pixel 'art' used as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics, and some of the most amateurish MS Paint style drawings.”
- “It's unclear if this is due to a lack of budget to hire someone who can do graphics properly, or a lack of talent; regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low as a result of these decisions.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The story in "Black Sand Drift" is a notable aspect that enhances player engagement, featuring a character-driven narrative across 25 levels and five locations. While some players appreciate the depth and character development, others criticize the plot as thin and convoluted, suggesting that its effectiveness in encouraging gameplay varies based on individual preferences. Overall, the emphasis on story sets it apart from typical shoot-em-up games, though opinions on its execution are mixed.
- “One of the standout features of Black Sand Drift is its heavy emphasis on characters and story, which is delivered through a dialog-driven narrative that plays out over 25 levels in five different locations.”
- “The graphics, music, controls, and story all come together to create an immersive experience that will keep you hooked for hours on end.”
- “Another feature is that the game has given much more prominence to a story, which is usually hardly present in scrolling shooter games.”
- “The plot is paper-thin and not creative in the slightest.”
- “Confusing and convoluted story.”
- “Bsd offers a prominent story through the game which sets it apart from standard shoot-em-ups, but whether this is enough to encourage a complete playthrough really depends on if you feel the game is nostalgic or frustrating.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is perceived as genuine and thoughtfully executed, distinguishing it from typical asset flips or cash grabs often seen in titles made with Gamemaker Studio. Players appreciate the effort put into the game, suggesting a commitment to quality over profit.
- “At least this seems to be sincerely made instead of an asset flip or cash grab.”
- “Gamemaker Studio is often used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is seen as appealing to fans of classic arcade shooters like Space Invaders and Galaga, offering a certain charm. However, it can also become tedious, especially for those who may not appreciate the game's rustic graphics and art style, suggesting that it may not be worth the investment for everyone.
- “On one hand, it has its own charm and will appeal to enthusiasts of space invaders and Galaga, but it can become quite tedious. If you can't get past the rustic, rough graphics and art style, you may be better off spending your money elsewhere.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in this game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting that the bizarre and abstract character designs are the only standout feature, yet many find them unattractive and lacking depth. Overall, the game's character development fails to engage players beyond its superficial aesthetics.
- “It's a plain vertical shooter that has the bizarre and abstract character design as the only thing it has going for it, and even then, most people would say that they are just simply ugly, like the rest of the game is.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that while players can adjust saturation and hue settings, these options are largely superficial and do not significantly enhance the game's atmosphere.
- “Saturation and hue can be fiddled around with, but they're really just fluff controls and don't contribute to the atmosphere of the game.”

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