Blazing Beaks
- May 10, 2019
- Applava
- 9h median play time
A Flock of Birds Enter the Switch eShop with Guns Blazing.
"Blazing Beaks" is a frantic, twin-stick shooter game featuring vibrant pixel art. Fight off hordes of mutated creatures and bosses in various game modes, or challenge friends in local multiplayer. Unique weapon system with random variations adds an extra layer of chaos and replayability. Conquer procedurally generated levels and strive to unlock numerous game modifiers.
Reviews
- Clever risk-reward mechanics with the artifact system that adds depth to gameplay.
- Cute graphics and charming character designs that enhance the overall experience.
- High replayability due to various characters and the addictive nature of the gameplay.
- Unbalanced difficulty, with many enemies dealing excessive damage and low health for characters.
- Limited content, including a small number of bosses and repetitive gameplay.
- Randomness in shop appearances and item drops can lead to frustrating runs.
- gameplay192 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Blazing Beaks" is characterized by its unique risk/reward mechanic involving the collection of negative artifacts that can be exchanged for positive upgrades, which adds depth and strategy to the roguelike experience. While many players appreciate the fast-paced and engaging nature of the gameplay, some criticize its lack of variety, underwhelming gunplay, and repetitive elements, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution and replayability. The charming art style and solid controls are often highlighted, but the game is noted for its punishing difficulty and limited content compared to other titles in the genre.
“Blazing Beaks is a great option for players who love the roguelike genre with its addictive gameplay and diverse characters.”
“The gameplay is hard, challenging, but most of all it's fun!”
“Very fun and challenging roguelike with great risk/reward mechanics.”
“Bb seems to be inspired by Nuclear Throne, but it's slow and boring, instead of having the frenetic gameplay from NT.”
“The bosses are extremely uninteresting, and barely pose any real challenge once you learn their simple mechanics.”
“The gameplay itself is brutally difficult (and I mean absolutely punishing) and has an abysmal amount of content for a roguelite.”
- graphics96 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which is described as cute, stunning, and reminiscent of classic Game Boy Advance visuals. Many reviewers appreciate the vibrant aesthetics and how well they complement the gameplay, although some note that the overall experience is marred by issues like unbalanced mechanics and limited content. Overall, the visuals are a standout feature, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and appeal.
“The game's pixel art style and soundtrack perfectly reflect the atmosphere.”
“Not only is the art style easy on the eyes, it is also stunning.”
“A joy to play - the sound design is amazing, the visuals are gorgeous and the limitless possibilities for each run just bring me back every time.”
“While the aesthetics and the vibes of the game are pretty neat, the game itself is unbalanced and frustrating.”
“It must take a lot of something to charge nearly eighteen dollars for this when Enter the Gungeon is fifteen dollars and has triple the amount of floors, items, enemies, bosses with higher quality graphics in general.”
“The pixel graphics remind me of the Game Boy Advance graphics.”
- music38 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players appreciating its catchy and funky elements that complement the pixel art style and overall atmosphere. While some users found certain aspects of the soundtrack lacking or unbalanced, the majority enjoyed the tunes, describing them as fun and fitting for the gameplay experience. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The title song is kinda groovy though.”
“So far very fun, great music also :)”
“Stage design and enemy design is very nice, not to mention the soundtrack is quite a banger.”
“As far as the music goes, I didn't quite like it but still enjoyed it.”
“The soundtrack is fine enough, some of the artifacts I don't believe are properly balanced, and I still have no idea how to loop when it apparently seems to be a big deal.”
“Music is fine.”
- story34 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is generally criticized for lacking depth and character development, with many reviewers noting that it offers minimal narrative content. While it features a two-player story mode, players express disappointment over the absence of a more robust multiplayer experience and the overall simplicity of the storyline. Despite its charm and replayability, the story mode does not meet the expectations of those seeking a rich narrative experience.
“Great game, lots of replayability, and the story mode is perfect.”
“Blazing Beaks is a solid roguelite that supports local co-op story and arena-based local multiplayer modes!”
“[Artefacts allow for a deep risk-reward mechanic, a large number of customization options, and a lengthy story mode with co-op.]”
“It's fun, but there's no story or characters with any personality.”
“Storywise the game does not offer much.”
“Story mode but not much story in it.”
- replayability24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, largely attributed to the variety of characters and their unique abilities, which encourage diverse gameplay experiences. However, some players express concerns about the limited content and suggest that additional playable characters could enhance replay value. While many find the game enjoyable and worth the price, a few note that it can feel tedious at times, impacting the overall replayability.
“The unique abilities of different characters increase the replayability of the game.”
“It's a little bit difficult and tedious at times, but overall I feel that the gameplay is great and that the multiple characters provide a good sense of replayability.”
“I love the art style and the gameplay is fun, albeit basic and simple, but my biggest issue comes from how little content and replayability it has for a roguelike.”
“But in a roguelike/roguelite, what you look at, it's the gameplay, the replayability.”
“If you enjoy games like Isaac and Nuclear Throne, you already know what you want to get from them: almost endless replayability from diverse and unexpected character builds.”
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, featuring funny characters and amusing gameplay elements that enhance the overall experience. Players enjoy the comedic interactions, particularly in local multiplayer settings, where they can playfully sabotage each other. The charming art style and whimsical design of the characters, especially the bird theme, contribute to the game's lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere.
“You can really mess around with the risk versus reward part of the game and really screw over your friends, which is hilarious.”
“Speaking of that, the game is wonderfully rendered, with detailed pixel art that never lacks fluidity and a humor about itself, and the designs of all the little characters are so special.”
“You will eat this 'cactus', hoping that you will be rewarded for it, but ultimately it will kill you))) funny monsters who constantly arrange chaos on the levels.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many noting that the initial fun quickly diminishes after repeated runs. The need to slog through subpar power-ups and the occasional lack of shops contribute to a sense of monotony, making battles feel like drawn-out chores rather than engaging challenges. While some appreciate the replayability offered by multiple characters, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding experience being more aggravating than enjoyable.
“Getting good power-ups requires slogging through bad ones, exacerbating how already slow and tedious the 'run' and gun gameplay is.”
“Good, very fun the first few tries but gets old, annoying, aggravating, and tedious after a few runs.”
“I admire some of the game’s accomplishments, and have found my few interactions with the dev to be pleasant, but I honestly felt this game was more tedious than fun.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its appealing pixel art style and soundtrack, which together create a quirky and engaging experience. While some players find the atmosphere average, others appreciate its unique aesthetics and inspiration from other titles. Overall, the visuals and music contribute significantly to the game's charm.
“The game's pixel art style and soundtrack perfectly reflect the atmosphere.”
“All in all, a quirky atmosphere keeps you going.”
“The aesthetics and atmosphere are interesting.”
“Average atmosphere; the pixel artwork is pretty but doesn't elevate the experience.”
“The atmosphere is quirky, but it ultimately fails to engage the player.”
“The game has its own atmosphere inspired by Enter the Gungeon and Nuclear Throne, but I find it lacking without the necessary mods.”
- character development8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its charming and adorable character designs, featuring a variety of cute animals like ducks and platypuses, complemented by outstanding pixel art and energetic animations. However, some reviewers feel that the designs resemble a beginner's attempt, lacking depth and sophistication compared to more polished styles. Overall, while the art style is a standout feature, opinions vary on the effectiveness of character development.
“Especially the character designs, from the duck to the platypus, all the playable characters are awfully cute.”
“Outstanding pixel art, energetic animations, adorable character designs, and colorful environments.”
“The best part of this game is, without a doubt, the art style and character designs.”
“It mostly resembles a beginner's attempt at the art style mixed with Gungeon's overly simple and trying-too-hard-to-be-charming character design.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability, with no reported glitches or bugs. However, players have noted that while there is a variety of active items, many are perceived as ineffective, with only a couple standing out as particularly useful.
“No glitches or bugs to speak of.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
“I haven't encountered any stability issues during my playthrough.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features innovative ideas, but many users report significant performance issues, indicating potential problems with the game engine that lead to lag, even on capable systems like the Alienware Alpha 2.
Critic Reviews
Blazing Beaks (Nintendo Switch)
Blazing Beaks
85%Blazing Beaks (Switch) Review
A Flock of Birds Enter the Switch eShop with Guns Blazing.
90%Blazing Beaks Review
Blazing Beaks is a crazy adventure where you'll find yourself fighting monsters and searching for artifacts. There's an endless line-up of enemies for you to shoot and blast through. A cute and charming world that increases in difficulty, and as you progress through the levels you’ll be hallmarked with plenty of surprises.
80%