BLUE REVOLVER
- October 11, 2016
- Stellar Circle
- 11h median play time
"Blue Revolver" is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up game with bright, anime-inspired graphics. Players control a steam-powered mech in various stages, battling against an army of robotic enemies. The game features a variety of weapons and abilities to use, as well as multiple difficulty settings for a challenging experience.
Reviews
- Blue Revolver features a vibrant art style and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The game offers a well-designed scoring system that is easy to understand yet difficult to master, making it accessible for newcomers while still challenging for veterans.
- With multiple difficulty levels and a robust practice mode, Blue Revolver caters to players of all skill levels, providing a satisfying and rewarding experience.
- Some players find the game to be quite challenging, even on the easier difficulty settings, which may deter newcomers to the genre.
- The visual clarity can sometimes be compromised due to the chaotic nature of bullet patterns, making it difficult to see projectiles.
- Unlocking the free play mode requires significant effort, which may frustrate players who prefer a more casual experience.
- music147 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that perfectly complements the fast-paced gameplay. Players appreciate the variety of tracks, including unlockable remixes, which enhance replayability and immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a standout feature, elevating the game's overall experience and making it a key reason for players to return.
“The soundtrack is incredible, hooking you from the start.”
“The music is awesome, with some really neat synchronization in spots between dynamics in a song and changes in the environment.”
“The rock/electronic soundtrack is fantastic and complements the action extremely well; every level and boss theme is an absolute banger.”
“Music overpowers so many sound effects.”
“The powerful soundtrack and mesmerizing artwork give this game a polish and sheen usually reserved for larger budget projects, and with a novel, deep scoring system there is plenty of scope for replayability.”
“However, I cannot exaggerate how well the music goes along with this unique bullet hell experience.”
- gameplay87 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this shmup is highly praised for its fast-paced, engaging mechanics that balance accessibility with depth, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans. Players appreciate the vibrant pixel art, catchy soundtrack, and a well-integrated scoring system that encourages skillful play and offers significant replayability. Overall, the game is recognized for its polished execution, challenging yet fair gameplay, and a cohesive design that enhances the overall experience.
“One of the better shmups on Steam, with a super cohesive package of great, pumping music, crisp and extra readable pixel art, and smooth and exciting gameplay loop.”
“The scoring mechanics are easy to understand but difficult to master.”
“The gameplay is challenging and very replayable.”
“There's also this asinine break mechanic for getting extra points on bosses that is poorly explained, and I guarantee you'll fail at multiple times before pulling them off.”
“That said, controls are pretty bland especially given all gameplay takes place in a small rectangle that involves you moving a little to one side vs moving a little to the other side.”
“While this game has an amazing soundtrack and a superb art direction, what actually stands out the most is the gameplay, and how well it combines with it.”
- graphics73 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant art style, colorful pixel graphics, and cohesive design that enhances the gameplay experience. While some players find the visuals reminiscent of classic shmups and appreciate the attention to detail, a few note that certain stages can become visually repetitive. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and an engaging soundtrack contributes to a polished and enjoyable gaming experience.
“From its breathtaking graphics to its tight controls, this game is a real treat for fans of the genre.”
“Gorgeous visuals, fantastic music, very smooth gameplay.”
“The graphics are an interesting take on modern pixel art, and scale well to my monitor's resolution.”
“The only downside for me is probably the art design, which doesn't click for me at all; stages get repetitive and boring in terms of visuals very quickly.”
“Initially, I thought the game graphically looked basic.”
“I've played Drainus and Astebreed recently, and both of those are much better shmup games with anime aesthetics; I'd highly recommend checking those out instead.”
- story43 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered minimal, with many players noting that it prioritizes gameplay over narrative depth, which is common in the bullet hell genre. However, the integration of lore involving magic and technology adds an interesting backdrop, and the mission mode serves as both a tutorial and a way to enhance gameplay experience. While some players desire more story content, the engaging mechanics and extensive mission challenges compensate for this shortcoming, making it a standout title in its category.
“Also, the game has an interesting level of lore to it, which I enjoy the amalgamation of magic and technology in its storytelling, which tends to be a big thumbs up for me when utilized in background lore in media.”
“Couple this with an astounding, pulse-pounding soundtrack, cute character designs, beautiful graphics, and a missions system which actually is meant to be a tutorial of sorts to teach you how to play STGs, and you pretty much have yourself a winner!”
“A great addition, not only to this game but the shmup genre as a whole, is the missions mode that sets goals for the player to meet in its scenarios that not only provides a challenge, but also teaches good fundamentals.”
“Based on the style of games that I have played, this one lacks a lot in every department that motivated me to play (story, unlocks, level progression ideology).”
“All in all, the only thing the game lacks is more story, but who cares.”
“The story is lacking, but that's a fairly common thread between a lot of bullet hells, the 'gameplay over lore' aspect, and the gameplay certainly keeps you going.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its two playable characters, multiple super weapons, various modes, and extensive customization options. Players appreciate the challenging gameplay, fluid mechanics, and engaging art style, which together create an addictive experience that encourages repeated playthroughs. Additionally, the deep scoring system and unlockable content further enhance the game's replay value.
“The game offers two characters, each with four super weapons to choose from, which gives the game a great deal of customization for different play styles and plenty of replayability.”
“Simple mechanics, great controls, high challenge, and a fun art style combine for a densely-packed experience that is both highly rewarding and replayable.”
“There's tons of replay value, with different modes, two playable characters, and a ton of unlocks.”
“There's also a fair amount of customization which really adds to the replayability.”
“The powerful soundtrack and mesmerizing artwork give this game a polish and sheen usually reserved for larger budget projects, and with a novel, deep scoring system there is plenty of scope for replayability.”
“Gameplay is very fluid, even though I am one off of the processing power, replay value is very high on this game, and the help and tips of different modes help any player get addicted.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted through its engaging character designs and a missions system that serves as an effective tutorial, enhancing player understanding and skill. While the visual style may not appeal to everyone, the overall presentation, including a captivating soundtrack, contributes positively to the experience.
“Couple this with an astounding, pulse-pounding soundtrack, cute character designs, beautiful graphics, and a missions system that actually serves as a tutorial to teach you how to play STGs, and you pretty much have yourself a winner!”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed with their growth throughout the game.”
“There are too few choices that impact character development, which makes the experience feel linear and unengaging.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite pronounced, as currency rewards are minimal after each session. However, this simplicity allows for a casual gaming experience, enabling players to either invest significant time to master the game or enjoy short, casual play sessions without feeling overwhelmed.
“They are quite grindy, as you receive small currency after a playing session to spend.”
“All of these traits, which I used to call 'deceptively simple', are actually 'extraordinarily simple' - they make Blue Revolver stand out as a truly casual-friendly shoot-em-up game that you can either spend hours grinding to perfection or just pick up, mess with for 15 minutes, and put down to go do something else without sacrificing any energy.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates excellent stability with minimal input lag, contributing to a smooth and enjoyable experience. The various difficulty options cater to different player skill levels without compromising performance.
“Runs great with very little input lag, great art style, and addicting gameplay!”
“The game maintains a smooth performance even during intense action sequences.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the deep routing optimization that accommodates various play styles, but some express a preference for a more consistent experience rather than one that fluctuates with performance.
“There's a lot of flexibility and really deep routing optimization for many play styles.”
“I prefer a more consistent experience rather than having the difficulty change based on my performance.”
“I'd rather have a more consistent experience than having the difficulty change based on my performance.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its ironic tagline, "for newcomers and psychos alike," which contrasts sharply with the low percentage of players who have completed the final boss on the easiest difficulty, suggesting a playful self-awareness about its challenge level.
“I think it's kinda funny that this game prides itself on being 'for newcomers and psychos alike' but only 10.1% of players own the achievement for beating the final boss on the easiest difficulty, and 6.9% of those people own only that achievement.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the emotional impact of the game, particularly noting how the combination of fast-paced music and intense gameplay in stage 3 creates a wholesome and exhilarating experience.
“I picked up this game mostly for the soundtrack, and when you hit stage 3, the combination of the fast-paced music and the intensity of the level is just wholesome.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making every decision feel impactful.”
“I was genuinely moved by the storyline; it made me reflect on my own experiences and emotions.”