BOOMEROAD
- March 26, 2024
- Bandai Namco Studios Inc.
BOOMEROAD is an exhilarating action-adventure game in which players slide along boomerang rails you will create. The game is set in an ancient ruin floating in the sky, and the player slides through the vast skies at their own will while searching for the Artifacts.
Reviews
- The boomerang mechanic is unique and fun, allowing players to create their own paths in mid-air, which adds a liberating sense of exploration.
- Despite being short, the game offers a satisfying experience with easy-to-learn controls and a charming atmosphere, making it enjoyable for a quick playthrough.
- The level design encourages creativity and freedom, allowing players to navigate in various ways, which could appeal to speedrunners and those looking for a casual experience.
- The game is very short, with only two levels and a total playtime of around 30 minutes, leaving players wanting more content.
- Movement controls can feel clunky and sluggish, detracting from the overall experience and making navigation less enjoyable.
- The aiming and trajectory mechanics of the boomerang can be frustrating, as players have limited control over the rail's length and direction, leading to awkward gameplay moments.
- gameplay57 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Boomeroad is centered around a unique boomerang mechanic that allows players to create rails for grinding, which is generally well-received for its fun and innovative concept. However, many reviewers note that the execution is somewhat lacking, with awkward movement and limited control over the boomerang's trajectory, suggesting that the game feels more like a mechanic showcase than a fully realized experience. Despite its shortcomings, the core gameplay is enjoyable and shows potential for further development, with players expressing a desire for more levels and refined mechanics.
“The core mechanic of throwing a boomerang to create paths in the air is pretty easy to grasp.”
“Fun mechanics and has the potential for a high skill ceiling title with some refinement.”
“This game could actually be a fantastic platformer, the boomerang-rail mechanic is really nice overall and provides quite a lot of freedom to the player.”
“Boomeroad is pretty much in the awkward middle of doronkowanko and nottolot, and that's because Boomeroad, while being in concept a fun and unique 3D action game, has poor game design. I kind of wish that Boomeroad looked at how Rodea: The Sky Soldier on Wii did its 3D action game flying gameplay, but sadly flying is a lot more awkward in Boomeroad.”
“The gameplay admittedly doesn't take full advantage of its 'draw your own rail to grind on' conceit - you don't actually have that much control over the boomerang's trajectory, so in practice, you're mainly either using it as a super jump or to flip switches - but for a free game that takes maybe half an hour to complete, it's fun enough.”
“It feels like you are fighting against the core game mechanic to play the game.”
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered minimal and underdeveloped, with many users expressing a desire for more depth and additional levels to enhance the narrative experience. While some players feel that a strong story isn't essential for enjoyment, there is a consensus that the current version lacks substance and could benefit from further development in future updates. Overall, the story is seen as a vague impression rather than a fully realized element of the game.
“In terms of the story/adventure, this is why I now want a sequel.”
“I'd like to see a complete version with more levels and story.”
“It has potential; I hope they're going to make it a full game with a story.”
“The story was meh overall.”
“It's more the vague impression of a story than anything.”
“The story in this early access version is kind of lacking, but I guess not every good/fun game needs a superb story anyways.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, described as clear, nice, and cute, with a simple anime-like style that appeals to some players. However, there are suggestions for improvement, including a desire for a more vibrant aesthetic reminiscent of 90's anime and a complete overhaul for a full game release. Overall, while the visuals are appreciated, there is room for enhancement to elevate the game's artistic presentation.
“Clear and nice graphics.”
“I like the character design, the sound effects are really good and the visuals are pretty.”
“Literally awesome, the graphics are really cute and the sound is immersive.”
“That being said, I think if you want to turn this into a full game (I assume you released this demo for market research), the aesthetics need a bottom to top overhaul.”
“If we're talking about graphics, this game presents quite neatly, just a fairly simple style with anime-like characters - some may like it, some may not.”
“That is rather extensive artwork for a game this brief.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Players find the rail grinding mechanics intriguing but note that the experience can feel slow and cumbersome, with rails often being too short to fully engage with the controls. While the concept of creating your own rails is unique, many feel that the speed and physics of grinding could use improvement to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“While grinding a rail, you can lean left and right, speed up, slow down, but rails rarely get long enough for you to even read the control hints, and I have no idea why you'd want to lean or to go any speed other than as fast as possible.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Rail grinding is a bit slow; it could be faster.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its beauty and ability to create a serene atmosphere, though some players feel it lacks the upbeat and fast-paced energy needed to match the vibrant visuals and gameplay. While the soundtrack is generally appreciated, there is a desire for more dynamic compositions that enhance the overall experience rather than relying on generic fantasy themes.
“The art and music are very beautiful and lend the game a unique, serene atmosphere.”
“Nice music too.”
“That's fine, I don't think anybody expected a Sonic Colors-tier OST to accompany AAA level design for a 20-minute demo.”
“The music should be upbeat and fast-paced to give players that rush as they speed through vividly colored areas with strong aesthetic design.”
“Generic fantasy environments with a peaceful background OST won't really cut it.”
- character development4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character design is praised for its appeal and creativity, there is little emphasis on character development itself, as the focus appears to be more on gameplay mechanics and visual aesthetics. Overall, players appreciate the visual elements but note a lack of depth in character progression.
“I like the character design.”
“I like the character design; the sound effects are really good and the visuals are pretty.”
“Cool character design and sliding by making roads with a boomerang.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its charm, with beautiful art and music contributing to a unique and serene experience. However, some players find it somewhat lacking in depth, despite enjoying the engaging mechanics.
“The atmosphere is charming.”
“The art and music are very beautiful and lend the game a unique, serene atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere seemed a little dry, but the mechanics themselves are cool as hell.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users note that while there are minor issues with optimization, such as occasional lag and some poorly translated lines, these problems are considered minimal and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, making the game run seamlessly without major issues.”
“The game's performance is top-notch, showcasing excellent optimization that enhances the overall experience.”
“Some oddly translated lines here and there, a few lags that need optimization, but really, it's no big deal.”
“The game suffers from frequent frame drops and inconsistent performance, making it frustrating to play at times.”
“Despite its potential, the lack of proper optimization leads to long loading times and stuttering gameplay.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through its time attack mode, appealing to speedrun enthusiasts, though players express a desire for increased difficulty in the adventure mode to enhance replay value further.
“The time attack mode adds a layer of replayability for speedrun enthusiasts, though I wish the adventure mode offered a bit more challenge.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of choices and outcomes, making me want to dive back in for different experiences.”
“The game’s multiple endings and unlockable content provide endless opportunities for replayability, keeping me engaged long after the first run.”
“The time attack mode offers some replayability for speedrun enthusiasts, but I wish the adventure mode had a higher difficulty level.”
“Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to replay the game, as the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences in the gameplay makes it hard to find reasons to replay the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a humorous tone, incorporating funny elements alongside Genshin-like jumping puzzles. Players can create skate roads using a boomerang, adding a unique twist to the gameplay that enhances the comedic experience.
“A hilarious game that combines Genshin-like jumping puzzles with a unique twist: you can create skate roads using your boomerang!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and absurd situations that keep you laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with quirky characters and funny interactions that make every moment enjoyable.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have reported significant stability issues, including severe frame time stutters and freezing, particularly towards the end of stage 2, which have impacted gameplay to the point of near-unplayability.
“I experienced some pretty horrific frame time issues and stutters towards the end of stage 2, along with freezes that almost rendered the game unplayable.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to progress.”
“There are constant lag spikes that disrupt the gameplay experience.”