Bot Vice
- July 11, 2016
- DYA Games
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Bot Vice" is a fast-paced gallery shooter arcade game where you play as Erin Saver, battling against criminal Wildbots in frenzied action. Each stage features a unique challenging boss, with three difficulty modes to choose from. The game also offers an unlockable "Extra Missions" mode, accompanied by polished pixel art visuals and a catchy 90's synth-rock soundtrack .
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Fast-paced, addictive gameplay that captures the essence of classic arcade shooters.
- Charming pixel art and a catchy soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Offers a good amount of replayability with extra levels and challenges after completing the main story.
- The difficulty can be frustrating, especially for casual players, with some levels feeling overly punishing.
- Voice acting and story elements are often considered cheesy and detract from the overall experience.
- The aiming and weapon switching mechanics can feel clunky and may hinder gameplay at times.
- gameplay200 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, challenging mechanics that blend elements of bullet hell and arcade shooters, requiring players to master dodging, rolling, and weapon selection. While the controls are generally responsive and the pixel art and soundtrack are well-received, some players find the difficulty spikes and certain mechanics, like the cover system, to be frustrating. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience for those who enjoy mastering complex gameplay, though it may overwhelm newcomers with its variety of mechanics.
“The gameplay is fast-paced, varied, and strategic, with a 25-level campaign as well as a ton of side missions for replayability.”
“It's a well-crafted action romp that doesn't mess around with complicated mechanics or lore.”
“The gameplay is exquisite and requires a lot of mastery on the part of the player.”
“The design of gameplay sucks.”
“Gameplay gets overwhelming in a hurry as you have to deal with bullet hell levels of suppressive fire unless you can crowd control in a hurry.”
“The gameplay is repetitive with little variation; despite this, you're constantly challenged and enjoying yourself that you can ignore this tiny fact as you climb ever greater heights of difficulty.”
- music156 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, energetic soundtrack that perfectly complements the fast-paced gameplay and vibrant pixel art. Many reviewers noted its nostalgic 16-bit and synth influences, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Mega Man and SNES games, enhancing the overall retro experience. While some found the music repetitive or less memorable, the majority praised it as a standout feature that elevates the game's appeal.
“The music is fun to listen to and perfectly matches the gameplay; I really like the FM synth-bass the tracks use.”
“The catchy music and really nice graphics captured me right away, but I can see myself dodging and blasting my way through this again to get better ranks.”
“The music is absolutely knock-your-socks-off awesome.”
“Additionally, the music is repetitive and annoying.”
“The soundtrack fits the gameplay albeit forgettable.”
“The voice acting is obnoxious, the soundtrack is blaring, and the gameplay is too cheap.”
- graphics115 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 16-bit and early 90s arcade titles, with smooth pixel art and vibrant colors that evoke nostalgia. Many reviewers highlight the clean animations and overall visual appeal, noting that the graphics effectively complement the fast-paced gameplay and engaging soundtrack. While some mention minor issues with voice acting, the overall presentation is considered top-notch, making it a visually satisfying experience for fans of classic gaming styles.
“The presentation is mostly good, with enjoyable and fitting music throughout, and clean pixel graphics that clearly convey what they need to and just look good overall.”
“The graphics have a fantastic retro style, and all of the frantic movement on screen is fluid.”
“The graphics, art style, and sound all remind me of classic old school 2D shooters.”
“The graphics look like your average flash portal game circa 2012.”
“Cute pixel art graphics marred with cheesy cutscenes and voice acting.”
“Graphics are scaled considerably to display in 1080p, reminiscent of playing games on a neo geo emulator.”
- story115 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as lighthearted and cheesy, with a mix of whimsical elements and absurdity, often compared to '80s action films. While the main campaign can be completed in about 2-3 hours, players appreciate the additional replayability offered by numerous extra missions, though many feel the story lacks depth and is not the primary focus of the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as serviceable and entertaining, but not particularly memorable, with some players expressing a desire for a sequel to resolve its cliffhanger ending.
“The pixel art is awesome, and the story, at least at the beginning, is lighthearted and fun with some mystery.”
“Great game with a story that I never expected to be invested in... until I was.”
“It's a great game with a funny, simple dystopian story.”
“The story goes from whimsical but surprisingly interesting to utter nonsense, and then has the audacity to end with a cliffhanger and post-credits scene teasing a sequel I have no faith in.”
“The story is just... there, I guess. The dialogue tried to be funny and is just... flat and awkward; definitely the weakest part of the game.”
“The story and voice acting are ridiculously flat and the gameplay gets repetitive, but the game feel, art, and animation are brilliant.”
- replayability19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability despite its short main campaign, featuring extra challenges, a ranking system, and additional missions that enhance the experience. Players can aim for better performance scores, tackle various difficulty levels, and enjoy a fast-paced, engaging gameplay loop, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking to improve their skills. Overall, the combination of challenges, achievements, and a vibrant aesthetic contributes to its strong replay value.
“The main campaign may be pretty short, but not only are there challenges and a ranking system for added replay value, there's also extra missions after you beat the game that are also pretty hard.”
“It offers easy to hard difficulties and other challenges for replay value, so you can hop on and have a blast with it.”
“The gameplay is fast-paced, varied, and strategic, with a 25-level campaign as well as a ton of side missions for replayability.”
“The main campaign may be pretty short (which I don't mind, a solid compact experience can hit harder than an overblown massive 150+ hour game) but not only are there challenges and a ranking system for added replay value, there's also extra missions after you beat the game that are also pretty hard.”
“I would expect a dedicated player could polish it off in 5 or 6 hours though, so it's still a short game - albeit one with decent replayability, and is available for a very low price.”
“Each level can be completed in a couple of minutes when played well but replayability is boosted by aiming to finish missions with full health and/or higher letter ranks for time taken.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find the voice acting amusing and appreciate the comedic elements in the dystopian story, others criticize the dialogue as flat and awkward. Notably, certain boss characters, including parodies of well-known figures, provide moments of genuine hilarity, contributing to the game's charm despite its inconsistencies.
“It's a great game with a funny, simple dystopian story.”
“The final boss's voice made me laugh (I think that was on purpose).”
“Some of the more hilarious bosses include parodies of Bebop and Rocksteady, as a bit of a TMNT fan tribute.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its smooth gameplay, allowing for quick restarts upon death, which enhances the overall experience. Additionally, the replayability is strong, as players can strive for higher scores on each level based on their performance.
“Optimized gameplay: if you die, you restart right away, making everything very smooth.”
“Replayability is good, considering you can aim for higher marks on each level depending on performance.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite its potential, the optimization is lacking, making it difficult to enjoy the experience fully.”
“I encountered numerous bugs and performance problems that hindered my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to its high difficulty level, which can lead to a challenging and often exasperating experience.
“Combine that issue with high difficulty, and you're in for a tedious and frustrating experience.”
“It's nail-bitingly, molar-grindingly difficult.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users giving it a perfect score of 10/10, indicating an immersive and captivating environment that enhances the overall experience.
“10/10 atmosphere”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
“Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is praised for its transparency, offering players a clear understanding of what they are purchasing without the typical concerns of exploitative microtransactions or hidden costs.
“In a modern world where we must constantly ask ourselves how the publisher and/or developer is going to screw us (be that via microtransactions, DLC, or broken mechanics), this game is refreshingly straightforward in terms of what you are getting.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more money to enjoy basic features that should be included in the game.”
“I was disappointed to find that many essential items and upgrades are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to progress without spending extra cash.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its high-quality design, particularly highlighting the creative and engaging battle beast-themed enemies that enhance the overall experience.
“The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the gameplay.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly impact their growth and relationships.”
“The quality of character design is impressive, especially the battle beast-themed enemies that bring a fresh twist to the experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game evokes a strong sense of victory and emotional fulfillment, highlighting its ability to resonate deeply and create a memorable experience.
“It's been a while since a game made me feel this victorious.”
“The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me.”
“I was moved to tears by the storyline and its powerful themes.”
