Breakpoint
- September 24, 2020
- Studio Aesthesia
- 12h median play time
"Breakpoint" is a challenging top-down shooter game with a single-player mode that takes about 11 hours to beat. The game features five distinct melee weapons and a twist on the twin-stick formula, where you have no ranged attack, instead relying on melee weapons that explode. Watch the best runs, compete with friends, and dodge through swarms of enemies to reach the top of the global leaderboard.
Reviews
- Addictive gameplay with a fresh take on the twin-stick shooter genre, combining melee mechanics with high score chasing.
- Visually appealing with a vibrant neon aesthetic and smooth mechanics, making it enjoyable for short play sessions.
- Simple yet engaging, allowing players to strategize with different weapons and enemy types while providing a satisfying sense of progression.
- The game can feel tedious due to the lack of checkpoints and the need to restart from the beginning after each death, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- The overwhelming amount of white visuals can lead to confusion, making it difficult to distinguish between pickups and enemies.
- Limited content with only one game mode and a lack of progression or unlocks, which may lead to a feeling of repetitiveness over time.
- gameplay16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by smooth mechanics and engaging, fast-paced action, reminiscent of arcade-style twin-stick shooters. While the visuals are simple yet appealing, the lack of a comprehensive tutorial may require players to seek external resources to fully grasp the game's unique mechanics, such as weapon explosions and daisy chain effects. Overall, the game offers a fun and addictive experience with a balance of risk and reward, encouraging players to master its various elements.
“The looks are great, mechanics are smooth, and you really want to be on top of the leaderboard.”
“The graphics are simple yet very good, the gameplay is engaging and fast-paced.”
“Simple, intuitive controls with expanding depth mechanics make this the sort of game that you can't start playing after 10 PM unless you're ready to mutter, 'just one more game' after the sun has already risen.”
“The tutorial for the game is missing important information, so be prepared to do outside research to understand the gameplay.”
“You will not be able to really appreciate the game without understanding the full mechanics though, so I would recommend viewing this video which explains things in depth.”
“As for the game itself, this is a great arcade-esque arena shmup twin-stick that makes use of its unique mechanic of your weapon reaching its breakpoint and triggering daisy chain explosions if you have enough enemies on screen.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a traditional narrative, with many players appreciating this absence as it allows for straightforward gameplay focused on fun rather than complex storytelling. Some users argue that a story is unnecessary for enjoyment, while others express a desire for at least some narrative elements to enhance the experience. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over story development.
“The story is engaging and keeps you invested in the characters and their journeys.”
“The narrative is well-crafted, with twists and turns that make it hard to put down.”
“The world-building is impressive, creating a rich backdrop for the unfolding story.”
“It's not like there's any story you're trying to see.”
“No story, no multiplayer, just leaderboard, weapons, PvE.”
“The lack of story is a feature, I'd say; games like this and Geometry Dash don't need complex narratives to be enjoyable.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their striking neon-glow theme and effective simplicity, enhancing the fast-paced gameplay. Reviewers highlight the mesmerizing visuals and vector-art style, which contribute to an engaging and challenging experience. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, perfectly complementing the game's addictive nature.
“The highlight of this game for me is the very cool neon-glow theme, artwork, and effects.”
“The graphics are absolutely perfect.”
“Mesmerizing graphics, cool music and highly addictive!”
“In my humblest of opinions, readability should be the first thing in mind when designing visuals.”
“Don't be fooled by the simple graphics; this is a genuine challenge.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in Breakpoint is generally praised for its addictive and energetic vaporwave/synthwave soundtrack, which complements the game's mesmerizing graphics and gameplay. However, some users feel that the music could be improved, as it occasionally falls short compared to the sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gaming experience, making it enjoyable and engaging.
“Breakpoint has excellent feel, a simple but addictive loop, and a killer soundtrack.”
“Mesmerizing graphics, cool music, and highly addictive!”
“Music could be improved; it falls a bit behind compared to the sound effects.”
“It's a 2D top-down melee combat version of Asteroids with a delicious neon vector look and a pumping vaporwave/synthwave soundtrack.”
“And a kicking soundtrack to keep you going.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the necessity of starting over frequently, which diminishes the challenge. While the absence of currencies and complex systems is appreciated, some feel that achieving 100% completion can be excessively grindy, requiring significant time investment.
“It's very tedious to always start from the beginning, which is not challenging one bit.”
“It can be a little bit grindy if you want to achieve 100% completion.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability on Linux, with users reporting a smooth and reliable performance.
“Runs great on Linux if that's your jam.”
“The game maintains a solid frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive for a game of this scale.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting that each run offers a unique experience, ensuring that no two playthroughs are alike.
“No two runs play the same way, so there's practically unlimited replayability.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making it hard to put down.”