Bulby: Diamond Course

About

Bulby: Diamond Course is a single player and multiplayer casual platformer game. It was developed by paperdoggames and was released on January 19, 2017. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Bulby: Diamond Course" is a vibrant 3D platformer that follows Bulby's journey to retrieve diamonds stolen by Princess Natasha. The game features Story Mode, Versus Mode, Coop, Multiplayer, and a Course Editor for creating and sharing levels. Players control Bulby's shots, considering angle, power, and trajectory to defeat enemies and progress. Up to 4 players can compete in multiplayer mode to claim the diamond crown. Character count: 211.

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47%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

replayability2 positive mentions

music4 negative mentions

Bulby – Diamond Course captures the nostalgic charm of classic 3D platformers with its colorful art style and engaging level design.
The inclusion of a level editor and multiplayer modes adds significant replay value and encourages creativity among players.
The game offers a satisfying gameplay loop with a constant sense of discovery, rewarding exploration and experimentation.

The controls can feel clunky and imprecise, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially with the camera and movement mechanics.
Technical issues such as crashes, poor optimization, and lack of controller support detract from the overall experience.
The game suffers from uneven pacing and a lack of polish, with some levels feeling amateurish and the audio design being inconsistent.

music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
63%
21%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its upbeat and jazzy tunes that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize it as repetitive and poorly balanced, detracting from the overall experience. Many users noted issues with audio levels and a lack of variety, suggesting that the music could benefit from more original compositions or better sound design. Overall, while some appreciate the music's charm, significant complaints about its quality and impact on gameplay persist.
- “The music complements this tone, offering upbeat, looping tunes that enhance the atmosphere without dominating it.”
- “Honestly, it's super cheap, has great music, and a very cute art style.”
- “The music is upbeat and jazzy; you can even spot some familiar tunes (the second-last level of world 1 sounded a lot like 'Carol of the Bells').”
- “Music is awful.”
- “I would've been critical either way, but I might have kept playing the game if it wasn't for that horrible, mind-numbing music.”
- “There's no excuse to use music that sets such a terrible atmosphere.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is centered around platforming mechanics, exploration, and level creation, with a satisfying loop that evolves from simple tutorials to complex challenges. However, players criticize the clunky controls and lack of polish, comparing it unfavorably to mobile apps and noting that the overall experience feels flat and lacking in excitement. While the mechanics are sound, the execution suffers from poor UI and minimal feedback, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “Instead, the game builds itself around pure platforming mechanics, exploration, and level creation.”
- “Despite these minor setbacks, the gameplay loop is satisfying.”
- “Early stages serve as gentle tutorials that introduce jumping mechanics, collectible gathering, and basic traps, while later levels grow increasingly complex with more demanding precision jumps and multi-step puzzles.”
- “Terrible gameplay and terrible difficulty.”
- “From a gameplay point of view, the controls felt very clunky; getting Bulby to where you actually wanted him felt like a chore, and since I didn't get the hang of it, I failed multiple times on the first world alone.”
- “Mechanically it's sound, but it all just falls flat.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and colorful aesthetic that enhances its playful personality, despite not being cutting-edge. While some players appreciate the cute art style and overall visual presentation, others criticize the graphics as subpar, noting issues like camera mishaps and a lack of polish. Overall, the visuals evoke a sense of sincerity and charm, though they may not meet the expectations of all players.
- “There’s an undeniable sense of charm in how unapologetically playful the world feels, and even though the graphics may not be cutting-edge, the game’s personality shines through in its colorful environments and cheerful presentation.”
- “Honestly, it's super cheap, has great music, and a very cute art style.”
- “Pro: very good job on the graphics and music.”
- “Its rough edges—the occasional camera mishap, the uneven pacing, the simple visuals—are balanced by its sincerity and charm.”
- “While this is on PC, it has all the hallmarks and deficiencies of a console game, from the clunkier than needed control scheme to the less than cutting edge graphics.”
- “I'd rather see a simple image of the ground below, like in Kirby, rather than seeing that real-time rendered photorealistic water which clashes with the game's aesthetics.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The story centers on Bulby, a cheerful character on a quest to retrieve stolen diamonds from Princess Natasha, but it lacks significant narrative depth. While the plot serves as a backdrop for creative gameplay and experimentation, it is not the primary focus of the game. Overall, the narrative conveys a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “It tells a simple story of Bulby, a cheerful protagonist embarking on a quest to recover stolen diamonds from Princess Natasha, but narrative depth isn’t its focus.”
- “The result is a title that’s as much about personal creativity as it is about traditional platforming, encouraging experimentation beyond the confines of its story mode.”
- “- There is no restart option, so you have to quit the level and start story mode again.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with many users reporting that it barely runs and is plagued by performance issues.
- “Barely runs - horrible optimization”
- “The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
- “I experience constant crashes and long loading times due to the lack of proper optimization.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The game offers significant replayability through its creative systems, enhancing the experience and preventing it from feeling too linear or straightforward.
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple paths and endings, every session offers a new experience that encourages exploration and experimentation.”
- “This system injects replay value and creativity into a package that might otherwise feel straightforward.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is characterized by a mix of upbeat, looping music that enhances the experience without overwhelming it, although some users criticize the use of music that detracts from the overall ambiance.
- “The music complements this tone, offering upbeat, looping tunes that enhance the atmosphere without dominating it.”
- “There's no excuse to use music that sets such a terrible atmosphere.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "bulby – diamond course" is characterized as a sincere tribute to classic platforming, evoking a sense of nostalgia and warmth in its gameplay experience.
- “Ultimately, Bulby – Diamond Course is a humble but heartfelt celebration of classic platforming.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as cute and funny, appealing particularly to fans of Kirby, with comparisons made to the whimsical style of "Kirby's Dream Course."
- “Very cute and funny game, it looks like Kirby's Dream Course (that's the reason I bought this game, I'm a huge Kirby fan).”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, leading to frustration and a diminished enjoyment of the overall experience.
- “God, this game's slow and tedious.”