Captain MaCaw

About

Captain MaCaw is a single player platformer game. It was developed by scottige and was released on January 17, 2019. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Captain MaCaw is a nostalgic platformer game with old-school ZX Spectrum-style graphics. After a shipwreck, Captain MaCaw finds himself on a mysterious island filled with peculiar creatures. To escape, he must platform, collect items, and solve puzzles with the help of some friendly inhabitants. A challenging adventure that emulates the classic gaming experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

music7 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Charming 8-bit graphics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games like Dizzy, making it a delightful experience for fans of retro gaming.
Engaging puzzles that are mostly logical and fair, allowing players to progress without getting stuck for long periods.
Features modern conveniences such as infinite lives, save points, and Xbox controller compatibility, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

Some graphical elements and text appear poorly designed or inconsistent, detracting from the overall aesthetic.
The music, while nostalgic, can become repetitive and may not appeal to everyone, with some sound effects being overly loud or sparse.
The game can feel spread out with long stretches of exploration between puzzle locations, which may lead to moments of boredom.

music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic, ZX Spectrum-inspired sound, with many reviewers noting its catchy and upbeat tunes that enhance the overall experience. While some find the melodies a bit repetitive towards the end, the soundtrack is described as memorable and perfectly suited to the game's retro aesthetic. Overall, it adds significant value to the gameplay, making it a highlight for players.
- “Great adventure game puzzles, a sizeable map to explore and a cracking soundtrack add up to a wonderful experience that is well worth your time and money.”
- “Not only are the graphics faithful to the great ZX Spectrum, the music is absolutely awesome, feels like a crossover, dare I say it, a Speccy AY chip and C64 SID chip.”
- “Finally, a special shout out to the music, which features bouncy, Spectrum-like tunes that are sublime and will stick in your head forever.”
- “The music sounds authentically ZX Spectrum-y, with upbeat but forgettable tunes that only get a bit repetitive toward the end.”
- “The music seems to be off by default.”
- “I don't like synthy chip music.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming 8-bit style visuals that evoke nostalgia for classic graphic adventure games, reminiscent of the ZX Spectrum era. While the pixel art is generally well-received, some elements, like the title screen, deviate from this aesthetic and can be distracting. Overall, the graphics complement the engaging puzzles and are enhanced by a fitting retro soundtrack.
- “Lots of puzzles and charming 8-bit style graphics.”
- “The puzzles are fun, the graphics remind me of my old computers, and the music is definitely worth a mention.”
- “Captain Macaw is a love letter to the Dizzy games on the Spectrum, with faithful cute retro visuals, humor, and really satisfying puzzles to beat.”
- “Most of the time the art looks like it came straight out of the ZX Spectrum era, but other times it's more like one of those '200 great games on one CD' 90s shareware titles with crudely drawn VGA graphics.”
- “You don't see many graphic platform adventures like this these days.”
- “I called time on graphic adventures and moved on to something else, figuring I'd just lost interest and was too 'grown up'.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The story features a lighthearted pirate theme enriched with humor and catchy music, but it lacks depth and a clear end goal, focusing more on the adventure itself than a structured narrative.
- “Great puzzles and a piratey story are carried along by a touch of humor and earworm-inducing melodies.”
- “There isn't much story or a real end goal - it's all adventuring for the sake of adventuring.”
- “The plot feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Character development is minimal, leaving the players feeling disconnected from the story.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a deep sense of heartfelt optimism, creating an emotional experience that feels reminiscent of a comforting return to the safety and warmth of a mother's womb.
- “It oozes heartfelt optimism, and in many ways, it's a return to the comfort of a mother's womb, in a gaming sense.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears, as I connected with the characters on a personal level.”
- “Every choice I made felt significant, and the emotional weight of the narrative lingered long after I finished the game.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is praised for its clever design and engaging progression, effectively guiding players from point A to point B, making it enjoyable even for those who may not excel at similar games.
- “The gameplay and string of events that lead you from point A to point B is incredibly clever and engaging.”
- “The mechanics are intuitive and allow for a smooth learning curve, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.”
- “Each level presents unique challenges that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting, encouraging exploration and creativity.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by playful and whimsical elements, including clever puns and amusing character designs, reminiscent of classic titles like Dizzy. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and find the game both easy to follow and entertaining, with a charming soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- “If Tigger was a pirate, he would be Captain Macaw! This guy must have springs for legs with the amount he loves to bounce about all over the place. A brilliant little game, a labor of love you could say, reminiscent of the Spectrum days and Dizzy Egg, etc. It's easy to follow, funny, with some nice puzzles and puns. Completely Xbox controller compatible. Did I mention the soundtrack?”
- “A funny, short Dizzy clone with a planned sequel (which looks like Nodes of Yesod).”