Castle on the Coast
- December 2, 2021
- Big Heart Productions
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Castle on the Coast" is a hand-drawn, retro 3D collectathon featuring an adorable giraffe named George. Explore challenging levels full of parkouring and platforming, from crystal caverns to alternate dimensions. In co-op mode, George can team up with a squirrel friend called Swirlz to bring together two powerful wizards and tackle themes of loss and conflict.
Reviews
- The game features charming level design and a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic platformers like Crash Bandicoot and Mario.
- The movement mechanics are highly praised for being fun and versatile, allowing for creative exploration and parkour-style gameplay.
- Castle on the Coast supports a good cause, with a portion of sales going to a children's hospital, adding a heartwarming element to the experience.
- The game is relatively short and may feel too easy for experienced platformer fans, lacking significant challenge.
- Some players found the controls to be overly floaty, which can trivialize certain platforming sections and make precise jumps more difficult.
- The local co-op mode has been criticized for poor camera management, making it frustrating for players trying to coordinate with each other.
- gameplay26 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Castle on the Coast" is characterized by its simple yet smooth mechanics, offering a fun and varied experience that keeps players engaged. The floaty jumping and bouncy movement add a unique twist, allowing for creative exploration and interaction with the environment, while the game incorporates a mix of different mechanics, from platforming to vehicle segments. Despite some underdeveloped elements, the overall gameplay is enjoyable, charming, and encourages experimentation, making it a delightful experience for players.
“It is inherently fun to abuse the floaty jumping mechanics to climb up buildings.”
“Even aside from those core mechanics, the variety on display is plentiful.”
“The mechanics and the amount of speedrunning potential in this game really made me happy.”
“My only major complaint is the gameplay is really floaty for some reason.”
“There are some underdeveloped elements, but they're what you would typically expect in a 3D platformer - janky vehicle segments meant to break up the gameplay.”
“The very bouncy movement mechanics are fresh compared to the more flowy mechanics from the likes of Mario and A Hat in Time.”
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story is generally described as simple and charming, with a mix of emotional depth and lightheartedness that appeals to both younger players and veterans of the genre. While some find the voice acting and dialogue basic, others appreciate the wholesome narrative and moral lessons it conveys. Overall, the story enhances the gameplay experience, even if it lacks complexity.
“The story is very tastefully written, and the voice acting is great.”
“It packs all this into a surprisingly mature, emotional story that had me tearing up at points.”
“On top of all of that, the levels are cute and inventive and the storyline is wholesome and has an actual moral to teach without speaking down to you.”
“The story and voice acting are basic and often amateur sounding, but it just made the game more charming to me.”
“There's not much to the story or character dialogue, but it is cute, as are the giraffe's reactions.”
“If you're coming to this game for its vast and interesting and complex story, you're going to be let down.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique, retro-inspired style with low poly visuals that some players appreciate for their charm, while others find them simplistic and reminiscent of mobile games. Despite budget limitations, the visuals are described as colorful and friendly, appealing particularly to a younger audience, though they may not resonate with all players. Overall, the graphics contribute to a fun and engaging platforming experience, even if they may not meet everyone's aesthetic preferences.
“The visuals throughout are quite nice, and George, while floaty, still controls pretty well; heck, his aerial physics make it possible to get some serious distance if you're brave and make full use of your jumps and the jet pack that is hidden in the castle.”
“The low poly visuals are crisp and work well with the music.”
“There is a story with it and the cartoon 3D graphics are very colorful and friendly.”
“The graphics are unique and have some 'retro' feel, but the menu design and fonts scream 'mobile game.'”
“As you can tell from trailers and screenshots, the visuals are incredibly simplistic, which I respect both for ease of development and also as almost a callback to retro styles.”
“For some people though, lower poly graphics like this are a turnoff, so if that's you, then stylistically this isn't for you.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, effectively setting the mood and complementing the visuals, though some reviewers find it lacking in standout quality. While it may not be groundbreaking, it is described as inoffensive and fitting for the game's environment, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“The low poly visuals are crisp and work well with the music.”
“It's definitely a must play for platformer lovers looking for a diverse and complex movement system, those new to speedrunning, and comes with a decent plot as well, with unlockable costumes, vehicles, secrets, and a sweet soundtrack.”
“Great controls, levels, and music.”
“The music is inoffensive.”
“The music is also fairly lacking in my opinion, but it's still fairly fitting for the world this game takes place in.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a mature and wholesome story that resonates with players, often evoking tears. While the dialogue may lack complexity, the overall narrative and inventive levels contribute to a heartfelt experience, making it both fun and meaningful.
“It packs all this into a surprisingly mature, emotional story that had me tearing up at points.”
“On top of all of that, the levels are cute and inventive and the storyline is wholesome and has an actual moral to teach without speaking down to you.”
“Castle on the coast is a somber, heartfelt and fun experience.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while the level design and visuals are praised for their quality and performance, players report issues with physics glitches that can lead to unexpected and uncontrollable character movements.
“Castle on the Coast is really pretty, runs great, has stellar level design, and has tons of charm.”
“The sphere rolling, while mostly controllable, also goes way too fast, and sometimes the physics glitches out, rocketing George into the air unintentionally.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its cute and humorous elements, featuring entertaining characters and engaging parkour challenges, some of which incorporate vehicles.
“A very cute and humorous game with fun parkour challenges, some involving vehicles.”
“The characters are hilarious!”
