Chasing Styx

About

Chasing Styx is a single player and multiplayer action adventure game. It was developed by ForepawSoft and was released on September 5, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Chasing Styx" is a fast-paced, rhythm-based platformer where players control the Ferryman of the Dead, Styx, as he navigates through the treacherous River of Styx. Using strategic timing and quick reflexes, players must avoid obstacles and defeat enemies to the beat of the game's original soundtrack. With procedurally generated levels, each run offers a new challenge in this intense and exciting adventure.

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

music5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a nostalgic art style reminiscent of classic titles, which many players find charming and enjoyable.
It offers a challenging gameplay experience with a good balance of difficulty, making it rewarding for players who invest time in mastering it.
The game is free to play, which is a significant plus, allowing players to try it without any financial commitment.

The graphics and overall presentation are considered poor, with many players feeling it looks worse than older arcade games.
Controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
The game suffers from repetitive mechanics and a lack of engaging content, making it feel tedious over time.

music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The music in the game is widely praised for its great fit with the theme, enhancing the overall experience with a nostalgic and energetic vibe. Many players find the soundtrack enjoyable and a significant highlight, although there are some mixed feelings about the title screen music. Overall, the combination of catchy tunes and retro graphics contributes to the game's replayability and charm.
- “The music is great and totally fits the theme!”
- “This game is super cute, I find it kind of hard but it is all worth it for that soundtrack!!!!!”
- “I really enjoyed this game... retro graphics, addicting music and a lot of originality, just the right ingredients for a well-made old school game.”
- “Even though it has a formidable soundtrack and gameplay, I do love myself a bit of Greek mythology.”
- “Except the hideous title screen music.”
- “This game is super cute; I find it kind of hard, but it is all worth it for that soundtrack!”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as "godawful" and reminiscent of low-quality pixel art, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic art style and acknowledge that similar games have succeeded despite poor graphics, the consensus is that the visuals can be challenging to engage with, often making gameplay difficult. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback, even in the context of a free-to-play game.
- “It's challenging, fun to explore, the art style is beautiful and nostalgic, the music is great, and it has so much replayability!”
- “Art style really reminds me of Sega Genesis games; this definitely gave me a sense of nostalgia while playing.”
- “The graphics are impressive for a free-to-play game, offering a unique visual experience.”
- “This feature is really godawful, lazy pixel crap 'art' instead of real graphics.”
- “It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to create 3D visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter.”
- “The graphics kind of make my eyes bleed, though it's not that bad for a free-to-play game with no strings attached.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The gameplay is highly praised for its depth and engaging mechanics, particularly the bullet cancelling feature that enhances the traditional shoot-em-up experience. While the plot is minimal, the focus on gameplay is seen as a strength, showcasing that quality can be achieved even with open-source assets. Overall, players appreciate the combination of a formidable soundtrack and the challenge presented by the game's design.
- “A fantastic, simple bullet hell with a lot of depth and great mechanics.”
- “Proof that gameplay is king, and open-source assets can still make a quality game!”
- “The game has a little bit of plot, but mostly just focuses on the gameplay.”
- “Bullet cancelling is a big part of the mechanic which makes it stand out a little from standard shoot-em-ups (aka shmups) and while not itself innovative seems to go nicely with the bullet patterns and overall difficulty scheme.”
- “Even though it has a formidable soundtrack and gameplay, and of course I do love myself a bit of Greek mythology.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players find the grinding in the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when it comes to unlocking certain modes and achievements, which often require replaying levels to discover hidden items. While some feel that grinding is only necessary for specific goals, others express frustration over the repetitive nature of the tasks involved.
- “Otherwise, no grinding necessary unless you're going for achievements like boss rush.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “It gets tedious after a while, especially if you can't find the chest in the route you've taken.”
- “I am more than a little annoyed at the locked game modes of survival, etc. I do not want to complete the tedious challenges (replay easy levels to find secret paths, chests) to unlock these.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The reviews indicate that there is no discernible story in the game, leaving players questioning its narrative elements.
- “There is no story.”
- “Story?”
- “What story?”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Players find the game highly replayable due to its challenging gameplay, enjoyable exploration, beautiful and nostalgic art style, and great music, all of which contribute to a compelling experience that invites multiple playthroughs.
- “It's challenging, fun to explore, the art style is beautiful and nostalgic, the music is great, and it has so much replayability!”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
- “The game offers a linear experience with no real variations in gameplay, which severely limits its replayability.”
- “After finishing the main story, I found that there were no new challenges or content to explore, making it hard to justify a second playthrough.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development has been criticized for its lack of creativity, with users finding both the character and monster designs to be bland and uninspired.
- “Character design is really bland and uninspired, and the same goes for the monsters' designs.”
- “The character development feels shallow, lacking depth and meaningful progression.”
- “I found the characters to be one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with their stories.”