Clustertruck
- October 28, 2016
- Landfall
- 5h median play time
If you like a bit of rough and tumble in your games tied with adrenaline-pumping action, this is a game for you.
Clustertruck is a platformer game where you jump and maneuver on top of speeding trucks in hazardous situations. The game features a campaign mode with increasing difficulty, and various abilities to unlock such as a grappling hook and truck cannon. It also includes a level editor, replay system, and online leaderboards for sharing and competing with others.
Reviews
- gameplay709 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Clustertruck is characterized by its fast-paced, chaotic platforming mechanics where players jump from truck to truck while avoiding obstacles. Many reviews highlight the addictive nature of the gameplay, with a variety of abilities and mechanics introduced throughout the levels that keep the experience fresh and engaging. However, some players note issues with repetitive gameplay and inconsistent mechanics, which can lead to frustration, particularly in later levels. Overall, the game is praised for its fun and satisfying core mechanics, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of movement-based platformers.
“The gameplay is fast, fun, and downright crazy.”
“With physics-based mechanics, each level feels like an intense test of skill and timing.”
“With simple yet addictive gameplay, Clustertruck is a heart-pounding, stress-inducing thrill ride that will have you laughing, swearing, and jumping for joy.”
“The gameplay is repetitive and boring and there are not many redeeming features.”
“The gameplay doesn't get too stale, as abilities add new aspects and strategies, and new mechanics are introduced regularly throughout the campaign.”
“However, I found the gameplay loop to be predominantly about repeating mundane jumps over and over again hoping that the truck RNG allows one to be positioned somewhere you can go.”
- music463 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the fast-paced gameplay and overall experience. Many players find the soundtrack to be addictive and enjoyable, often describing it as a perfect complement to the chaotic platforming action. However, some reviews note that the music can become repetitive over time, especially when playing through multiple levels in a row.
“The soundtrack is so good that it will make your heart pound like you are running away from a stampede of semi-trucks.”
“The music adds a pulse-pounding rhythm to the chaos, immersing players further into the truck-hopping madness.”
“The soundtrack is amazing and the music fits with the tone of the world or situation.”
“The music can get a little repetitive too, though it does a reasonable job at creating a frantic atmosphere.”
“The visuals are fine, the music is terrible and the gameplay is inconsistent and hard to grasp.”
“The music gets repetitive and can become annoying if you find yourself stuck on a level for a long amount of time.”
- graphics385 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of Clustertruck are characterized by a minimalist aesthetic, featuring simple, solid colors and smooth textures that effectively support the fast-paced gameplay without being overly distracting. While some players appreciate the clean and vibrant visuals, others note that the simplistic art style can feel outdated and lacks variety across different worlds. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose well, providing clarity and focus on the action, though there are calls for more graphical options to accommodate lower-end systems.
“The game's visuals are clean and vibrant, with a minimalist aesthetic that keeps the focus on the action.”
“The graphics are simple, but there are several different worlds with their own graphical themes.”
“The graphics are simple but effective, with brightly-colored trucks and levels that are easy on the eyes.”
“The only downside: the weird art style.”
“Inconsistent, buggy, the graphics are all reused base textures you can get from your standard Unity packs; this is just a cheap cash grab, and they used their code from this for a bunch of their other games so you can imagine just how bad the quality assurance is.”
“It's console ported but it does run in 4k, but there's not much point with all the lazy console/mobile tier low poly graphics.”
- story200 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional storyline, with most reviews emphasizing that it focuses primarily on gameplay rather than narrative. Players engage in fast-paced, chaotic truck-jumping action without any significant plot or character development, making it a fun, mindless experience. While some mention a vague premise or humorous backstory, the consensus is that the absence of a story does not detract from the game's enjoyment.
“Character development and story progression throughout this game were on point; it's obvious that a lot of time was spent on polishing the backstory of the main character, which really did show.”
“The linear timeline of this game's story really helped me keep track of what was going on, and I'm glad there were no annoying side quests or external missions. This game had everything I could have dreamed of in a game; good job, Landfall.”
“Clustertruck is the most fun I've ever had in a platforming game, and it doesn't need a story to pull you in.”
“The game doesn't have a storyline as such, but I want to know what is the deal with the guy at the end.”
“There is no story, you are suddenly riding trucks in the desert and you must reach the red goal area.”
“No story on this game, you don't know at all who you are, what you're doing here and why you're doing this.”
- humor157 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its absurdity and chaotic situations, often leading to players laughing out loud at the ridiculousness of jumping between trucks. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend frustration with hilarity, creating a fun experience that keeps players engaged and entertained. Overall, the game's silly premise and unpredictable physics contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere that resonates well with players looking for a comedic gaming experience.
“With simple yet addictive gameplay, Clustertruck is a heart-pounding, stress-inducing thrill ride that will have you laughing, swearing, and jumping for joy.”
“I spent more time cackling about the funny way the trucks would fly off a cliff, horns blaring, than getting mad at how many times I was dying.”
“It's funny that you play as a shapeless figure, but sometimes your movements felt stiff.”
“The humor starts to feel forced and loses its charm by the third stage.”
“What was once amusing quickly turns into a stressful experience as the game progresses.”
“The jokes become repetitive and fail to land, making the later stages less enjoyable.”
- replayability155 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, primarily through its engaging levels, unlockable abilities, and community-created content via Steam Workshop, which allows players to share and download custom maps. While the campaign is relatively short, many players find themselves returning to improve their scores, experiment with different abilities, or engage in speedrunning. However, some reviews note that the core gameplay can become repetitive after a while, potentially limiting replay value for those not interested in high scores or community content.
“With its engaging levels and endless replayability, Clustertruck is perfect for quick gaming sessions or marathon runs.”
“The addictive nature of Clustertruck, coupled with its challenging levels, encourages replayability.”
“Great replayability since the trucks never move the exact same way, and you have a diverse number of abilities that you can mix and try out.”
“But it's also quite a hollow and simple experience that I don't think has much or any replayability.”
“Levels get repetitive and almost no replayability; after the first couple of worlds, the gameplay slowly gets unbalanced and unfair.”
“There is also completely no replay value, so you will maybe get 1 more hour of playtime after the story, and then it just becomes boring and bland.”
- stability65 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and inconsistent physics that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences. While some users find the glitches add a certain charm and fun to the game, many others express dissatisfaction with mid-game freezes, crashes, and unreliable mechanics that can hinder progress. Overall, the game is described as entertaining but plagued by technical issues that detract from its potential.
“Runs great on modern hardware.”
“I personally have an i5 and a GTX 1070, runs great at 1440p with almost everything on; you may have different results.”
“The game is great, it runs great, it's cheap, and most importantly, fun.”
“Unfortunately, the game is plagued by technical issues such as recurring mid-game freezes while resetting a level, often for 2-8 seconds at a time, and crashes.”
“The game is a Unity-made buggy mess with an obnoxious window to change resolution at start and a 30-second load time, but dang, is it fun to jump on those trucks!”
“Don't buy this game, it's really buggy at the moment, there are so many technical issues that it's just not worth anyone's hassle.”
- grinding60 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the challenge of beating their own records and unlocking achievements, while others find it tedious and time-consuming. Many users suggest that grinding can feel like a chore, especially as the game progresses, leading to frustration and a sense of emptiness after completion. Overall, while there are moments of fun, the grinding experience can detract from the enjoyment for some players.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Average grinding in order to progress.”
“This is both good and bad, as it takes out the confusion, but also some of the fun of achievement grinding.”
“So what you're left with is a tedious and frustrating experience that turns this game into nothing but a time killer.”
“Overall, trying to play this game feels extremely tedious and isn't worth 17 dollars unless you're a streamer with a player base large enough to support the Twitch voting feature.”
- emotional50 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Clustertruck" elicits a wide range of feelings, from nostalgia and joy to frustration and heartbreak. Players often express a sense of fulfillment and empowerment as they navigate the chaotic gameplay, while also experiencing moments of intense rage and sadness due to the game's challenging mechanics. Overall, the game successfully combines a whimsical premise with emotionally charged gameplay, making it a memorable experience for many.
“Getting pure made me feel emotions I didn't even think were possible to feel.”
“This game made me cry.”
“Beating this game was not only a good time but made me feel a bit fulfilled.”
“heartbreaking”
- optimization49 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players praising its smooth performance and graphical quality, while others report significant stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on certain hardware configurations. While it runs well on lower settings for some, others experience severe performance issues that hinder gameplay, especially in more complex environments. Overall, while there are moments of solid optimization, many users feel that further improvements are needed to enhance the experience across a wider range of systems.
“The game is silky-smooth and is one of the most optimized games in terms of overall player experience.”
“The soundtrack and interface are great and the game feels really well optimized for something as simple as a speed runner type game.”
“Now, granted this game isn't necessarily a looker, but it's very well optimized with a nice look to it.”
“Great fun game, great to speedrun, but poorly optimized though.”
“Linux version has severe stuttering and graphical issues.”
“I enjoy the concept of the game and it is fun; however, I experience massive frame rate drops constantly, making it very difficult to play. This must be an optimization issue as I've tried to find a solution to no avail.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and varied environments, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that complements the frantic gameplay. Players appreciate the simplistic art style that effectively conveys a sense of scale and chaos across different chapters, creating a unique experience in each world. While the music is generally well-received, some find it can become repetitive, yet it still contributes significantly to the overall atmosphere.
“The music fits the atmosphere!”
“This simplistic art style is also excellent at contributing to the creation of some nice atmosphere from stage to stage, be it the endless expanses of emptiness of a snow-covered landscape giving everything a sense of massive scope, or the intense orange glow of the skybox in hell just further adding to the chaos of the scene.”
“The music can get a little repetitive too, though it does a reasonable job at creating a frantic atmosphere.”
“Each world offers a different atmosphere, new challenges and hurdles (sometimes literally), and new and exciting ways to mash yourself against a wall, or house, or giant stone cross falling from the stratosphere on the fiery plains of hell.”
“The atmosphere varies between the different chapters and the soundtrack + visual effects are a huge plus.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received criticism for being perceived as a cash grab, with users highlighting the need for bug fixes and better quality assurance. However, players appreciate the absence of annoying in-game purchases and microtransactions, noting that the game offers a fun experience with creative levels.
“No annoying in-game purchases.”
“It is fun, with creative levels and design; it is fast-paced and has no microtransactions.”
“They need to at least patch some of the bugs and not make a quick little cash grab out of it.”
“Inconsistent, buggy, the graphics are all reused base textures you can get from your standard Unity packs; this is just a cheap cash grab, and they used their code from this for a bunch of their other games, so you can imagine just how bad the quality assurance is.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features strong character development, particularly highlighted in the latter stages, with a well-crafted backstory for the main character that enhances the overall story progression. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail and the time invested in refining these elements.
“Character development and story progression throughout this game were on point; it's obvious that a lot of time was spent on polishing the backstory of the main character, which really did show.”
“Awesome game, with great character development in the end.”
Critic Reviews
Clustertruck Review - A Trucking Good Time
While Clustertruck may hit some speed bumps here and there, there's nothing quite like it when it cuts loose.
70%Clustertruck Review
I’ve not felt this challenged in a long time, and the levels do nothing but push you to the absolute pinnacle of your resolve. It’s just a shame some of the game’s bugs can ruin your progression.
70%Truckloads of Fun: Clustertruck
Conclusion: Clustertruck is an addictive, fast-paced parkour platformer with great controls and a ton of challenging levels to race through. While it lacks a polish in some crucial areas, it’s easy to recommend this game due to how simply fun it is.
75%