Corn Kidz 64
- October 16, 2023
- BogoSoft
- 4h median play time
In "Corn Kidz 64," Seve the one-horned goat, tormented by a recurring dream, must confront a problem in the palindrome-themed town of Wolloh's Hollow with the help of his friend Alexis. This 3D platformer, reminiscent of 64-bit classics, offers a smaller and larger world, tower worlds, and a hub with bonus stages. The game features enemies, NPCs, a boss battle, a dynamic soundtrack, and weightier physics, providing approximately 4-8 hours of gameplay.
Reviews
- Nostalgic visuals and gameplay that perfectly capture the essence of classic N64 platformers.
- Fun and engaging platforming mechanics with a variety of movement options that feel satisfying to master.
- Charming characters and humorous writing that add personality and depth to the game.
- The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content and exploration.
- Some platforming challenges can feel frustratingly difficult, especially in the final level.
- Lack of clear direction and guidance can lead to confusion about objectives and progression.
- gameplay189 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a blend of nostalgic platforming mechanics reminiscent of classic N64 titles, featuring tight controls and a variety of unique movement options that encourage exploration and creativity. While many players appreciate the fun and challenging puzzles, some express frustration with the lack of direction and occasional jankiness in mechanics, particularly during more difficult segments. Overall, the game is praised for its charming aesthetics and engaging gameplay, though it could benefit from improved level design and clearer objectives.
“Despite the lack of direction, the game shines best for its platforming gameplay, which made for a fun platforming experience with interesting puzzles that made good use of the character's move-set.”
“The gameplay is very solid and polished, and it just genuinely feels good to move around in the world.”
“The gameplay, ideas, and characters are just too good for this to only be one little 'pilot episode' of a game!”
“My biggest gripe with it was how there was a lack of direction in terms of what had to be done to proceed through the levels, which is especially crucial since it plays like a sandbox game. The tutorial level not being possible to complete 100% unless you've gotten a skill from the next level made for a somewhat frustrating experience.”
“This is exacerbated by the fact that actually executing mechanics consistently within the anxiety tower involves actively fighting almost every mechanic of the game, and setbacks frequently feel like the game's fault and not your own.”
“It's one of those old-school frustrating difficulty spikes that comes completely out of nowhere and drags everything else around it down and teaches you to hate the mechanics, then tops it off with no reward for the experience.”
- graphics184 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Corn Kidz 64" are widely praised for their authentic recreation of the Nintendo 64 aesthetic, featuring low-poly models, vibrant colors, and charming animations that evoke nostalgia for classic platformers. Reviewers appreciate the game's unique art style, which blends elements of 90s cartoons with retro gaming visuals, creating a whimsical atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted issues with visual clarity and framerate, the game's commitment to its retro aesthetic and attention to detail have been highlighted as standout features.
“The graphics, the movement, the character dialogue, character and enemy models, level design, sound design and music.”
“The visuals are super-faithful but with some more modernized visual options if you don't prefer the crunchy CRT look.”
“The art style is one of the game's greatest strengths - rather than chasing the PSX style a lot of retro games are currently pursuing, Corn Kidz 64 lives up to its name in its commitment to the softer style of graphics seen on the Nintendo 64.”
“Graphics make my eyes hurt, music is low-ish quality, and controls and platforming make me exhale aggressively from my nose.”
“I appreciate the core of the simplistic N64 aesthetic, but the harsh framerate limit and heavy-handed blur + haze filters (even on text) made it intolerable to me.”
“Platforming can be a bit more difficult with the graphics making distances and depths harder to perceive; but it's all part of the experience, I suppose.”
- music182 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and nostalgic qualities reminiscent of classic N64 titles, while others criticize its repetitiveness and lack of diversity. Some players find the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere, contributing to the game's charm, while others feel it can become grating over time. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect of the game, with many expressing a desire for a more extensive and varied soundtrack.
“The music hits no matter what level, the animation is beyond impressive being as emotive and characteristic as it is, the platforming is fun and feels great, the dialogue isn't trying too hard to be funny, and the levels are absolutely huge and full of things to do.”
“It boasts a dynamic soundtrack that I love; the tunes stay catchy while changing slightly to fit the scene you're in.”
“The music in this game is so catchy!”
“The music is probably the weakest aspect.”
“The only negative part about the game is the way too short soundtrack; the same 1-2 minute song will play on loop throughout the worlds, and it can get pretty headache-inducing after a while.”
“I just don't have nostalgia for that type of game music, and I played so much better when I turned it off.”
- humor100 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by a mix of absurd, tongue-in-cheek writing reminiscent of 90s and early 2000s cartoons, which often elicits genuine laughter. While some players appreciate the quirky and random humor, others find it can become repetitive or overly crude. Overall, the game's charming characters and witty dialogue contribute to a nostalgic and enjoyable experience that resonates well with fans of classic platformers.
“A great deal of humor and irony is present, making for a great laugh between platforming.”
“The tutorial stage is an absolute joy, being rather expansive due to the player's mobility being on the more involved side, but also focuses so heavily on its really silly, fun writing that strongly reminds me of cartoons in the vein of some of the more absurd 90s and 2000s cartoons, constantly having sticky notes left around that basically always will say something funny.”
“The game has a 'lol so random' sense of humor with our protagonist venturing to collect some nachos; it's akin to something like Invader Zim, a style that can be groan-worthy but is executed well with various comedic moments.”
- story51 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as simplistic and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting a lack of character motivation and narrative engagement. While some appreciate the quirky and surreal humor, describing it as charming and reminiscent of retro gaming, others feel it ultimately falls short compared to similar titles. Despite the brevity of the main quest, players find enjoyment in exploring the world and uncovering secrets, suggesting that the gameplay experience can compensate for the story's shortcomings.
“The cartoon art style is awesome and the atmosphere, story, and characters lend themselves to it nicely.”
“This game comes off as if it just does whatever it wants to, with the story and overall sense of humor often being completely ridiculous but so uniquely charming.”
“It's also the type of atmosphere that I miss about older games; not having much of the story explained so as to encourage using your imagination, 'secret' areas to spend a lot of time pondering how to access, the eerie sense that there is always something 'beyond.'”
“Narrative-wise, there isn't much to the story either, and I didn't feel a sense of achievement upon finishing any of the levels or even the game as a whole.”
“The story is really bare bones; it's about as simple as you can get in a video game, so don't expect anything groundbreaking.”
“This game will be more appealing to those who don't mind playing games for the sake of playing it with nothing to work towards, because it has no real story to discover, no depth to explore in characters, no costumes to unlock, etc.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic homage to late 90s titles, effectively blending a whimsical yet eerie vibe that encourages exploration and imagination. Reviewers highlight the charming low-poly aesthetic, engaging soundtracks, and well-crafted environments that evoke a sense of mystery and nostalgia reminiscent of classic platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Conker's Bad Fur Day. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive, creative, and a significant draw for players seeking a retro gaming experience.
“The atmosphere is lovely.”
“The art, the atmosphere, the creativity—it’s all so well done!”
“This game is genuinely a masterpiece at creating such a perfect N64-styled atmosphere.”
“These crude graphics with well-drawn shadows on the texture are much better for a mysterious atmosphere than the modern ones in today's games - it looks too impersonal, without drawn texture with shadows.”
“The music and atmosphere... it feels like something that you shouldn't have found, and is on the sublime edge of arcane, and slightly creepy but relaxing and evokes self-reflection.”
“It's also the type of atmosphere that I miss about older games; not having much of the story explained so as to encourage using your imagination, 'secret' areas to spend a lot of time pondering how to access, the eerie sense that there is always something 'beyond.'”
- character development24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its charming and expressive character designs, particularly the main characters Seve and Alexis, which evoke nostalgia for 90s platformers. Reviewers highlight the fluid animations, quirky dialogue, and unique art style that contribute to a vibrant and engaging experience, showcasing a strong personality that resonates with players. Overall, the character designs and their integration into the gameplay are seen as a standout feature, enhancing both the aesthetic and emotional appeal of the game.
“The character designs in this game, mainly Seve and Alexis (the main characters), are great, especially with how they're drawn in some of the promotional art of the game. They're both fairly expressive both in-game and out of it.”
“The character designs and art style are super charming, with some really authentic N64 visuals and fluid, bouncy animation.”
“The platforming is fluid, the level design is stellar, the character designs are fun, their animations are gorgeous, and the soundtrack is extremely good.”
“I think the issue is expectations; the character design and quirky dialogue with the girl goat in the beginning makes it feel like a tween platformer with attitude, when some of the jokes and concepts being explored are more on the teen to adult side.”
“The character designs in this game, mainly Seve and Alexis (the main characters), are great, especially with how they're drawn in some of the promotional art of the game, but they're both fairly expressive both in-game and out of it.”
“Imo this should be 20 bucks but I guess it is short (depending on what kind of player you are). I love the character design and humor, but it feels like it lacks depth.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some enjoy the platforming and puzzle elements that require grinding, others feel that it can become tedious and repetitive, especially when pursuing 100% completion or dealing with obscure collectibles. The overall sentiment suggests that while grinding can be engaging, it risks becoming a chore if not balanced well with enjoyable gameplay.
“It's pretty easy to get lost in the hollow world and most of the tasks are locked behind a leveling up system like it's a grinding RPG or something.”
“I don't particularly mind grinding in platformers, as long as the grinding isn't a bunch of increasingly mundane side quests.”
“It stops being fun and becomes tedious, obtuse, and in the final level, a rom hack difficulty gauntlet of platforming not designed with such heavy controls in mind.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often likening their experiences to nostalgic childhood memories of playing classic platformers like Super Mario 64 and Spyro. The whimsical elements, such as the "corn kidz," evoke joy and laughter, while the gameplay mechanics transport them back to simpler times, creating a sense of wonder and excitement reminiscent of recess and childhood adventures. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and happiness.
“When the corn kids showed up in the first level and said 'it's corning time' then proceeded to shove corn down people's mouths, I cried. 11/10, truly the corniest game of all time.”
“The way it made me feel when I played it was nothing short of a religious experience.”
“I've never played a game that made me feel like I was right back at recess during elementary school, discussing all these silly theories for Easter eggs and secrets with my school buddies just because we wanted to know everything about our favorite games.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, with many secrets to discover and a focus on 100% completion that encourages thorough exploration. While the main storyline is relatively short, players find value in revisiting the game to uncover all its content.
“Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
“Despite it being pretty short, it still feels like I'm robbing the dev by paying so little for it due to its replayability and numerous secrets.”
“Finding everything for 100% completion will require intensive inspection, providing lots of replay value despite the main game being a little short.”
“Despite it being pretty short, it still feels like I'm robbing the dev by paying so little for it, even though it has lots of secrets and replayability.”
“Finding everything for 100% completion will require intensive inspection, so there's a lot of replay value despite the main game being a little short.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received criticism for being capped at 30fps by default, with 60fps only available through a beta update. Additionally, players have reported performance issues, including significant frame rate drops if not configured correctly, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The game is limited to 30fps unless you download the beta update, and 60fps is the maximum it can achieve. For a Unity game, that's not great.”
“I have some minor gripes regarding performance, particularly with the game's ability to run at full fps in v-sync being locked behind your monitor's refresh rate, which is limited to 60hz. This is a strange decision since the maximum the game will run is at 30fps. I ended up playing for about four hours at 15fps due to improper setup.”
“Performance is limited to 30fps unless you download the beta update, and 60fps is the maximum. For a Unity game, that's not great.”
“I have some minor gripes regarding performance, as the game's ability to run at full fps with v-sync is locked behind your monitor's refresh rate being limited to 60hz. It's a weird move because the maximum the game will run is 30fps. I ended up playing for about four hours at 15fps due to improper setup.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, highlighting frequent glitches that cause characters to fall through the game environment, leading to frustration and a disrupted gameplay experience.
“Falling through glitches, I can't seem to wait!”
“The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable.”
“I experience constant lag and disconnections during gameplay.”