Ctrl CV

About

Ctrl CV is a single player casual platformer game. It was developed by PsychoFlux Entertainment and was released on May 18, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Ctrl CV" is a fast-paced arcade-style game where players navigate through levels using arrow keys to move and space bar to jump. The F key is used to interact with items, and the D key helps locate them. The game features a "restart" option with the # key for multiple attempts. The objective is to navigate through each level while using the "find item" function to progress.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 117 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

gameplay5 negative mentions

The game features a unique and interesting concept that challenges players' visual perception and attention.
Controls are tight and responsive, making the platforming mechanics enjoyable despite the game's difficulty.
The minimalist art style and subtle sound design effectively support the gameplay, allowing players to focus on the core mechanics.

The level design can be frustrating, with cheap deaths and unfair mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
There are significant technical shortcomings, such as lack of resolution options, no pause menu, and poor audio controls.
The game's difficulty often feels artificial, relying on visual overload and poorly implemented mechanics rather than skill-based challenges.

gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
68%
20%
The gameplay of this pixel-art platformer is characterized by a unique blend of reflex-driven action and visual perception puzzles, with tight and responsive controls that adhere to classic platforming principles. However, players have noted that the reliance on clones and frustrating mechanics, such as sudden difficulty spikes and blackout segments, can lead to a repetitive and infuriating experience. While the core concept is intriguing, the execution may leave some players feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied due to the lack of variety and smooth difficulty progression.
- “At first glance, it appears to be a straightforward pixel-art platformer, but the central mechanic transforms it into something more unusual—a hybrid between reflex-driven action and visual perception puzzle.”
- “Mechanically, movement and jumping are tight and responsive, adhering to classic platforming principles.”
- “Ultimately, ctrl cv stands out as a concept-driven indie project that successfully builds an entire gameplay loop around visual perception and duplication.”
- “The gameplay is infuriating and unfair.”
- “The 'clones' add nothing to the gameplay and it only takes half a second to find your character if you lose them.”
- “Also, the full whiteout/blackout mechanics are annoying beyond belief and break the pacing, killing you constantly.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
56%
25%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the chill and great soundtrack that complements the gameplay, others find it repetitive, annoying, and too loud, with no option to adjust the volume. Many users express frustration over the lack of audio controls, making it difficult to manage the music's presence during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a double-edged sword, enhancing the experience for some while detracting from it for others.
- “The soundtrack remains understated, complementing the surreal tone without dominating attention.”
- “The music is great and I kept playing just to hear more of it; make it a separate buyable DLC please!”
- “Great game with a great soundtrack that slowly gets harder until you are at 3,456,789 deaths and 23 broken monitors.”
- “Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying background music; you'll need to alt+tab out and stop the music using the Windows sound mixer.”
- “The music is annoying and repetitive.”
- “Firing up a game only to be greeted by music that's deafening in comparison to all of your other media with no way to turn it down is maddening.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The graphics of the game have been criticized for relying on outdated retro pixel art, lacking modern resolution options and customization settings. Many users find the visuals to be crude and uninspired, with complaints about clunky controls and a general lack of atmospheric depth. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback, reminiscent of console limitations rather than contemporary PC standards.
- “While this is on PC, it has all the hallmarks and deficiencies of a console game, from the clunkier than needed control scheme to the less than cutting edge graphics.”
- “I don't mind the graphics, which are a bit crude, or the silly chiptune music.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “The graphics are lazy and dull.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The story in "ctrl cv" is generally considered minimal and not heavily reliant on narrative depth, with some players finding it lacking or non-existent. However, others appreciate it as a decent retelling that complements the gameplay mechanics, even if the story itself is not particularly remarkable.
- “This game was a good retelling of that story with good mechanics that seem cheesy in other games but work well for this one.”
- “Narratively, Ctrl CV does not rely on heavy storytelling.”
- “Story non-existent as far as I am concerned.”
- “Also, the story is nothing special, but it was quite a nice touch.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes beyond their initial playthrough.
- “The game offers various paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and encouraging you to explore different outcomes.”
- “With its dynamic gameplay and random events, every session feels fresh, inviting players to dive back in for new experiences.”
- “Multiple endings add a touch of replay value, suggesting that there may be more to discover beyond a single playthrough.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a unique and original sense of humor, though some players find the level design to be occasionally odd. Overall, it is considered a lighthearted and amusing experience.
- “This game has a unique sense of humor that keeps you laughing.”
- “The level design is quirky, but it adds to the game's originality and humor.”
- “It's a little funny game that brings a smile to your face.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is perceived as lacking depth, with graphics being visually adequate but not particularly immersive, and the music consisting of decent tracks that fail to enhance the overall experience.
- “The graphics are lackluster, and the music feels generic, lacking any real atmosphere.”
- “The visuals and soundtracks do not create an immersive experience; they feel disconnected and uninspired.”
- “Overall, the atmosphere is flat, with nothing in the graphics or music to draw you into the game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that prioritize profit over quality, leading to perceptions of it being a platform for "shovelware" and cash grabs.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”