Escape From Castle Matsumoto

About

Two shinobis race against each other to recover stolen items and escape a Japanese castle, using their wits and tricks to outsmart the opponent. Retro split-screen duel arcade game using pixel art in 3D. Click here for full GAME MANUAL Story Medieval Japan. An evil daimyo lord has stolen the treasures of Imperial family and hidden them in his castle in an attempt to seize power. As a youn…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 12 reviews

graphics3 negative mentions

The game is a heartfelt homage to the Commodore 64 era, showcasing high production values and authenticity.
It's free to play, which demonstrates the developer's confidence in their work and provides a fun experience without any cost.
The gameplay is enjoyable and challenging, reminiscent of classic games like Spy vs Spy, and the art style is detailed and expressive.

The controls are scattered across the keyboard and cannot be customized, leading to frustration for players.
The pixelated text can be difficult to read, making it hard for players to understand the game mechanics.
Despite its potential, the game has struggled to attract a player base, peaking at only a few concurrent players on Steam.

graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing them as "lazy pixel art" that detracts from the overall experience, while others appreciate the unique art style and concept. Despite the low-quality visuals, some players believe that the game can still succeed like others in the genre, such as Terraria and Stardew Valley.
- “Nice concept and very cool art style.”
- “While I said they're authentic, 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.”
- “Games like Terraria and Stardew Valley succeeded despite the bad graphics, not because of them.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Gameplay draws inspiration from classic titles like Mad Magazine's Spy vs. Spy, featuring split-screen combat and 1980s-style ninja mechanics. However, players have noted issues with locked controls and a lack of clarity in game mechanics, leading to a somewhat incoherent and unsmooth experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game retains a certain charm.
- “Gameplay is almost reminiscent of the old Mad Magazine Spy vs. Spy games where you fight an opponent in splitscreen. The Spy vs. Spy traps here are replaced with an equally authentic 1980s Last Ninja-style ninja combat game.”
- “Good game; however, the game mechanics are not very well explained in my opinion.”
- “Gameplay is almost reminiscent of the old Mad Magazine Spy vs. Spy games, where you fight an opponent in split-screen. The Spy vs. Spy traps here are replaced with an equally authentic 1980s 'The Last Ninja' style ninja combat game.”
- “The controls feel clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to execute even the simplest moves.”
- “The pacing of the gameplay is off, leading to long stretches of boredom between action sequences.”