Flinthook

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 427 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Flinthook Game Cover
Flinthook is a pleasant surprise and one of the best games of 2017 so far.
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"Flinthook" is a single-player sci-fi shooter game with outstanding action-platformer gameplay and roguelike elements. As space captain Flinthook, use your hookshot, pistol, and slowmo powers to plunder randomly-assembled spaceships for treasure and loot. Zip around levels at high speeds, shoot in 360 degrees, and slow down time to dodge hazards and take down enemies. The game boasts splendid visuals and an awesome soundtrack, though be prepared for some grinding.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 427 reviews
gameplay97 positive mentions
grinding34 negative mentions
  • Charming art direction and a decent soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • The grappling hook mechanic is fun and allows for fluid movement through levels.
  • The game offers a variety of perks and upgrades that can be tailored to different play styles.
  • The gameplay can become monotonous, with many runs feeling the same and lacking significant variety.
  • The controls can be frustrating, particularly with aiming and movement being tied to the same stick on controllers.
  • Hazards and traps often blend into the background, making them difficult to see and leading to cheap deaths.
  • gameplay258 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the core mechanics, particularly the grappling hook and time-slowing features, which offer a satisfying and fluid movement experience. However, criticisms highlight a lack of variety and depth in gameplay, leading to repetitive runs and frustrating mechanics that can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the art and music are often celebrated, the gameplay is seen as inconsistent, with some players finding it tedious and others appreciating its addictive nature once mastered.

    • “The core gameplay is really top notch.”
    • “The hook mechanic makes for some really satisfying platforming elements that always feel tight and responsive.”
    • “Great rogue-lite platformer with tight controls, challenging and fun gameplay, daily and weekly challenges with leaderboards, and a healthy XP-based metagame to keep you coming back even after you lose.”
    • “Nearly every run feels the same and most of the gameplay and loot variety doesn't lend itself to enhancing gameplay in any significant way; sure, there's optional content to engage with, but the core loop is grating.”
    • “The artificial difficulty is horrendous and the slow-motion mechanic feels like a messy fix for flawed platforming.”
    • “The gameplay is very repetitive.”
  • music124 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, upbeat quality that enhances the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its ability to evoke nostalgia and fit seamlessly with the game's aesthetic. While the soundtrack is often described as top-notch and a highlight of the game, some players mention that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of beautiful pixel art and an engaging soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music is amazing and the graphics are gorgeous!”
    • “The soundtrack is very catchy, the pixel art and animations are beautiful, and the game's aesthetic is thoroughly enjoyable.”
    • “The real star of the show, however, is the soundtrack; pretty much every track is a joy, the best of the bunch brimming with undertones of menace before bursting into victorious fanfares.”
    • “However, the soundtrack feels limited and repetitive.”
    • “Not only because of the lack of story direction but because the game world, music, and graphics are just goofy and make no actual sense; it doesn't feel like a world.”
    • “The music is serviceable; it's very upbeat and energetic and fits the gameplay well, but it's not something I'd listen to outside of the game.”
  • graphics114 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, fluid animations, and vibrant aesthetics, which contribute significantly to the overall experience. However, some players note that the visuals can occasionally hinder gameplay by blending obstacles into the background, making it difficult to navigate. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and a catchy soundtrack enhances the game's appeal, despite some minor visibility issues.

    • “The graphics and music are beautiful and the gameplay is entirely unique.”
    • “The game has amazing pixel art and just beautiful animations; every little thing is animated, and animated well, a true aesthetic pixel masterpiece.”
    • “The art style is 100% cohesive and the animations are expertly crafted, bringing life into the game's environment.”
    • “The graphics don't take into account visibility; spikes are colored the same as a metal floor and they're not made to stand out, so the player can take them into account for the platforming.”
    • “The graphics look decent enough in most places; however, there are too many times where the bland color palette makes obstacles blend into the background or where safe spots to land blend in with unsafe spots to land.”
    • “Although I find the graphics, sound, and overall theme of Flinthook very enjoyable, I have to say that the game itself is kind of an unpleasant pain in the butt.”
  • story42 mentions

    The story of Flinthook is described as simple and somewhat lacking in depth, with players noting that while the pixel art and character design are appealing, the narrative feels disjointed and often irrelevant to gameplay. Many reviewers express frustration with the grinding mechanics required to progress through the story, which detracts from the overall experience, making it feel repetitive and lacking immersion. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the lore and collectibles that add detail to the game world, suggesting that there is potential for a richer narrative experience.

    • “It has a nice, simple story, beautiful pixel art, and fun mechanics!”
    • “There is a lot of detail in every object and there are a lot of secrets to uncover. I like the whole backstory and universe, but especially the characters are done very nicely. They all have a personality, even if that personality is a bit cliché. I love the protagonist; he says nothing, but the gestures he makes speak for him.”
    • “The main story is a little ambiguous, but it's clear a large amount of effort has been made to flesh out the lore of this universe through lots of collectible items with colorful descriptions.”
    • “The game drops the player in with almost zero story of any kind, and what is there makes almost no sense.”
    • “Not only because of the lack of story direction, but because the game world, music, and graphics are just goofy and make no actual sense; it doesn't feel like a world.”
    • “And after all that, the game still is an empty husk of a rogue-like with no feeling of reward or immersion to it, with a gibberish plot and story progression strung in to force the player to grind just to progress.”
  • grinding35 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the challenge and the potential for skill growth, others feel that the grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration rather than engagement. The need for extensive grinding to unlock upgrades and progress through levels is a common complaint, often overshadowing the game's aesthetic and design strengths.

    • “The upgrades/perks are pretty grindy and there are only 4 boss targets.”
    • “Gorgeous game with really good ideas, let down by gameplay that feels more frustrating than challenging, as well as grindy progression.”
    • “It's grindy for the sake of being grindy.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the charm and addictive nature of the roguelike mechanics, some feel that the experience can become repetitive after a few runs due to similar room designs and a lack of variety in sprites. However, features like daily and weekly challenges, an endless mode, and a focus on skill improvement contribute to a solid replay value for dedicated players. Ultimately, while it may not reach the infinite replayability of titles like "Isaac" or "Gungeon," it still offers a rewarding experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Otherwise a good roguelike, lots of charm; single-player games like this literally have infinite replayability.”
    • “The game has a good replay value; you can always keep improving on the daily and weekly challenges. There is an endless mode after you complete all 4 bounties, which is just insane, especially when your health starts draining.”
    • “It also has lots and lots of replay value, as its difficulty and roguelite loop keep the game addicting and fun.”
    • “A little light on replay value unless you really want to grind a lot to be able to afford hardcore boss attempts.”
    • “Also greater variety on the sprites for the objects and traps could help to further distinguish them from the background, making the game much more playable.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and creative character and enemy designs, which evoke a sense of nostalgia while providing unique comedic elements. While some players find the humor can wear thin due to frustrating gameplay moments, the upbeat soundtrack and distinctive sound design contribute to an overall lighthearted and amusing experience. Flinthook successfully blends quick movement with its humorous tone, enhancing the roguelike genre in an entertaining way.

    • “Character and enemy design is brilliantly creative and fun, lending to some really unique and funny designs that feel like classic characters that you've enjoyed many times before.”
    • “The soundtrack is proper SNES stuff; very upbeat and full of life, as is the sound design that has one or two strange choices, I found, but that only made it more unique and even funny.”
    • “Flinthook mixes quick movement, quirky humor, and expands on roguelikes in a really cool way.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character development in the game, highlighting the exceptional character design and animation that enhance the overall experience. The nostalgic and visually appealing pixel-art style contributes to a rich and engaging atmosphere, making the characters memorable and enjoyable. Overall, the combination of these elements creates a fun and addictive gameplay experience.

    • “Beautiful pixel-art, incredible intro, a lot of content, perfect character designs, wonderfully nostalgic, rogue-like, and most importantly very fun and addictive!”
    • “Great rogue-lite platformer - fantastic animation, character design, and music.”
    • “Love the art style, love the character design, and I don't think I will ever not love a grappling hook, especially executed this well.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by an engaging arcadey vibe, enhanced by intriguing world-building and atmospheric effects, such as cloud overlays on ships. Players appreciate the sense of adventure that permeates the environment, making exploration feel exciting and immersive.

    • “I reached the second world, and one ship had a cloud overlay, presumably for atmospheric effect.”
    • “The world that is built around the game is very interesting and intriguing; you can definitely feel this adventurous atmosphere.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally satisfactory, with smooth performance and decent level design, but it may not be worth the full price, suggesting a recommendation to purchase it in a bundle instead.

    • “The game runs smoothly and has reasonable level design, making it a decent pick if you find it in a bundle.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users have reported stability issues, particularly with the hook mechanic, which can freeze players in place if misused, leaving them vulnerable to enemy attacks. This has led to frustrations regarding the game's design and overall stability.

    • “Your hook freezes you in position, leaving you open to enemy attacks for a second if you mis-timed when to use it, highlighting how poorly designed this game is.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing hours of work.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall gameplay experience.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy includes intrusive ads, particularly during boss battles, which has drawn criticism from users. Many feel that these ads disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall experience.

    • “The constant barrage of ads after every boss fight is incredibly frustrating.”
    • “I feel like I'm being forced to watch ads just to enjoy the game.”
    • “The monetization strategy ruins the overall experience; it's all about making money rather than providing fun.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Flinthook

Play time

9hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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