Forza Polpo
- May 18, 2023
- MONTE GALLO
Get on Steam"Forza Polpo" is a FPS/platformer game set in a vibrant, post-apocalyptic world inspired by the 80s/90s era. Play as a robo-octopus with advanced jumping, gliding, and combat abilities, in a quest to defeat the evil Dr. Prometheus. Choose between "Simulation" and "Arcade" modes for varied challenges, with the former focusing on energy management and the latter on arcade-style gameplay.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a charming aesthetic and nostalgic vibes reminiscent of classic platformers like Jumping Flash.
- Gameplay features a unique energy management system that adds a layer of challenge and encourages exploration.
- Despite being in early access, the game showcases impressive design and controls, making it enjoyable to play.
- The game has significant bugs on Intel chips that can cause crashes, and the developer has not provided a fix.
- The second half of the game suffers from poor design choices, including unbalanced difficulty and lack of quality of life improvements.
- There is a lack of clear objectives and a cohesive narrative, which can lead to confusion and frustration during gameplay.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Forza Polpo is a mixed bag, featuring a refined platforming style reminiscent of Jumping Flash, but marred by linear stages, unresolved bugs, and a lack of meaningful progression elements like bosses and a proper ending. While the game offers unique mechanics and a charming aesthetic, issues such as a tedious energy depletion system and inconsistent combat mechanics detract from the overall experience, leaving it feeling unpolished and prototype-like. Despite these flaws, some players appreciate its engaging gameplay and nostalgic vibes.
“It does give me 90's vibes from the environment and the style of gameplay.”
“If you've played, and even enjoyed just slightly, Jumping Flash, this refines and nails that gameplay style to a tee and then some.”
“Cute art, great music, fun gameplay, everything you want out of a Jumping Flash style shooter/platformer!”
“Other major problems worth mentioning include unresolved bugs, the fact that stages are far more linear than in Jumping Flash, which seriously hurts the enjoyability and replay value of the stages, the lack of a proper ending after beating the final level, except for a trite, single screen, still image, 'meaning of life' which you have to return to the title screen to select and feels shoehorned in at the last second, the lack of a final boss or any boss for that matter despite the store page mentioning that our mission is to defeat an evil doctor, the lack of i-frames causing your health bar to melt in an instant from the aforementioned spam, and an inconsistent air combo mechanic that may or may not screw you out of points upon bouncing off an enemy.”
“Dreadful energy depleting mechanic kills any sense of curiosity and exploration – you are losing life energy by walking, jumping, shooting, and floating.”
“Overall the game is too unpolished and feels like a prototype; mechanics and goals are poorly conveyed to the player.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their charming kawaii aesthetic and dreamy atmosphere, featuring gorgeous designs reminiscent of Dreamcast and PS2 era styles. While the game draws superficial similarities to Jumping Flash in art style and gameplay mechanics, it offers a unique and light-hearted visual experience that enhances its fun appeal.
“I love the kawaii aesthetic and dreamy atmosphere.”
“Gorgeous design and aesthetic.”
“Incredibly charming take on Jumping Flash that incorporates fun Dreamcast/PS2 era aesthetics and level design principles.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its charm and quality, others criticize it for being limited to a single track, which detracts from the overall experience and makes the world feel empty.
“Cute art, great music, fun gameplay, everything you want out of a jumping flash style shooter/platformer!”
“The world is dripping with charm and a striking visual flair making it instantly memorable, and the music is great.”
“Controls are fine, the pastel-colored world is cute, but it has poor conveyance of objectives and music that cuts out after one track, making the world feel void.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and cute aesthetic, enhanced by its dreamy audio design, creating an overall kawaii vibe that resonates well with players.
“The theme of the game and the audio create a very cute atmosphere.”
“I love the kawaii aesthetic and dreamy atmosphere.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight significant issues affecting replayability, including linear stage design that diminishes enjoyment, the absence of a satisfying conclusion or final boss, and unresolved bugs that disrupt gameplay. These factors collectively contribute to a lack of incentive for players to revisit the game.
“The stages are far more linear than in Jumping Flash, which seriously hurts the enjoyability and replay value of the stages.”
“The lack of a proper ending after beating the final level, except for a trite, single screen, still image that feels shoehorned in at the last second, diminishes the overall experience.”
“The absence of a final boss, or any boss for that matter, despite the store page mentioning that our mission is to defeat an evil doctor, significantly impacts the game's replayability.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its linearity and lack of depth, with players noting the absence of a proper ending and final boss, which detracts from the overall experience. The narrative feels rushed and poorly executed, culminating in a simplistic and unsatisfying conclusion that fails to engage players.
“The lack of a proper ending after beating the final level, except for a trite, single screen, still image that feels shoehorned in at the last second, seriously detracts from the overall experience.”
“The story is far too linear, which seriously hurts the enjoyability and replay value of the stages.”
“There is a complete absence of a final boss, or any boss for that matter, despite the store page mentioning that our mission is to defeat an evil doctor.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's stability is lacking, with many users reporting it as rushed and buggy, leading to a frustrating experience. The level design has also been criticized, suggesting a lack of polish and coherence. Overall, players seem disappointed with the game's stability and quality.
“Unless your idea of a successor is a rushed, buggy game with levels designed by 'little Timmy' or some kaizo sadist, then have at it.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and glitches that ruined the overall experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding mechanic to be tedious rather than challenging or rewarding, with many expressing frustration that it detracts from the overall experience rather than enhancing the game's difficulty or hardcore appeal.
“Difficulty and 'hardcore' keep being mentioned, but this mechanic has nothing to do with any of these; it's just tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and lacks any meaningful reward, making it a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly became monotonous and frustrating.”
