Frantic Dimension
- December 28, 2018
- hijong park
Get on SteamFrantic Dimension is a retro twin-stick shooter inspired by the earliest twin-sticks, 'Space Dungeon' and 'Robotron 2084'. Never stop moving and shooting... or you'll die.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Captures the retro arcade feel reminiscent of classics like Robotron and Berzerk, providing fast-paced and addictive gameplay.
- The game is free to play, offering great value and hours of entertainment without any cost.
- Responsive controls and a simple yet engaging gameplay loop make it easy to pick up and play, appealing to fans of old-school shooters.
- The game can become frustratingly difficult, with some players feeling it lacks adequate advantages or health options.
- Developed using GameMaker Studio, which some reviewers criticize for resulting in unpolished and low-quality games.
- Controls can be awkward, especially for those not accustomed to retro-style gameplay, requiring a learning curve.
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style typical of Gamemaker Studio creations, which some may find lazy compared to modern standards. While the blocky visuals may not impress everyone, they contribute to a nostalgic charm that enhances the fast-paced gameplay, earning a score of 7/10 for their retro appeal.
“Go ahead and pick this one up if you want a simple screen-to-screen shooter to pass the time with some old school graphics and sounds.”
“Graphics: 7/10 (for the retro style)”
“Don't let the blocky graphics fool you; it's really entertaining and fast-paced.”
“Like most GameMaker Studio construction kit games, this features lazy 2D retro pixel art instead of professionally done, contemporary PC graphics.”
“Go ahead and pick this one up if you want a simple screen-to-screen shooter to pass the time with some old-school graphics and sounds.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a randomly generated labyrinth that offers a Robotron-like experience, allowing players to retreat from challenging rooms. While some reviews note it as unpolished, many praise its engaging design and enjoyable audio, resulting in a solid gameplay score of 7.5/10.
“A randomly generated labyrinth of Robotron-like gameplay, with some ability to retreat from a room going badly.”
“An unpolished, but delightful gem that nails the gameplay and audio.”
“Good gameplay design.”
“The gameplay feels like a randomly generated labyrinth, reminiscent of Robotron, but lacks depth and strategy.”
“The mechanics are frustratingly clunky, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.”
“The combat system is overly simplistic, leading to repetitive and uninspired gameplay.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of games made with GameMaker Studio is frequently criticized for resulting in shovelware and lazy cash grabs, indicating a tendency for developers to prioritize profit over quality.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
“I can't enjoy the game without being bombarded by ads and in-app purchases.”
“It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating to progress.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story suffers from poor level design and a lack of coherent flow, leading the developer to rely on repetitive procedural generation as a substitute for engaging content.
“The developer couldn't manage to create proper level design and story flow, so they resorted to using repetitive procedural generation as a substitute for content.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it difficult to stay engaged with the characters and their motivations.”
“The story is riddled with clichés and fails to offer any meaningful twists or depth, leaving players feeling unsatisfied.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is rated moderately, with a score of 5/10, indicating that while there may be some elements that encourage players to return, overall, it lacks significant incentives for repeated playthroughs.
“The replay value is quite low, as once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
“After finishing the game, I found that there wasn't much to draw me back for a second playthrough.”
“While the initial experience was enjoyable, the lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel redundant.”
