Full Bore

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 70 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Full Bore Game Cover
Full Bore is deeper and smarter than its simple looks belie
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Full Bore is a nostalgic, open-world puzzle game where you play as a boar explorer in a richly designed underground world. With over 150 areas and countless secrets, the game encourages exploration and experimentation to understand the behavior of blocks and reveal the world's story. Featuring unique lighting and an original bluesy soundtrack, Full Bore delivers a captivating and atmospheric experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews
story11 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The game features clever and well-designed puzzles that provide a satisfying challenge, often leading to 'aha!' moments.
  • The rewind feature allows players to correct mistakes easily, enhancing the overall puzzle-solving experience.
  • The interconnected world encourages exploration, with many secrets and collectibles to discover, making it rewarding for completionists.
  • The controls can be frustrating, particularly during timed sequences, leading to issues with character movement and input responsiveness.
  • Backtracking can be tedious due to the lack of clear navigation and the need to re-solve previously completed puzzles.
  • The game lacks a robust tutorial and clear instructions, which can leave players feeling lost and confused about mechanics and objectives.
  • story31 mentions

    The game's story is described as intriguing and complex, with a surreal and dark lore that unfolds gradually as players explore the world and interact with various characters. While some players found the narrative engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, others noted its incoherence and lack of clarity, suggesting that it may not appeal to those primarily focused on puzzles rather than story. Overall, the atmosphere and unique premise contribute positively to the experience, despite some frustrations with the storytelling approach.

    • “A lovely little puzzle game with an interesting background story that you have to look for to really figure out what's going on in this uniquely constructed world where boars mine the earth.”
    • “A surprisingly deep story is revealed as you discover new areas and talk to a variety of interesting characters.”
    • “The story revelations and interesting characters you discover in small rooms off the beaten track make the effort worth it.”
    • “The story is incoherent and did nothing to really engage me.”
    • “I read all of the lore given in the game, I understood the base concept, but I still didn't understand many important details.”
    • “The story though... oh man.”
  • gameplay27 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a blend of open-world exploration and clever puzzle mechanics, allowing players to engage with the game at their own pace. While the puzzles vary in difficulty and originality, some can be frustrating due to their reliance on experimentation rather than logic, and the timing of certain challenges may feel overly strict. Overall, the game respects player autonomy and offers a charming atmosphere, with a well-integrated story that enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “I'm not the kind of person who usually enjoys challenging puzzle games, but this game's mechanics and puzzle design kept me hooked through the whole game.”
    • “The world is massive and tightly connected like a Metroid game, and the puzzles are really clever, using a wide variety of interesting mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, the puzzles vary in difficulty and originality; you will not get bored.”
    • “One last thing I would add is that the final 'boss' (a series of puzzles in a row) being timed was the only time the game truly frustrated me as it was very strict and the only time the rewinding mechanic wasn't as helpful.”
    • “- The biggest negative has to be the hybrid approach between action and puzzle in the 'race' missions: I think they are not that bad by themselves, but they are put in a point in the game where the player is not familiar at all with the game mechanics, and it's asked to act fast and in a super specific way, where half a second wrong will have you redo the whole race (I'm talking mostly about the rival race).”
    • “However, some puzzles rely more on experimentation than logic (which can get frustrating at times) and most of the 'hidden' stuff is too cryptic with mechanics that are never explained, requiring external help or real patience in trying many different things until one works.”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game receives a mixed reception, with many praising its catchy and varied tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, while others find certain songs repetitive or not to their taste. The experimental blues soundtrack is noted for its suitability to the game's atmosphere, though some players express personal dislike or find it depressing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect, contributing positively to the game's charm and engagement.

    • “The only thing that hints at the game’s unusual character is the experimental blues soundtrack, which is enjoyable.”
    • “The music is also very good, catchy and varied, with the theme reflecting the mood of the location.”
    • “Soundtrack is perfectly suited to the game, I still find myself listening from time to time.”
    • “The music is depressing.”
    • “As a side note and unrelated to my overall experience of the game (because I turned it off), the music was god awful.”
    • “Furthermore, the music is a tad bit on the repetitive side and sometimes doesn't work well when you need to think straight.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The game's graphics feature a charming retro pixel art style enhanced by modern elements like dynamic lighting and water effects, creating a cute and visually appealing experience. While some players noted that the visuals can become repetitive over time, the overall aesthetic and clever design contribute positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “I found the graphics to be very good, with great lighting effects.”
    • “The art style is great, combining a retro pixel art look with modern touches like dynamic lighting and water effects.”
    • “The game’s pixelated graphics are a little quirky but very cute and well done.”
    • “Very clever game design, cute graphics, and surprisingly long lifetime for a game in this price range (I finished it in about 30 hours, although some of it was idle time).”
    • “Neat graphics.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, described as both engaging and distinctive, with a mix of chill and oppressive elements that enhance the storytelling. Players appreciate the intriguing and sometimes creepy ambiance, which complements the exploration and puzzle-solving aspects, creating a compelling experience overall.

    • “This game might be rough around the edges, but it's still an amazing puzzle platformer with great atmosphere and a good story to tie it all together.”
    • “And the atmosphere and bizarre story are engaging and distinctive, with just the right amount of creepy.”
    • “This creates moments in the game where the atmosphere is oppressive and uncertain because you keep descending into deeper layers of this world with no way to return.”
    • “Very chill atmosphere.”
    • “Relaxing ambience and atmosphere.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience. However, some feel that it transforms potentially frustrating puzzle-solving into a more enjoyable and challenging endeavor.

    • “Looking at YouTube, the actual fight is equally tedious and frustrating, so it's not worth it to me.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report minor glitches and typos that do not significantly impact gameplay, indicating a generally stable experience.

    • “I encountered several glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
    • “There are numerous bugs that affect stability, leading to frustrating moments.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized as subtle yet effective, aligning well with the overall aesthetic the developer aims to achieve.

    • “The developer's humor is delightfully subtle and perfectly aligns with the aesthetic they are trying to create.”
    • “I love how the game incorporates clever jokes and witty dialogue that keep me laughing throughout.”
    • “The humor in this game is spot-on, blending perfectly with the storyline and characters.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

62% average critic score

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