GIGANTIC ARMY
- March 6, 2014
- ASTRO PORT
- 5h median play time
GIGANTIC ARMY is a sidescroller that reminds us of the 80's arcades and what Nintendo hard means.
Get on Steam"Gigantic Army" is a 2D side-scrolling shooting game where players control a mech suit to fight against enemy forces. With various weapons and power-ups to collect, players must navigate through levels, defeat bosses, and save the earth from alien invasion. The game features multiple stages, each with unique challenges and intense battles.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Gigantic Army is a nostalgic throwback to classic 16-bit mech games like Cybernator and Metal Warriors, delivering a fun and challenging experience.
- The game features solid graphics and sound design, with satisfying combat mechanics and a variety of weapon combinations.
- Players appreciate the fast-paced gameplay and the challenge it presents, especially for fans of the genre.
- The game suffers from clunky controls and a frustrating time limit that detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it feel rushed.
- There are no checkpoints or save features, forcing players to restart from the beginning of a stage upon death, which can be tedious.
- Many players find the lack of customization options and limited weapon choices disappointing, as it restricts gameplay variety.
- story96 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is delivered through lengthy text sequences between missions, which many players find tedious and poorly executed, often filled with spelling and grammar errors. While it attempts to pay homage to classic mecha shooters, the narrative is considered wafer-thin and uncreative, lacking the depth and engagement of its inspirations like "Front Mission: Gun Hazard." Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay but fails to captivate, leaving players to focus more on the action than the narrative.
“There is a storyline there somewhere, and that's probably the game's strongest part - you read text off a data tablet between each level, so... I guess your imagination fills in the details?”
“Unlike Satazius, this game actually has an in-game story.”
“Gigantic Army is a true heartfelt homage to all 16-bit era mech shooters like Cybernator, Assault Suits Valken, Metal Warriors, Front Mission, and Gun Hazard, developed by the studio behind the acclaimed shooter Satazius.”
“The story reading is way too long and boring along with having a ton of spelling and grammar errors.”
“It really looks like the story was just thrown in at the last minute.”
“There is a story told in text, but there's no reason to pay it any mind.”
- gameplay58 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its old-school charm and tight controls, while others criticize clunky mechanics and frustrating design choices, such as the time limit and inability to raise shields mid-air. Many players appreciate the nostalgic elements and smooth performance, but feel that certain mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it less enjoyable compared to classic titles. Overall, while the gameplay can be fun for fans of retro styles, it is marred by design flaws that may hinder enjoyment for others.
“Gameplay is superb as ever; this one is a bit more old school, with basic controls and no dash button, so you have to tap left or right.”
“The game itself is rather short and there are very few weapons, but the gameplay and controls are very, very tight.”
“The controls are tight, the graphics are well done, and the gameplay is enjoyable.”
“Poor design, clunky controls, and unfortunate game mechanics absolutely ruin the experience this game offers.”
“I can overlook the graphics and sound aspect (though ideally this would be improved given the capabilities of PCs/devices these days), but the gameplay design is irritating - if you die, you go all the way back to the start.”
“Overall, the controls were poor and the gameplay mediocre.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, particularly for their appealing retro 16-bit aesthetic, which many players appreciate for its nostalgic charm. However, some users express disappointment with the lack of graphical options and occasional incoherence in the visuals. Overall, while the graphics are praised for their style and crispness, there are calls for improvements to enhance the experience further.
“I love the graphics in this game because they didn't go for the ultra smooth and cartoony look that modern raster graphics provide.”
“Graphics are crisp, especially for the style they are going for.”
“The graphics look nice and fit with the 16-bit aesthetic the team was going for.”
“Not impressed; needs graphical improvement.”
“There are also no graphics options, meaning you'll either have to play it full screen, where it's in the wrong aspect ratio and blurrier than someone smearing Vaseline on your screen, or in a very small 640x480 window.”
“As a result, there are times where the graphics do not look coherent, and it can be rather unsettling.”
- music40 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it forgettable and subdued, failing to match the intensity of the gameplay. While some appreciate the sound design and the attempt to evoke a retro feel, others criticize the music for being ordinary and lacking the memorable quality of classic titles. Overall, the soundtrack does not leave a lasting impression, with suggestions for improvement noted by several reviewers.
“Other than that, the game is very satisfying with its excellent sound design, music, and glorious explosions.”
“The music, on the other hand, is great.”
“It's a little more advanced than the standard MIDI-type music of the SNES, but I'll let that slide as it does such a great job of setting the mood in each stage.”
“I know they were trying to catch the retro mech game feel, but it just doesn't do it. The mech is too slow even with jamming my sticks to boost, platforming wasn't fun, and the music and sound effects were obnoxious.”
“As for the music, considering the context of the game (shooting up hordes of mechs), this has got to be the most bizarrely subdued soundtrack I've ever heard.”
“As fore-mentioned, the music is incredibly dull, which is unfortunate considering the standards of Cybernator's incredible OST.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability through multiple weapon combinations and varying difficulty levels, encouraging players to revisit it for a fresh experience. Its fast-paced 2D action and engaging boss battles further enhance its replay value, making it a fun choice for arcade enthusiasts. Overall, despite some flaws, players find it enjoyable enough to return to.
“A brief but enjoyable side-scrolling shooter that packs in some replayability thanks to it giving you multiple weapon combinations you can try.”
“On the whole, though, despite its flaws, Gigantic Army was a pleasant surprise that's filled with tons of arcade fun and replayability.”
“Fast-paced 2D action with some huge boss battles and tons of replay value!”
“But harder difficulties give you more replayability, so there's that.”
“A brief but enjoyable side scrolling shooter that packs in some replayability thanks to it giving you multiple weapon combinations you can try.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quirky and amusing, with players noting funny gameplay elements and achievements that reward mishaps rather than skillful play. However, while some find the humor appealing, others feel it doesn't elevate the overall experience enough to make the game worthwhile.
“Just a couple of funny little quirks I've noticed: there are achievements for getting hit by a shock floor and for running into a mine, but no achievements for avoiding them.”
“A small but funny game!”
“A really appealing graphics to me with gameplay that's really funny.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly noting that the health bars for enemies in no special weapons runs could be reduced to alleviate the repetitive nature of combat.
“They could have made the health bars lower for the no special weapons runs to feel less tedious.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find "Gigantic Army" to be a deeply emotional tribute to classic 16-bit mech shooters, evoking nostalgia and appreciation for the genre's legacy. The game's heartfelt homage resonates with fans, highlighting its connection to beloved titles from the past.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally considered acceptable for its low price, but it suffers from noticeable bugs and a clunky performance.
“It's okay for cheap, but it's kind of buggy and clunky.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game features strong character design, indicating that the characters are well-crafted and visually appealing. However, there is no further elaboration on the depth or progression of character development beyond their design.
