Guard Duty

At the end of the day Guard Duty is a pretty good point and click adventure game. Combining fantasy and futuristic storylines is a really interesting concept. The story is pretty good with interesting characters which are completely voice acted. There are some interesting twists and it can be funny at times. The gameplay is pretty typical for a point and click game, but the game does a good job streamlining the gameplay. The puzzles are also fun to solve. Even the artwork is pretty good. The problem with Guard Duty is that the game is quite easy. You won’t be challenged by most of the puzzles as you will solve most of them almost immediately. This leads to the game being pretty short for a point and click game.

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"Guard Duty" is a point-and-click adventure game with two playable characters in different time periods. Tondbert, a medieval castle guard, must rescue the kidnapped princess, while Agent Starborn, a future resistance member, fights to overthrow evil and save humanity. With over 6000 lines of voice acting and detailed animations, the game features a compelling story that intertwines the two characters' fates.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews

story51 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and animations that evoke nostalgia for classic point-and-click adventures.
The humor and writing are engaging, with clever dialogue and memorable characters that enhance the overall experience.
The puzzles are logical and accessible, making the game enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.

The story can feel predictable and lacks depth, with some characters and plot points feeling underdeveloped.
There is excessive backtracking and filler dialogue that can detract from the pacing and overall enjoyment of the game.
The final act shifts tone dramatically, which may not resonate well with players who enjoyed the lightheartedness of the earlier sections.

story
157 mentions
32 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it charming and humorous, while others criticize it for being clichéd and filled with unnecessary dialogue that detracts from the main plot. Many reviewers noted that the narrative features interesting characters and engaging twists, but also suffers from pacing issues and a lack of depth in certain areas. Overall, while the story has its moments of creativity and wit, it often feels padded with irrelevant content, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.
- “A humorous and interesting story that mishmashes between two times.”
- “The story is both often heartwarming and sometimes harsh, with a fantastic delivery and wonderful dialogue.”
- “The story flows nicely and the puzzles are all logical.”
- “But the characters are dull, the writing never quite reaches clever, the story is boring, and the many pastiches and references are merely there but uninteresting.”
- “The story is as basic as you can put in a tiny three-hour point-and-click game, and this is padded out by the aforementioned story-irrelevant lore dump character dialogues.”
- “The characters and the story in the last third are just atrocious.”
humor
76 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-3 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of light-hearted, witty dialogue and nostalgic references to classic adventure games, often evoking a sense of charm and fun. While many players appreciate the comedic elements and character interactions, some critiques highlight tonal inconsistencies and moments where the humor falls flat or feels forced. Overall, the game successfully delivers a humorous experience that resonates with fans of the genre, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its varied comedic execution.
- “Great characters, fantastic visuals, and funny writing.”
- “Intuitive puzzles, very good storytelling, very nice and funny characters, great British humor.”
- “The humor in this game made me laugh a ton, and I really love how the last section of the game really delivers on what's at stake by contrasting just how much charm is lost in the conflict of the story while still maintaining a great tongue-in-cheek delivery.”
- “It suffers from some truly eye-roll-worthy and unfunny Metal Gear Solid references.”
- “The humor falls flat and often feels forced, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “Many jokes miss the mark entirely, leaving players more confused than amused.”
graphics
49 mentions
51 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their vibrant, nostalgic pixel art style, with many reviewers highlighting the charming animations and detailed visuals that evoke classic point-and-click adventures. While some found the graphics uneven or felt the retro 4:3 aspect ratio was limiting, the overall aesthetic and character design received positive remarks, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience. The combination of good graphics, engaging voice acting, and a well-crafted story enhances the game's appeal, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The graphics are fantastic, large pixel art, the voice overs are great, good characters all around, lots of variety, and the writing and pacing are top notch.”
- “The vibrant art style is quite lovely, and I'm pretty amazed with how much animated content there is in every scene.”
- “The graphics in Guard Duty were truly one of the stand-out highlights during my time with the game, and warrant a recommendation on their merits alone.”
- “The graphics seem a little uneven to me, with the normal pixel art style looking relatively good and in line with a 90's cartoonish style point & click.”
- “There is a lot of detail in the graphics which are aesthetically pleasing and retro, although I was a bit disappointed by the design choice of a 4:3 screen; it surely didn't have to be this retro.”
- “The upscaling of the low-res pixel graphics is problematic; hopefully, it will be improved in a patch.”
music
30 mentions
57 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and variety, enhancing the overall atmosphere with fitting soundtracks that range from medieval tunes to jazzy themes. However, some users noted the lack of separate volume controls for voice acting and music, which can occasionally lead to dialogue being overshadowed. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “Everything just clicked - graphics, music, puzzles, and characters.”
- “Music is rich, passionate and perfect for every scene in the game.”
- “There are no separate volume settings for voice acting and music, which means that voices sometimes get lost under the music and sound effects.”
- “The soundtrack is DLC for a reason.”
- “The music is also quite fitting for the game's atmosphere.”
gameplay
21 mentions
14 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its smoothness and nostalgic homage to classic point-and-click adventures, while others criticize it for being dialogue-heavy and lacking meaningful interaction. Although the game features innovative mechanics and a player-friendly design, many players found it too short and simplistic, detracting from overall engagement. Overall, it offers enjoyable moments but may not satisfy those seeking depth and complexity in gameplay.
- “Great plot, perfect writing and voice acting, captivating and somewhat innovative gameplay.”
- “You can clearly see the hard work and passion for games gone into the design and gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is player friendly with a to-do list, an inventory with not too many items, and easy access to locations.”
- “Heavy on dialogue and exposition, light on content and gameplay.”
- “The game just isn't there, and it's not accurate to describe this game as an 'unforgettable adventure' when it spans barely 3 hours of gameplay.”
- “Did not enjoy the gameplay even for a moment.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find the heartwarming journey and charming characters endearing, others feel that certain emotional moments, particularly in the last act, fall flat due to the introduction of new characters. Overall, the game balances humor with touching storytelling, featuring distinct personalities and a blend of nostalgic influences that resonate well with casual players who appreciate a wholesome narrative.
- “Definitely won't land with everyone; personally I found it very charming in a bumbling, twee kind of way and overall a heartwarming journey.”
- “Charming animations, far more voiceover than you would expect for something with that price tag, a touching story that keeps up the pace and keeps you interested throughout.”
- “The story is both often heartwarming and sometimes harsh, with a fantastic delivery and wonderful dialogue.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with fitting music and sound design that enhance the experience. Reviewers appreciate its nostalgic tribute to classic point-and-click games while also noting its unique charm and humor, making it appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers.
- “The music is also quite fitting for the game's atmosphere.”
- “Love the atmosphere, the music, the characters... for those who loved the classic point-and-click games, and for the new ones!”
- “The sounds and music are really nice, and the humor/atmosphere is amazing.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, particularly due to lengthy monologues and sections of exposition that limit player interaction. While the story is generally straightforward and the writing is adequate, these drawn-out moments can detract from the overall experience.
- “The story is not overly complicated and the quality of writing is adequate, while some of the monologues can be a bit tedious and lengthy.”
- “My only criticism is that there were some sections of exposition that were quite long where you didn't have any options to speak or do anything, which personally felt a bit tedious, but that's a minor complaint.”
character development
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and thoughtfulness, with players expressing strong emotional connections to the well-designed characters. The unique character designs and vibrant graphics contribute to a warm, immersive experience that makes the characters feel relatable and engaging.
- “Character development is well thought out.”
- “I also found myself falling head over heels for so many characters - there are some seriously great character designs, and the game does a fantastic job of really making them come to life and feel like people you should care about.”
- “The graphics style is closer to Simon the Sorcerer than any of the others I mentioned, with unique character designs and a warm feeling of life.”
replayability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game offers a short playtime of about four hours, and while it has more pros than cons, it lacks replayability, which may leave players feeling that their experience is too brief.
- “No replay value, though.”
- “It's about four hours long and its pros outweigh the cons; however, with no replayability, you might find this to be quite short.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with players noting that while the performances are average, the voice acting is excellent and enhances the experience. The puzzles are well-designed, striking a balance between challenge and enjoyment, contributing to an overall positive impression of the game's execution.
- “This is a joy to play, the voice acting is excellent with a few standout performances, puzzles are tricky but never frustrating, and the creator has done a wonderful job paying tribute to the games that captured my imagination as a child.”
stability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users report a bug-free experience, highlighting the game's strong stability, particularly on Fedora 30 Linux, where it runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware like an AMD laptop with integrated graphics.
- “A bug-free experience for me! Well done!”
- “I've played this game on Fedora 30 (Linux), and it runs great, even on an AMD laptop with integrated graphics only (Vega 8).”