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HackyZack

Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
HackyZack Game Cover
66%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
graphics, story
64% User Score Based on 163 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 4WindowsPlayStation
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HackyZack Game Cover

About

HackyZack is a single player arcade sport game. It was developed by Spaceboy Games and was released on March 28, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"HackyZack" is a single-player platformer game with a good soundtrack, where you play as Zack, a regular kid who juggles balls with unique properties through precision-platforming puzzles to reach the goal in each stage. The game features over 100 levels with multiple ways to conquer them, and you can collect 55 unique stickers and unlock eight different characters. Optional challenge levels are available where you race against the clock to destroy targets as fast as possible.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
HackyZack screenshot
HackyZack screenshot
HackyZack screenshot
HackyZack screenshot
HackyZack screenshot
HackyZack screenshot
HackyZack screenshot
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64%
Audience ScoreBased on 163 reviews
gameplay22 positive mentions
graphics4 negative mentions
  • HackyZack offers a unique and challenging gameplay experience that combines platforming with ball control, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment when completing levels.
  • The game features tight and responsive controls, vibrant visuals, and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • With a variety of levels and mechanics introduced throughout the game, players can enjoy a fresh and engaging challenge that keeps them coming back for more.
  • The controls can be frustrating, as movement and ball kicking are tied to the same input, making it difficult to execute precise actions, especially in later levels.
  • The difficulty spikes significantly between levels, which can lead to frustration and a feeling of being overwhelmed, particularly for casual players.
  • Some players have reported bugs, such as frame rate issues and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • gameplay
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in Hackyzack is characterized by its unique mechanics and challenging level design, combining precision platforming with a juggling element that can be both rewarding and frustrating. While the controls are tight and the introduction of new mechanics keeps the experience fresh, many players find the difficulty curve steep and the tutorialization lacking, leading to a mix of enjoyment and frustration. Overall, the game offers a distinctive take on the platformer genre, appealing to those who appreciate challenging gameplay and innovative mechanics.

    • “Very challenging and unique gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay fits well with Hackyzack's peaceful atmosphere, having both an amazing soundtrack and a beautiful visual style.”
    • “The developers do an amazing job at introducing, challenging, and then layering these mechanics.”
    • “The game only gives you a few levels to get used to the mechanics and controls before throwing you right into the thick of things, with short but challenging levels requiring very precise movement and kicks.”
    • “It's difficult not because the puzzles are well-designed or the mechanics require precision, but because you will find yourself constantly making tiny mistakes - like kicking a ball diagonally instead of straight up - which cost you the level.”
    • “There is little meaningful sense of progression in the game – there are a large number of levels, but only every 10 or so levels do you get any real sense of progress, and even then, while the game adds new mechanics in each set of 10 levels, the levels themselves ultimately feel rather characterless.”
  • music
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its vibrant and catchy soundtrack, which effectively sets the mood and enhances the overall experience. While some players found the character sounds distracting, the chill and atmospheric music helps mitigate frustration during challenging gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The game also features a great soundtrack that helps to set the mood.”
    • “The music is chill, which is a wonderful juxtaposition to the very challenging gameplay.”
    • “The overall appeal is good, from the art to the music to the gameplay.”
    • “Art style is okay, but the music is lacking; there is nothing to this game.”
    • “As for the music, well I've muted it, so I don't really remember it.”
    • “It doesn't really matter in that kind of game; I'd rather listen to my own music.”
  • graphics
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are described as a simple yet charming retro pixel art style that fits the gameplay, though opinions vary on its execution. While some appreciate the bright and colorful visuals, others criticize the quality and resolution, suggesting a lack of polish. Overall, the aesthetics are seen as adequate but not groundbreaking, with mixed feelings about their alignment with the game's theme.

    • “Nothing will wow you, but it’s a well-executed art style that fits the gameplay.”
    • “Excellent aesthetics.”
    • “The graphics are bright, colorful, and exactly what you would expect from the developers of ink.”
    • “Hackyzack is a lazy retro pixel 2D platformer where you kick a ball around, similar to some other platformers, only the graphics aren't as good.”
    • “Apart from fixed resolution and horribly bad retro pixel graphics (hire an artist; if you can't afford to do this, you can't afford to be a game developer, so stop), the developers immediately insult every PC gamer by telling them not to use keyboard and mouse; instead, they want you to drop 50 IQ points and become a console peasant.”
    • “Graphic bad gameplay not fun.”
  • story
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is minimal, lacking cutscenes or dialogue, which leaves players with little narrative context or emotional engagement. Reviewers note that the absence of an overarching plot or meaningful progression diminishes the sense of accomplishment, reducing the experience to merely completing a series of challenges without a compelling story to drive it.

    • “After some time watching sticker runs on YouTube and countless deaths, I picked up the move set and beat the story with most of the stickers.”
    • “After all, if I made a game based on stamp-collecting, then tied it to words like loneliness or depression, I believe most people would reasonably conclude that's what I think of those enthusiasts. You don't have to insult them when you're the one who made stamp-collecting the focus of your game. Otherwise though, there's no cutscenes or dialogue, so this is the closest thing to a story or message that the game has.”
    • “There's no story, no scenario.”
    • “It also means that you aren’t really left with much of a feeling of accomplishment, as little meaningful changes and the levels feel very contrived. There's no overarching story or plot or, indeed, any real incentive to beat the game other than 'well, this is a set of challenges to complete.'”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. Players appreciate the combination of classy music and simple yet charming pixel animations that enhance the overall ambiance. However, some note that the control scheme may detract from the otherwise polished atmosphere.

    • “The gameplay fits well with Hackyzack's peaceful atmosphere, featuring an amazing soundtrack and a beautiful visual style.”
    • “Classy music, relaxing atmosphere, and great polish.”
    • “The visual design is beautifully simple, with lovely pixel animations and a 'chillout' kind of atmosphere.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a mix of frustration and exhilaration in the emotional experience of the game, as it initially instills a sense of confidence before challenging them with difficult levels that can lead to feelings of heartbreak. The game's design encourages a sense of mastery, only to later undermine that confidence, creating a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the gameplay.

    • “This game will make you feel like a pro in no time, and then it will strip that away from you on the next heartbreaking level.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users find the game to be genuinely funny, though some criticize the unintuitive controls, suggesting that the frustration may overshadow the humor for certain players. Overall, the humor is a highlight, but it may not resonate with everyone due to gameplay issues.

    • “It's a funny game!”
    • “The humor is spot-on and keeps you laughing throughout!”
    • “I love the witty dialogue and hilarious situations that arise!”
    • “The controls are so unintuitive it's not funny.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
    • “I expected a lot of laughs, but the humor is stale and repetitive.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting poor controls, numerous bugs, and an overall lack of content, which detracts from the gaming experience. Additionally, the color palette has been noted as visually unappealing.

    • “The controls are terrible, and the game is incredibly buggy.”
    • “The color palette is painful to look at.”
    • “Overall, the game feels unstable and unpolished.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.

    • “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible for a wider range of players.”
    • “The game's optimization ensures that I can enjoy high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.”
    • “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “I constantly experience frame drops and stuttering, which ruins the immersion.”
    • “The optimization is so bad that loading times are excessively long, making it hard to stay engaged.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players feel that the grinding aspect detracts from the game's core mechanics, turning enjoyable gameplay into a tedious experience filled with repetitive jumps and obstacles.

    • “The game's main mechanic and how much fun it was is put to the side, and you now get to avoid spikes and make tedious jumps.”
    • “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the story or characters.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players highlight the game's high replayability, noting that it offers abundant opportunities for revisiting and enjoying the experience multiple times.

    • “The variety of choices and outcomes makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
    • “With multiple endings and character paths, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
    • “Speaking of replay value, this game has oodles of it.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying feel pointless.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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10h Median play time
10h Average play time
10-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

HackyZack is a arcade sport game.

HackyZack is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 10 hours playing HackyZack.

HackyZack was released on March 28, 2017.

HackyZack was developed by Spaceboy Games.

HackyZack has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

HackyZack is a single player game.

Similar games include INK, They Bleed Pixels, Snake Pass, RITE, Almost There: The Platformer and others.