Hargrave

About

Hargrave finds himself inside the walls of a mysterious labyrinth filled with strange robots. Find the way out, or find what's hidden deep inside.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 145 reviews

music12 positive mentions

monetization1 negative mentions

Hargrave offers tight controls and a challenging platforming experience reminiscent of classic games like Mega Man and Metroid.
The game is free and provides a rewarding gameplay loop with various weapons and upgrades, making it a great value.
Players appreciate the quick respawn system and the ability to retry levels immediately, which reduces frustration and enhances the fun factor.

Some players find the difficulty spikes and challenge rooms to be frustratingly hard, making the game feel unfair at times.
The controls can be awkward, especially on keyboard, leading to discomfort during gameplay.
There are reports of glitches and inconsistent mechanics, such as issues with the dash and jump responsiveness, which can detract from the overall experience.

music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
6%
19%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its catchy and nostalgic qualities that evoke classic platformers, particularly reminiscent of old Mega Man tracks. However, some players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive, suggesting that it may be beneficial to have additional music or podcasts on hand while playing. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the experience despite some criticisms regarding its repetitiveness.
- “Great atmosphere, funny music, tight controls (apart from the random dash), and I like the fast respawn; you don't have to wait around to try again!”
- “From the retro art style to the soundtrack, this game is a masterpiece.”
- “The music is catchy and the platforming is challenging but satisfying to solve.”
- “The game itself is really pretty, although the music still needs some work.”
- “The music has a very 'classic' vibe to it, and each zone has its own feel.”
- “Prepare some podcasts, lectures, streams, music albums, or whatever to accompany you while playing this game.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The gameplay of this retro-styled platformer is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its polished mechanics, beautiful visuals, and rewarding metroidvania elements, others find it frustratingly difficult and unbalanced. The game features basic platforming and shooting, with a unique mechanic that prevents death after collecting a key resource, but the challenge rooms can feel punishing. Overall, it offers a refreshing take on the genre, with engaging exploration and a sense of achievement, though opinions on its difficulty and fairness vary significantly.
- “Gameplay consists of basic platforming and shooting, and moving between different level screens to progress through the Metroid-inspired story.”
- “There's one weapon that homes in on enemies and can clear an entire screen, which obviously is very powerful in normal gameplay.”
- “Easy mechanics exploited to a perfect degree make repeating rooms and taking on the challenge of perfecting rooms seem attainable.”
- “A retro-styled platformer that feels hollow in its gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is made frustratingly difficult, to the point I'm not sure what the developer hoped to achieve.”
- “Even in normal gameplay, the game can feel unfair and unpolished; the challenge rooms are just a complete pain to even attempt.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game feature a charming retro pixel art style that, while not groundbreaking, is visually appealing and complements the overall experience. Players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and find it fitting for the game's design, contributing to its status as a well-crafted title.
- “Lovely retro style visuals.”
- “From the retro art style to the soundtrack, this game is a masterpiece.”
- “Great controls, lovely art style, and ingenious level design.”
- “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “The graphics are nothing to write home about, but they aren't ugly, so I'm happy.”
- “Fast game with modern-day graphics with easy controls that moves from location A to B to C and so on.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's story is described as metroid-inspired, providing a fun backdrop for the platforming and shooting gameplay, appealing to fans of titles like Cave Story and Mega Man. While some players find the narrative engaging and enjoyable, others feel that the lack of a strong story does not detract from the overall experience, suggesting that it may not be essential for enjoyment.
- “Solid input and a really fun story make this game an absolute blast to play!”
- “Gameplay consists of basic platforming and shooting, and moving between different level screens to progress through the Metroid-inspired story.”
- “I specifically recommend this game to anyone who has enjoyed Cave Story, Mega Man, and Dustforce, as well as anyone looking for a nice challenge.”
- “The only thing the game doesn't really have is a story.”
- “I don't think a story is necessary in this case, but some people might find it more fun.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it entertaining with clever dialogue, amusing achievements, and a fun atmosphere, others criticize it as overly simplistic and reminiscent of a cash grab aimed at popular streamers. Overall, the game's comedic elements are appreciated by some for their creativity, despite some feeling it lacks depth.
- “Great atmosphere, funny music, tight controls (apart from the random dash), and I like the fast respawn; you don't have to wait around to try again!”
- “The creators seem to also have a great sense of humor, from the names and requirements of certain achievements to the dialogue and weapons.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization model of the game is entirely free, which contrasts with the common perception of games made with Gamemaker Studio as often being low-effort cash grabs.
- “Very often, game maker studios are used to create shovelware and lazy cash grabs, although in this case, the game is completely free.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a vibrant atmosphere enhanced by humorous music and tight controls, although some players noted a random dash mechanic that can be frustrating. The fast respawn system is also praised, allowing for quick retries without downtime.
- “Great atmosphere, funny music, tight controls (apart from the random dash), and I like the fast respawn; you don't have to wait around to try again!”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate that the game avoids artificial grinding for experience, allowing characters to be capable and easy to control from the start. The challenge comes from navigating a hostile environment rather than leveling up through repetitive tasks, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “The thing I really appreciate about this game is the difficulty - it doesn't feel artificially imposed like certain overrated pseudo-RPGs. There's no grinding for experience to make your woefully inadequate character able to actually do something without falling over. Instead, your character is extremely capable on their own and very easy to control, with all the difficulty of victory coming from the extremely hostile environment.”
- “I love how the game balances challenge and progression. Instead of tedious grinding, every encounter feels meaningful and contributes to my character's growth. It keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- “Grinding in this game is rewarding rather than a chore. The experience feels earned, and I appreciate how the game encourages exploration and strategy instead of mindless repetition.”