Indie Pogo
- July 10, 2018
- Lowe Bros. Studios LLC
"Indie Pogo" is a competitive party game where up to 8 players compete in frantic platforming combat. Jump, spin, and bash your way to victory as you play as indie game characters in this homage to platform fighter games. Master the stage layouts and character movesets to outmaneuver and defeat your friends in local or online multiplayer matches.
Reviews
- Indie Pogo offers a unique auto-jumping mechanic that adds a fresh twist to the platform fighter genre, making gameplay fast-paced and engaging.
- The game features a diverse roster of indie characters, each with unique movesets that reflect their original games, providing a fun and nostalgic experience.
- The developers are committed to ongoing updates and community engagement, promising new characters and content, which enhances the game's longevity.
- The auto-jumping mechanic can be frustrating for some players, making it difficult to control characters and leading to a steep learning curve.
- The game suffers from a lack of single-player content and modes, which may limit its appeal for those who prefer solo play.
- There are balancing issues among characters, with some feeling overpowered compared to others, which can affect competitive play.
- gameplay125 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by its unique auto-jumping mechanic, which has received mixed feedback; while some players find it innovative and fun, others feel it detracts from control and overall enjoyment. The game features a variety of characters and mechanics that add depth, but issues like input delay, a lack of single-player content, and a steep learning curve for newcomers have been noted. Overall, while the gameplay offers a fresh take on the platform fighter genre, it may not appeal to everyone, particularly those expecting a traditional experience akin to Smash Bros.
“The gameplay is very different yet very familiar to Smash at the same time.”
“The auto-jump mechanic may take some time to get used to, but once you do, it is a lot of fun trying to see how much of a jump combo you can get so you can charge your super and just let your opponents have it.”
“Indie Pogo is a game I'd highly recommend for its unique gameplay.”
“The core mechanic, or as it should be called: the core gimmick, just bogs the whole thing down to a hard to control mess.”
“The parkour mechanic sucks as well, what should lead to a balance between ground and air, just feels like something that has no excuse to exist; the roll for instance, moves continuously in a direction until you let go of the parkour button, making you jump, and sending you airborne once again, meaning you can't go from a roll to a stand still while staying grounded.”
“The controls feel stiffer, the grab mechanic they added feels terrible, and they keep pushing out unannounced content instead of focusing on the content promised from the Kickstarter campaign.”
- music14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the fitting soundtracks and the effort put into the music, others find it largely forgettable, with most tracks being reused from other games. There is a consensus that the original themes are limited, primarily appearing in menus and specific stages, leading to a desire for more diverse music throughout the gameplay. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, it lacks originality and variety.
“This game is unique and fun, and adding to each character's move sets is great. The lineup for the roster is solid, and I love the music from all the games in here; definitely worth it.”
“Overall the game is pretty decent, with great visuals, stages, music, and characters.”
“The Lowe Bros have simply done an amazing job with everything from the music to gameplay.”
“And the music, I do feel a bit disappointed that the only original themes are in the menus and the sovereign stage as far as I know.”
“The entire game presentation is so bland and unappealing, the soundtracks are so plain and simple that they are pretty much forgettable and non-existent.”
“Most of the music comes from other games, and the title theme and (as far as I know) the results theme are royalty free.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally praised for their charm and effective representation of source material, with well-aged visuals and a cohesive art style that enhances the overall experience. While some character designs may create artstyle dissonance, the vibrant colors and detailed sprite work contribute to an engaging presentation. However, the janky gameplay detracts from the enjoyment of the visuals.
“The visuals of each stage feel pretty good to the sources, and the ones that needed a more polished visual feel got that.”
“The game's graphics are very nice; the colors for the characters and stages combine with the sprite work, making them feel like they came from the games they are representing without making them feel out of place.”
“Great art style that can run on any machine.”
“This may be obvious, but while there is a bit of art style dissonance thanks to character designs, that's what I'd expect from crossovers.”
“Graphics and overall presentation are charming, but the overall janky gameplay really makes this impossible to enjoy.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a strong sense of risk and reward, as players must balance aggressive aerial attacks to earn crystals while avoiding damage to maintain their combos. This dynamic creates a thrilling yet frustrating experience, particularly due to the limitations of the dodge mechanic, which can leave players feeling vulnerable. Overall, the gameplay evokes a mix of excitement and tension, as players navigate the challenges of maintaining momentum and executing powerful moves.
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability, particularly through competitive elements and leaderboards that encourage players to improve their skills and rank in single-player modes. Various modes, such as arcade and challenges, also contribute to the overall replay value by providing engaging and challenging experiences.
“Even something you wouldn't think about, leaderboards for single-player modes add to the replayability. It's really fun seeing if you can get up on the ranks.”
“Leaderboards add a nice amount of replayability to the single-player modes, encouraging you to compete against others for higher ranks.”
“There are a few single-player modes too, like arcade or challenges, that provide good replay value and a challenging experience.”
“The game lacks meaningful content to keep players engaged after the initial playthrough, making it feel repetitive.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return, as the side quests feel uninspired and lack depth.”
“While the mechanics are solid, the overall experience doesn't offer enough variety to warrant multiple playthroughs.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's story is notably lacking, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience, especially in a genre where narrative can enhance engagement. While the inclusion of classic indie characters as DLC is anticipated, a more cohesive storyline would be appreciated to better connect the gameplay elements.
“The game lacks any story, which I know isn’t always important to a lot of the fighting/party game audience, but it would be a nice addition to tie everything together.”
“We then learned we had to get good, and so the quest to become a pogo master began.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a diverse cast of characters, each contributing unique comedic elements that enhance the multiplayer experience. However, in singleplayer mode, the chaotic nature of the humor can become frustrating, as players struggle to keep track of the action while the AI navigates it effortlessly.
“Nearly every character offers something different and funny.”
“The humor in this game is infectious, making even the most chaotic moments enjoyable.”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious scenarios keep you laughing throughout the gameplay.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to have some artstyle dissonance due to its crossover nature, which is expected but may affect the overall cohesion of character designs.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players criticize the grinding aspect of the game for requiring excessive and tedious effort to unlock characters, compounded by frustrating UI elements like long, unskippable animations. Additionally, some characters feel incomplete or unenjoyable, further diminishing the overall experience.
“The game's UI is frustrating, with long, annoying animations that can't be turned off. On top of that, most characters need to be unlocked through mindless grinding, and some feel unfinished or just aren't fun to play.”
“Grinding in this game is tedious and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience. It detracts from the overall fun and makes progression feel like a slog.”
“The constant need to grind for resources and characters becomes exhausting, turning what could be an engaging experience into a repetitive task that drains the enjoyment from the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game exhibits significant stability issues, with players reporting numerous glitches and oversights that contribute to a rough overall experience.
“This game is still very rough around the edges with a lot of weird glitches and oversights.”
“I experienced frequent crashes that made it nearly unplayable at times.”
“The game often freezes during key moments, ruining the overall experience.”