Kero Blaster

Kero Blaster might not be Cave Story 2, but it’s still a neat game from Pixel.

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"Kero Blaster" is a challenging action-platformer game where players control a bipedal frog tasked with zapping baddies and rescuing his kidnapped girlfriend. The game features tight controls, pixel-perfect platforming, and a variety of weapons to aid in your quest. Set in a unique arrives-like world, players must navigate through different stages, battling bosses and uncovering the mystery behind the strange occurrences happening in the teleporter business.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 674 reviews

story95 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

Kero Blaster is a charming and fun run-and-gun platformer with engaging gameplay and a delightful art style.
The game features a variety of weapons that can be upgraded, providing a satisfying sense of progression.
The hard mode (Zangyou) offers a completely different experience with new levels and bosses, enhancing replayability.

The controls can feel floaty and imprecise, making platforming sections frustrating at times.
The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some boss fights can feel unfair or overly punishing, leading to repeated attempts that may frustrate players.

story
428 mentions
22 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story in "Kero Blaster" is generally described as simple and whimsical, focusing on a frog's mundane job in a quirky office setting, which contrasts with the more elaborate narrative of "Cave Story." While it lacks the depth and character development of its predecessor, it still offers charm and humor, particularly in its hard mode, which introduces a new storyline and challenges. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted nature of the story, though many note that it takes a backseat to gameplay.
- “The story is well done, providing intrigue and motivating the player while not being overly intrusive or long-winded.”
- “The story, while at first seeming really simple and cartoon-like, has a lot of depth if you don't take it at face value, and a heartfelt message is buried under its superficial childlike colorfulness.”
- “The story is great - and keeps surprising you.”
- “The last big difference is that this game isn't as story-driven as Cave Story.”
- “A fun and cute retro platformer from the creator of Cave Story, but unlike Cave Story this game is more linear and less story-driven.”
- “If you want something with a deeper story or more characters/dialogue, however, you should temper your expectations.”
gameplay
132 mentions
35 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Kero Blaster" is generally praised for its fun, engaging mechanics and charming retro aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles like "Cave Story." Players appreciate the variety of weapons and upgrades, though some criticize the level design and difficulty balance, noting that certain mechanics can feel cumbersome or grindy. Overall, the game offers a solid run-and-gun experience with a mix of thoughtful platforming and enjoyable challenges, making it appealing to fans of the genre.
- “Thoughtful gameplay is definitely rewarded, and the weapon variety is nice.”
- “The gameplay is enjoyable sidescrolling and shooting, combined with extra progression elements besides actual level progression.”
- “The gameplay is perfect run-and-gun, where you can just let your reflexes take over.”
- “You need to have a running start which isn’t always possible, which makes it bad level design and then bad gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is simple, and the difficulty ramps up appropriately.”
- “The gameplay is quite basic, and rightly so, given that the game was inspired by old classics such as Mega Man or Contra.”
music
128 mentions
59 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy chiptune tracks and nostalgic charm, often drawing comparisons to the acclaimed soundtrack of Cave Story. While some reviewers note that it may not reach the same heights as previous works, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is enjoyable, memorable, and enhances the game's whimsical atmosphere. Many players appreciate the unique compositions and the way the music complements the game's visuals and gameplay.
- “The soundtrack is incredible, among the best for this style of game.”
- “The music really transports you back and the note choices call you back to some far away yesteryear gone by.”
- “The final thing I need to say is that the soundtrack is excellent, the music is catchy, mysterious, beautiful and thrilling, all the right tunes on all the right moments and gameplay aside, one of my favorite aspects of the game and you'll be humming most of these themes in your head for at least months to come.”
- “What is also disappointing is that the presentation and music is surprisingly subpar.”
- “I cannot remember a single song from the game and the pixel graphics look really barren in a lot of places.”
- “This is supported by most of the music, sound effects, and even some of the assets and sprites being recycled from Cave Story, which is odd when Pixel is well known for his MIDI music and pixel art.”
graphics
85 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, simplistic pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for retro gaming, reminiscent of 8-bit aesthetics. While some reviewers noted that the visuals may feel like a downgrade compared to previous works by the creator, they are generally praised for their colorful and cute design, which complements the engaging gameplay and catchy soundtrack. Overall, the graphics are seen as a delightful aspect of the game, enhancing its fun and nostalgic appeal.
- “Beautifully crafted little adventure filled with humor, catchy soundtrack, and Pixel's distinctive art style!”
- “The graphics are a great throwback to the old 8-bit aesthetics.”
- “The pixel graphics are simple but do not try to emulate some 8-bit or 16-bit style like most pixel-based games out there; Kero Blaster is creating its own world.”
- “I cannot remember a single song from the game and the pixel graphics look really barren in a lot of places.”
- “My only real gripe with this game is the graphics being downgraded compared to Cave Story; however, it's also a blessing since visual information (i.e. enemy projectiles) is much clearer than they were in Cave Story.”
- “I would say that the price is a bit high and the graphics can be pretty simple, but other than that, it's a pretty solid platformer.”
humor
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as charming and quirky, featuring a mix of witty dialogue and amusing scenarios, such as a funny frog character and entertaining boss battles. While the story is simple and somewhat plain, it effectively adds to the overall enjoyment, with players appreciating the lighthearted tone and comedic elements throughout the gameplay. However, some reviewers felt that the humor, while enjoyable, could have been more developed within the plot.
- “Beautifully crafted little adventure filled with humor, catchy soundtrack, and pixel's distinctive art style!”
- “Funny frog shoots an overtime clock with funni birdo chasing the train under bobbing awesome boss music, recommend.”
- “While all of these traits are common, Kero Blaster is made unique by its smart level design, clever enemies, fun weapon upgrades, and most of all, pixel's distinctive difficult-to-describe charm and humor.”
replayability
15 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability through various modes, including a hard mode and a new game+ option, which enhance the experience despite its short length of 2-3 hours. Players appreciate the weapon variety, upgrades, and achievement hunting, contributing to a consistently high-quality experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. While some users wish for more content, the existing features provide enough incentive for players to revisit the game.
- “Difficulty seamlessly adjusts itself through the gameplay and seems to have lots of replay value thanks to the weapon variety, upgrades, and difficulty.”
- “That being said, this game on its own is a super well-crafted experience with high replayability and a world I'd like to see visited again.”
- “Kero Blaster starts out as a decently clever platformer, with a very well thought-out weapon upgrade system that provides great replayability, and semi-dynamic bosses.”
- “Cheap little platform shooter with a handful of challenges to give it more replayability despite its short length.”
- “If I were you, I'd wait for it to go on sale again like I did because I was able to beat the game in 3 hours and there isn't much replay value unless you just want to replay the whole game over again for fun.”
- “It's a little short, about 2-3 hours to beat, but there is a new game + mode that extends the replayability.”
grinding
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
-14 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience; while some players find it addictive and enjoyable, particularly for upgrading weapons and health, others describe it as tedious and time-consuming, especially during boss fights and later stages. The necessity to farm coins can lead to repetitive gameplay, but it also serves to balance the game's difficulty. Overall, grinding is seen as both a rewarding and frustrating aspect, depending on the player's perspective.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel well-earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation with different strategies.”
- “Combine these two particular bosses for this achievement, and you can understand how long and tedious of a grind this achievement is.”
- “The music is good, the theme of the story is good and upgrading and getting different weapons over the course of the game is fun too, but in the end, the gameplay is just way too slow and tedious.”
- “Boasts tight well-crafted gameplay and a hard mode that's a complete redesign of the entire game, but gets very grindy, as health and weapon power must be upgraded with coins that don't drop in adequate amounts until near the end of the game, thus must be farmed by re-entering the same screen again and again.”
character development
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its unique and charming designs, blending whimsical innocence with mature themes. Players appreciate the solid character designs of the main cast and the overall visual appeal, which enhances the game's engaging story and level design. The combination of cute aesthetics and challenging gameplay resonates well with both children and adults.
- “It retains all the classic hallmarks of pixel's work, including the chunky pixel art, bopping music by pixel himself, unique character design, and a rather interesting story that blends cutesy whimsical innocence with certain mature elements.”
- “The level design is amazing with 10 stages in total, and the enemies and character design might be my favorite thing in the game next to the bosses; they are extremely unique with the personal charm found in all of pixel's games.”
- “Kids (and children at heart) can easily find charm in the cute character designs and music.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- “There is little to no growth for the characters throughout the game, leaving them feeling static and uninteresting.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as charming yet simplistic, lacking the polish and depth of titles like Cave Story. While the color palettes effectively convey different moods—calm in icy levels and a sense of danger in industrial areas—the overall experience is considered low-budget and less immersive. Despite its shortcomings, the game maintains a cute aesthetic and offers engaging challenges that keep players interested.
- “When you're in the ice level, the color palette is mainly whites and blues, creating this sense of a calm, cool atmosphere, and the music complements it, while the stark greys and other industrial type colors give off the impression of danger or fear.”
- “The story, characters, and atmosphere are a lot more mundane and simple in comparison...but also just as charming at the same time.”
- “The story, characters, and atmosphere are a lot more mundane and simple in comparison, but also just as charming at the same time.”
- “Similar in atmosphere and gameplay to Cave Story, but shorter and with minimal plot, this cute game has plenty of depth and challenges to maintain interest past the initial campaign.”
stability
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly, particularly on the Switch, indicating a stable performance across platforms.
- “Give it a try, I played it mostly on the Switch and it runs great there as well.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game presents a seemingly simple and cartoonish story that, upon deeper exploration, reveals significant emotional depth and a heartfelt message, contrasting its colorful and childlike exterior.
- “The story, while at first seeming really simple and cartoon-like, has a lot of depth if you don't take it at face value, and a heartfelt message is buried under its superficial childlike colorfulness.”
optimization
1 mentions
200 % positive mentions
-400 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Cave Story is noted for its rigorous optimization, pushing players to achieve peak performance and mastery of the game mechanics. This demanding approach ensures that players are constantly challenged to improve their skills.
- “The game's optimization allows for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimizing the experience, ensuring that every element runs seamlessly.”
- “Cave Story was your unrelenting personal trainer that wouldn't accept a sub-par performance.”
- “The game's optimization is a mess, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering gameplay.”
- “I was disappointed by how poorly the game runs on my system, despite meeting the recommended requirements.”