King of the Bridge
- March 8, 2024
- Finn Schuuring
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"King of the Bridge" is a unique spin on chess, where you must defeat a troll in his twisted version of the game, with over 20 unusual rules, to cross his bridge. The game features a lengthy rulebook to decipher, and the troll will stop at nothing to cheat and taunt you. With multiple endings, speedrun mode, and numerous achievements, this is not your typical chess game.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and unique twist on chess, with humorous and unexpected rules that keep players engaged.
- It's a charming and entertaining experience, with a low price point that makes it accessible to a wide audience.
- The gameplay encourages creativity and strategic thinking, allowing players to enjoy the challenge of outsmarting a cheating opponent.
- The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leading to concerns about replayability.
- Some mechanics, such as the troll's cheating and the rules, can feel frustrating and may lead to a sense of unfairness during gameplay.
- There is a lack of content and variety, with players expressing a desire for more rules, challenges, or a multiplayer mode to enhance the experience.
- humor32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, with players enjoying the funny dialogue, quirky rules, and adorable visuals. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine laughter through its unique take on chess, making it an entertaining experience that combines humor with engaging gameplay. Overall, the game is described as a delightful and hilarious short experience that leaves a lasting impression.
“And if all of that wasn't enough, it is so charming, from the funny dialogue to the charming visuals. This game is genuinely cream of the crop; major props to whoever designed this masterpiece.”
“It's so funny when the troll does something egregious like jump your rook over four chess pieces, and you call him out on it, and he's like 'who, me???'”
“Hilarious and adorable, full of fun tricks and secrets to discover!”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a satisfying learning curve and well-thought-out mechanics, offering a fun experience that encourages mastery and achievement. While the game is relatively short, lasting around 2-2.5 hours, players appreciate its innovative design and engaging art style. However, some users noted technical issues on Mac that hindered gameplay, and a lack of depth in certain mechanics detracted from the overall experience.
“It was a pleasure to master mechanics and get all achievements.”
“The fun comes from the gameplay of learning the rules and calling out cheating.”
“The art style is lovely and the gameplay is challenging and innovative.”
“Since you can't cheat, there's no point in calling out the computer when it cheats, so the core mechanic of the game is just gone.”
“There's no mechanic, for example, to track the troll's building suspicion.”
“Basically they never bothered to test that the game worked on Mac; it turns out the dialogue boxes don't work. If you are on Mac, the game will just softlock at the first dialogue, right before gameplay starts, but they have it listed as though it works on Mac, so Steam will let you buy it on Mac, and all of a sudden the devs messed you over.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and appealing, with a unique and simple art style that enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers note that the graphics are not groundbreaking, they appreciate the aesthetics and how they complement the gameplay. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics could be improved, suggesting they fall short in some areas.
“And if all of that wasn't enough, it is so charming, from the funny dialogue to the charming visuals. This game is genuinely the cream of the crop; major props to whoever designed this masterpiece.”
“It's a very original idea, and the art style is simple but unique.”
“The art style is lovely, and the gameplay is challenging and innovative.”
“Graphics are not very important for a game like this, but in this case they are just too crappy.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers multiple endings and achievements that encourage players to revisit it, many users feel that once the main content is completed, there is limited incentive to play again. Suggestions for additional game modes or varied enemies indicate a desire for more depth to enhance replay value. Despite these concerns, the game's low price and fun mechanics make it a worthwhile experience for many players.
“There are quite a few achievements that give some replay value once you figure out how to beat the game.”
“I beat the troll for the first time in about an hour, and there's multiple endings and some fun achievements to add some replay value.”
“Even when you've beaten the game, there is plenty of replayability - different speed modes to play, trying to get all 30+ achievements, and even every normal game is different.”
“The only negative thing about this game is the low replay value. After beating the troll and finishing all the achievements, there's little to do. I hope the developers will add something like a game mode with random rules every match, or even some different types of enemies with their own rules. I would gladly pay for a well-crafted DLC that provides this.”
“The only thing I would say is a downside is that there isn't much replay value since there is no further path or story to complete.”
“There's some replayability if you're hunting achievements, but beware:”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with much of the playtime spent on repetitive tasks rather than engaging gameplay. While the initial hours may be enjoyable, the grind for achievements and the need to replay sections can lead to boredom and a sense of burnout. Overall, the grind detracts from the overall fun, making it a significant drawback for many users.
“There's probably an hour or two of great fun, with the rest of my playtime being spent grinding out achievements.”
“Getting to any ending at all is a frustrating task, and is just grindy, even after unlocking all the rules.”
“There were a lot of other achievements and maybe I would have had more fun going for those, but after grinding for like 3 hours to beat the 'no cheat' run, I was just done with the game.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective sound design and immersive dialogue, successfully capturing the intended fantasy setting. Reviewers appreciate the blend of "puzzle chess" and "challenge chess" elements, contributing to a compelling and engaging environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both simple and efficient, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
“The dialogue and background noise give the game a nice atmosphere that reproduces the fantasy setting the developer was aiming for.”
“Overall, a really good concept with an awesome atmosphere; I really like the sound design—simple but quite effective.”
“It creates a great atmosphere of a sort of 'puzzle chess' and 'challenge chess'.”
- story3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is short, taking about 40 minutes to complete, with a humorous narrative and charming sprites. While the experience is enjoyable, it lacks replay value due to the absence of additional paths or storylines, making it primarily a one-time playthrough.
“Sprites are cute, the story is funny, and the effects are well-made.”
“Short but fun game; it took around 40 minutes to finish the story and around 3 hours to 100% achievements.”
“The only downside is that there isn't much replay value since there is no further path or story to complete.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' strong attachment to their pieces, indicating a deep investment in the gameplay experience and a sense of personal connection to their in-game choices.
