KRUNCH

About

KRUNCH is a single player arcade racing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by LeGrudge & Rugged and was released on March 19, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Krunch is a quick-reflex game about escaping, survival and the fear of being closed-in where you play as one of six Krons (mechanical orb-like entities) trapped in a seemingly abandoned fortress. Escape more than 100 claustrophobic levels spread across 4 zones, survive 3 challenging boss chases, conquer one frantic race to freedom! Krunch demands concentration, delivers fast gameplay and will test…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

graphics12 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

The game features a nostalgic NES aesthetic with enjoyable pixel art and a great soundtrack.
Levels are short and designed for speed runs, providing a challenging yet rewarding experience.
Despite its flaws, many players find KRUNCH to be a fun and addictive time-waster that encourages replayability.

Controls are imprecise and floaty, making it difficult to navigate levels accurately, which can lead to frustration.
The game suffers from bugs, including broken achievements and issues with hitboxes that can result in unfair deaths.
There is a lack of content and variety, with many levels feeling repetitive and some players feeling the game is overpriced for its length.

graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
31%
14%
The graphics of the game are a mix of retro pixel art and nostalgic aesthetics, with many reviewers praising the visual style and the effort put into the design. However, some players feel that the monochromatic elements and character design lack clarity, leading to confusion during gameplay. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received for their charm and appeal, they are sometimes overshadowed by issues with controls and gameplay experience.
- “The art style is great, the levels are great, the music is great, and it plays very well!”
- “Overall, there was a lot of work put into the graphics for this game, and it's one of those games that just looks good irrespective of the visual style.”
- “Throw in an awesome soundtrack and visually appealing retro graphics, and Krunch makes for an excellent addition to your indie collection!”
- “The graphics give the impression that they didn't put too much effort into the character design, and the monochromatic abuse just underlines this lack of savoir-faire.”
- “The graphics style is basically if you take a Game Boy game and apply different color filters to it.”
- “Krunch visuals combined with the poor controls just make me want to never play the game again.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
31%
14%
The music in the game has received widespread praise, with many reviewers highlighting its quality and how well it complements the gameplay and visuals. The soundtrack is described as memorable, with standout tracks that evoke a nostalgic 16-bit feel, enhancing the overall appeal of the game despite some gameplay frustrations. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
- “The art style is great, the levels are great, the music is great and it plays very well!”
- “Cracking music throughout and it suits the game perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack was a real nice addition as well and sounded reminiscent of the 16-bit days.”
- “6/10 (+2 soundtrack, -1 price, -3 controls) = 4/10”
- “Sound: pretty much just music here, and I've gotta say that the music is pretty rad.”
- “A couple of standout tracks are the boiler track (ignition) and the last track of the soundtrack (escape).”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, relying on basic controls that allow for depth and precision, but it can also lead to frustration due to repetitive elements and occasional deadlocks. While some players appreciate the retro graphics and soundtrack, others criticize the pacing and gimmicks that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and challenge, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more polished or varied gameplay experience.
- “The game only requires the use of the arrow keys and one button, but in this simple control system lies a game of great depth and precision gameplay.”
- “The gameplay, though frustrating, is still fun. I found the retro graphics quite nice, and the soundtrack is great.”
- “This game took me a little over an hour of gameplay to complete, but it was really fun and challenging while it lasted.”
- “The core gameplay quickly becomes frustrating, and the red splashes splattering the whole screen at every death can get a tad irritating on the eyes.”
- “For $10, you can buy a much better polished game with a lot less repetitive gameplay (especially during some sale).”
- “Stupid gimmick to artificially lengthen gameplay ruins the pacing of the game.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The story is widely criticized as lacking depth and coherence, with many reviewers noting it as a "lame attempt" that fails to engage players. While the digital collector's edition includes a nice comic, the overall narrative experience is deemed insufficient for those seeking a compelling storyline or engaging gameplay mechanics.
- “Very lame attempt at a story; not even text to explain, ridiculous.”
- “Story: there really isn't much here, but the comic you do get with the digital collector's edition is quite nice.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players highlight the game's strong replay value and potential for speedrunning, suggesting that it offers engaging content that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Overall, I can see a lot of both replay value and speedrunning potential for this game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is noted to be somewhat ironic, as players find the pricing of $10 for an indie title to be laughable, especially in light of its annoying bugs. Overall, while the game has its merits, the comedic elements primarily stem from its shortcomings.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that keep you entertained.”
- “The witty dialogue and funny character interactions make this game a joy to play.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that character development suffers from a lack of effort in design, with monochromatic visuals detracting from the overall depth and appeal of the characters.
- “The graphics give the impression that they didn't put much effort into the character design, and the monochromatic palette only underscores this lack of skill.”
- “Character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving players disconnected from their avatars.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character progression makes the experience feel linear and unengaging.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating mechanics, such as misleading hitboxes that can lead to unexpected deaths, causing players to feel unfairly punished and diminishing their overall enjoyment.