Lasagna Boy
- December 29, 2018
- Trashy Rascal Studios
"Lasagna Boy " is a puzzle-horror game that combines classic Gameboy aesthetics with a chilling atmosphere. Players control Lasagna Boy, a pizza delivery boy who finds himself trapped in a haunted pizzeria, where he must solve puzzles and evade sinister creatures to escape. With its unique blend of nostalgic graphics and compelling gameplay, "Lasagna Boy " offers a fresh take on the puzzle horror genre.
Reviews
- The game features a charming story and atmosphere, reminiscent of classic platformers.
- The art design and visuals are appealing, with cute character designs and strong animations.
- There are fun gameplay elements that mix stealth, fighting, and platforming, providing a variety of challenges.
- The game is often frustrating due to its punishing difficulty and lack of proper checkpoints, leading to repeated setbacks.
- Gameplay mechanics can feel unpolished and inconsistent, resulting in cheap deaths and a lack of control.
- The platforming sections, particularly involving minecarts, are poorly designed and contribute to a tedious experience.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Lasagna Boy" is often criticized for its frustrating and poorly designed mechanics, leading to a sense of unfairness and reliance on luck, particularly in later levels. While the platforming is generally fun and controls are consistent, many players find the difficulty spikes and design choices—such as challenging jumps and punishing sections—detract from the overall experience, making it feel unpolished. Despite some standout moments, the gameplay struggles to maintain a balance between challenge and enjoyment.
“Gameplay: the platforming is typical, but fun, and the standard controls behave consistently (besides the fact that B manages both sprinting and lighting/firing, and I can allow that considering the limits of the Game Boy).”
“Mechanically, [spoiler]Molech[/spoiler] was still a better final boss, though [spoiler]going back and forth between those hands got pretty obnoxious[/spoiler].”
“I don't mind a good challenge, but the gameplay in Lasagna Boy just feels unpolished and unfair.”
“Most times when I failed, it felt cheap and out of my control, almost luck-based, often having to take leaps of faith, jumping to things I can't see or aren't expecting, or throwing poorly designed mechanics at me, and I'm wondering 'did I screw up, or is the game just badly programmed' for the times I did die over and over.”
“Still, not that bad, it only takes you back a few rooms when you game over, what's the harm? That is until the later parts of the game, when the platforming and mechanics get so punishing and are so poorly implemented, I have to assume it's all luck and just pray the game has mercy on me to get through it (yes devs, I'm talking about the minecart, what were you thinking?).”
“The worst examples of this mechanic, [spoiler]the first three sections of chapter 7[/spoiler], resemble line rider courses in their obtuse track placement, sporting near-vertical jumps and walls that require you to rotate vertically so you don't crash on them.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, praised for its atmosphere and overall quality, though it is noted to follow a somewhat generic plot involving a rescue from a cult. Some players felt that the narrative structure could have been improved, particularly regarding the placement of key events and bosses.
“The game was pretty good overall, as was the story itself.”
“Very good game with a nice story and atmosphere.”
“In terms of story, [spoiler]Mr. Chesterfield[/spoiler] felt like it should have been the final boss, and [spoiler]the rising lava section[/spoiler] should have been the last platforming section, with [spoiler]chapter 7[/spoiler] as a bonus level for a golden ending.”
“The story is a rather generic 'save girl from cult sacrifice + demons' plot.”
“In terms of story, Mr. Chesterfield felt like he should have been the final boss, and the rising lava section should have been the last platforming section, with chapter 7 as a bonus level for a golden ending.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its blend of humor and spookiness, creating an engaging setting that enhances the story. While the initial experience is particularly strong, some players feel that it doesn't fully deliver on its atmospheric potential throughout the entire game.
“Highly recommend if you like the funny orange cat and spooky atmosphere.”
“Very good game with a nice story and atmosphere.”
“The game is good looking, the atmosphere and setting are great.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as minimalistic and somewhat repetitive, failing to enhance the overall experience despite the cute design and art. While the soundtrack is not entirely detrimental, it lacks depth and variety, contributing to a less engaging atmosphere.
“A sad instance in which ability doesn't translate into a good result. The design and art are cute, but the soundtrack is only a tad repetitive, and the movement and projection style used to create depth does not help in platforms.”
“Music: bare-bones.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, particularly for fans of the amusing orange cat character, which adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise spooky atmosphere.
“Highly recommend if you like the funny orange cat and spooky atmosphere.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express significant frustration with the optimization of minecarts, noting inconsistent performance that can lead to unexpected deaths or erratic movements, such as cartwheeling into pits.
“Minecarts are the source of my greatest frustration; their inconsistent performance often leads to dying at the first obstacle for no reason, or being sent cartwheeling into a bottomless pit without explanation.”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking, making it difficult to enjoy the experience when basic mechanics fail to function properly.”
“I often find myself struggling with the game's optimization, as it leads to frequent crashes and unresponsive controls that ruin the gameplay.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are widely regarded as the standout feature of the game, receiving high praise from users for their quality and visual appeal.
“The visuals are the best part of the game, hands down.”
“The graphics are stunning and truly bring the game world to life.”
“Every detail in the environment is beautifully rendered, making exploration a joy.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game's 2D pixel art and setting are praised, many users find the grinding aspect to be excessively tedious and detracting from the overall enjoyment of the experience.
“The setting, 2D pixel art, etc. are all fantastic - unfortunately, the actual game becomes unbearably tedious and unpleasant to play.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the game, making it hard to stay motivated.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding takes away from the enjoyment, turning what could be an exciting adventure into a monotonous task.”