Lizard

About

Lizard is a single player open world platformer game. It was developed by rainwarrior and was released on March 4, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Lizard" is a challenging NES platformer where you play as six different lizards, each with unique abilities, traversing dangerous landscapes from volcanos to underwater lakes. The game features tricky gameplay, a dubious coin currency, and pixelated nudity, with a free demo available. Players can download the ROM for any platform or order a physical NES cartridge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

Lizard is a genuine NES game that captures the spirit of classic platformers, offering a large, interconnected world filled with exploration and secrets.
The game features a unique mechanic where players can don different lizard skins, each granting special abilities, adding depth to the gameplay and encouraging backtracking.
With its charming graphics, engaging soundtrack, and a nostalgic feel, Lizard provides a rewarding experience for those who appreciate retro gaming and are willing to embrace its challenging design.

The controls can feel slippery and imprecise, making platforming difficult and leading to frequent deaths, which may frustrate players not accustomed to the challenges of retro games.
The sparse checkpoint system and the need to reset progress to access certain areas can lead to significant backtracking and a sense of annoyance.
The game lacks clear guidance and can feel overwhelming due to its cryptic design, which may deter players who prefer more structured gameplay.

gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
52%
16%
The gameplay is a nostalgic homage to retro mechanics, offering a challenging experience that may appeal to hardcore players but could frustrate casual gamers due to its rigid controls and frequent deaths. While the game features interesting environments and a charming aesthetic, many reviewers found the gameplay uninspired and lacking depth, with awkward controls and a lack of engaging mechanics that fail to motivate continued play. Overall, it presents a mixed bag, balancing a love for old-school design with modern expectations for gameplay quality.
- “To truly appreciate this game, you must be willing to step back in time—not just in terms of visuals, but in gameplay philosophy as well.”
- “While it runs flawlessly on modern hardware, every aspect of its design is a love letter to a bygone era, eschewing contemporary mechanics in favor of a pure, old-school experience.”
- “The fact of the matter is that this game features some of the best gameplay on the NES (even compared to the original classics on the system), as well as more love and charm than many other games could dream of having.”
- “To purposely design a control mechanic like this seems to be pandering to the small group of people who felt that overcoming a game's bad control physics was just as much a part of the challenge as the rest of the game and that this was a legitimate feature.”
- “Aside from that, the actual gameplay is lackluster.”
- “The controls aren't terrible but they do remain awkward and inhibit a decent platforming experience, the world is visually unappealing and small (albeit very open), the gameplay is uninspired and about as bare-bones as you can get, the lizard switching mechanic isn't intriguing or compelling, enemy placement feels too random for good level design, and perhaps worst of all there is simply no drive to continue after you've seen most, if not all, of the world which doesn't take long for the average player.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The graphics of the game are praised for their authentic retro aesthetic, featuring a classic 4:3 resolution and CRT-style scan lines that enhance the nostalgic experience. Players appreciate the stunning world and level design, with cute visuals that complement the gameplay, despite some critiques of a chaotic layout in certain areas. Overall, the graphics successfully evoke the charm of 8-bit games while providing a visually engaging experience.
- “The developers have gone the extra mile to make it feel authentic, offering settings that enhance the retro aesthetic, such as a classic 4:3 resolution ratio and CRT-style scan lines.”
- “Stunning world and level design, great graphics and atmosphere.”
- “Music is great, graphics are cute, and the feel of the game is just right.”
- “In terms of graphics, the world layout of Lizard is such a hodgepodge mess of randomized locales and sprites that it comes off as a digital 8-bit dadaist nightmare.”
- “While that fundamentally may be what all NES games were, the good ones at least disguised this well with enjoyable gameplay elements and pleasing visuals.”
- “The visuals of Lizard are pretty self-explanatory.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience. The chiptune soundtrack, crafted by Brad Smith, is highlighted for its memorable compositions that perfectly complement the game's diverse environments, making it a standout feature for players. Overall, the music not only adds to the enjoyment of gameplay but also leaves a lasting impression, encouraging players to revisit the soundtrack long after playing.
- “It has some amazing boss fights, great music, and many surprises.”
- “But well... I was already aware that the soundtrack was going to be a masterpiece of chiptune as I'm very much acquainted with Brad Smith's works - but the way it accompanies the game turns the experience into a dream.”
- “The slow, plodding creepiness of the deep sea water levels and the upbeat and energetic beat of the electrified mechanical level were always a delight to hear, and pushed me on to running around and finding as many environments to sit and listen to their music as I could.”
- “This is the kind of soundtrack that you remember for a long time, and revisit just to listen to years later when you can't get a certain tune out of your head.”
- “The soundtrack here is a must for chiptune enthusiasts.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, citing enjoyable mechanics, appealing music, and the fun of exploration as key factors that encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “There is a lot of replay value; the engine feels great, the music is enjoyable, and it's just fun to explore.”
- “Each playthrough offers new experiences, making it hard to put down.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game intentionally lacks a complex story, echoing the simplistic narratives typical of NES titles, where the focus is on the protagonist thwarting an antagonist. This absence of a detailed plot is viewed positively by some players, as it aligns with the nostalgic feel of classic games.
- “Virtually every NES game of this type consisted of one simple, non-complex plot point: 'You are the protagonist, stop the antagonist from doing antagonistic things.' So, as a matter of personal taste, I really think this is one of the strong points of the game.”
- “There is no story to be found here, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.”
- “Virtually every NES game of this type consisted of one simple, non-complex plot point: 'you are the protagonist, stop the antagonist from doing antagonistic things.' So as a matter of personal taste, I really think this is one of the strong points of the game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning world and level design, complemented by impressive graphics that enhance the overall experience.
- “Stunning world and level design, great graphics, and atmosphere.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the emotional impact of losing progress in the game, highlighting a lack of checkpoint retention that diminishes their connection to the experience. This leads to a sense of regret for not utilizing save states in the NES ROM version, suggesting that the emotional engagement is hindered by gameplay mechanics.