Luckslinger
- February 5, 2015
- Duckbridge
- 9h median play time
A deeply fun and challenging platform shooter that mixes western and hip-hop aesthetics to create an extraordinary game.
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Luckslinger" is a single-player comedy platformer game where luck is a measurable and usable resource, impacting gameplay in various ways. Inspired by spaghetti western classics and hip hop culture, the game has you killing bandits, stealing their luck, and using it to your advantage. In the town of Clovercreek, six infamous criminals have stolen the town's luck charms, and it's up to you to retrieve them. The game boasts ingenious mechanics and a marvelous music score.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
Linux
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a unique luck mechanic that adds an interesting twist to gameplay, allowing players to influence outcomes based on their luck level.
- The soundtrack is highly praised, blending hip-hop and spaghetti western themes, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The pixel art style and humor contribute to a charming and engaging experience, making it enjoyable for fans of retro games.
- The difficulty level can be excessively punishing, with many players finding the combat tedious and the bosses frustratingly hard.
- Unskippable cutscenes and repetitive dialogue after dying can lead to frustration, especially during challenging boss fights.
- The controls are often criticized for being clunky and unresponsive, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- gameplay66 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this indie title is characterized by a unique "luck mechanic" that adds an engaging twist to the traditional platforming experience, allowing players to collect luck points that influence combat outcomes. While the controls are generally responsive and the mechanics are well-designed, some players find the gameplay loop cumbersome due to the manual handling of various mechanics, and the game can be challenging to the point of frustration. Overall, the combination of a captivating soundtrack and stylish presentation enhances the gameplay, making it a memorable experience despite some design inconsistencies.
“This indie game surprised me with the amount of storytelling and fun gameplay packed inside a wonderful western world.”
“The gameplay feels really smooth and well thought out.”
“Luckslinger is a hardcore platformer with tight and addicting gameplay, and has a theme and style that, while great-looking, never takes itself too seriously.”
“The gameplay loop suffers from having to handle manually all of those mechanics, but the Xbox 360 pad was working out of the box and the inputs were responsive.”
“While the game begins charming and is an easy venture to get into the groove of (shoot, roll, jump, and knife toss to victory with the occasional item/luck medallion usage), certain gameplay flaws quickly become apparent.”
“These design and gameplay problems come together to form a game that tries to be hard and forgets to be fair. In a hard game like Super Meat Boy, every death is my fault and I know it, because the controls are so tight and the design is so fair that I never got frustrated at the game.”
- music59 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its unique blend of hip-hop and spaghetti western influences, which enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as catchy, professional, and reminiscent of high-quality productions like "Samurai Champloo." Overall, the music is considered integral to the game's charm and appeal, making it a must-listen even outside of gameplay.
“The soundtrack is really the star of this game.”
“The music absolutely makes the experience.”
“The art direction perfectly captures the spaghetti western, the music (an interesting mix of hip hop and Morricone) is fantastic.”
“For some reason, the sounds and music are made a big deal in the game, complete with pixelated record players.”
“The characters don't ever really talk and instead are 'voiced' by a series of record scratches and music.”
“[*] When the music is bad, it's cringeworthy (I'm not a fan of rap, but even then it was like 'wait, what...')”
- graphics25 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic pixel art style reminiscent of the Commodore 64 era, which some players find charming while others consider it lazy and outdated. While the visuals are not flashy and may feel simplistic, they align well with the game's overall aesthetic and theme, contributing to its retro appeal. However, the graphics have been noted as a low point for some, particularly for those expecting more contemporary visuals on higher-end hardware.
“It is pixel art style taken to the extreme.”
“Luckslinger is a challenging western game centered around its luck mechanic that has a nice art style, cool characters, and an outstanding soundtrack.”
“This game is very good; the music is great, the gameplay is tight, and the graphics are charming.”
“The visuals have some charm but are a definite low point of the overall package.”
“They chose to use obsolete retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“The graphics are just lazy.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a blend of dark and silly humor, with many players finding the dialogue and comedic elements genuinely funny and well-crafted. While some humor is appreciated during the initial playthrough, repeated exposure after deaths can become tedious. Overall, the humor is considered a strong point, contributing to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
“There is also silly humor worked into the game, some of which is genuinely funny, most of which is just silly.”
“The Atari look of the game goes hand in hand with the great sense of humor.”
“It's a fun, creative, challenging, and sometimes hilarious game, and it is challenging in just the right way!”
- story8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth and engaging dialogue, particularly highlighting the motivations of the six main antagonists. Players appreciate the clever narrative woven into the gameplay, which combines fun action with a rich western-themed world, though some gameplay elements may disappoint. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience with humor and intrigue.
“Feels like tripping or weird dreams, and actually has a great story behind it!”
“The story of the game is also really good, with some great dialogue that gives life to the characters - special note given to the main 6 bad guys of the game, who each have some interesting reasons for doing what they do.”
“Tldr; a clever story, awesome gunplay, interesting foes, lots of hidden content, and a stellar soundtrack.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real emotional impact.”
“I found the narrative to be shallow, with little motivation to progress through the game.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to repetitive combat and overpowered bosses that diminish enjoyment. The reliance on luck in certain scenarios, such as unexpected platform collapses, further contributes to the frustration and monotony of the grinding experience.
“But the core problem is that the combat gets tedious and the enemies stop being fun.”
“The challenge wasn't enjoyable; it was just tedious.”
“It's tedious, especially when facing the overpowered bosses.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique and visually appealing locations, complemented by an excellent soundtrack that includes hip-hop elements. However, some players find the difficulty level challenging, which detracts from their ability to fully enjoy the immersive experience.
“I really loved the atmosphere of the game, but the difficulty made it near impossible for me to progress.”
“Amazing western atmosphere and setting.”
“The different locations are all visually unique and sport some cool design choices, and each one has great atmosphere.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While players appreciate the emotional depth of the game, they express frustration with the clunky controls, which can detract from the overall experience by making interactions feel punishing rather than engaging.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While "Luckslinger" offers some replay value and interesting player choices, many users feel that the frequent, seemingly unavoidable deaths can diminish the overall enjoyment and motivation to replay the game.
“Luckslinger has a surprising amount of replay value, with great uses of player choice that keep the experience fresh.”
“The game offers a unique blend of mechanics that encourages multiple playthroughs, making each run feel distinct.”
“I found myself coming back to Luckslinger time and again, as the different choices and outcomes make every playthrough feel rewarding.”
