Luckslinger
- February 5, 2015
- Duckbridge
A deeply fun and challenging platform shooter that mixes western and hip-hop aesthetics to create an extraordinary game.
"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.
Reviews
- The game features a unique luck mechanic that adds an interesting twist to gameplay.
- The soundtrack is highly praised, blending hip-hop and spaghetti western themes effectively.
- The game has a charming retro aesthetic and a humorous tone that resonates with players.
- The difficulty can feel artificially inflated, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Unskippable cutscenes and dialogues after dying can be annoying and disrupt the flow of the game.
- The controls are often described as clunky, making precise movements and actions challenging.
- music62 mentions
- 84 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its unique blend of hip-hop and spaghetti western influences, which enhances the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as catchy, superb, and integral to the gameplay experience, often compared to high-quality works like those in "Samurai Champloo." While some noted that the music can become repetitive, it remains a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“I must say this is one of my favorite retro style games ever; it's incredibly made with an even better soundtrack.”
“The music is really great and it really complements the vibe of the game.”
“The art direction perfectly captures the spaghetti western, and the music (an interesting mix of hip hop and Morricone) is fantastic.”
“The characters don't ever really talk and instead are 'voiced' by a series of record scratches and music.”
“Solid soundtrack.”
“Even just to listen to the soundtrack alone is worth the price.”
- gameplay58 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique luck mechanic that adds an interesting twist, though it can lead to frustrating challenges that some players feel are unfair. While the controls are generally intuitive and the mechanics are praised for their accuracy, the game suffers from design flaws, such as unskippable cutscenes and a sometimes overwhelming bullet-hell experience. Overall, the combination of a captivating soundtrack and stylish presentation enhances the fun, but the difficulty may deter some players.
“Breathtaking gameplay, intuitive controls, the coolest OST, fabulous ducks, and colorful villains!”
“The art direction perfectly captures the spaghetti western, the music (an interesting mix of hip hop and Morricone) is fantastic, there's plenty of references to the best of the spaghetti western genre, and perhaps most importantly, the gameplay is interesting and fun.”
“This game is very good; the music is great, the gameplay is tight, and the graphics are charming.”
“The 'luck' mechanic was a kind of neat idea, but in an attempt to be all stylish retro, it lacks any real substance.”
“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.”
“Luckslinger is too hard for its own good - in an attempt to be 'oh so #oldschool', Duckbridge made a game that is hard for the wrong reasons, including the aforementioned flaws in the gameplay section, but this extends into design.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as charming and reminiscent of the Commodore 64 era, with a simple yet well-designed aesthetic that complements its gameplay. While some players find the visuals not flashy and somewhat repetitive, others appreciate the overall artistic style and how it fits within the game's fun and challenging atmosphere. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's unique tone and experience.
“Great fun, great graphics, great hip-hop instrumentals, nice tone and sense of humour.”
“This game is very good; the music is great, the gameplay is tight, and the graphics are charming.”
“This game already has enough repetitive junk; I don't want to wait for loading on a graphically simple game like this on higher-end hardware.”
“Graphics are reminiscent of the C64 era, and the difficulty is brutal.”
“Sidescroll 'em up western with Commodore 64-esque graphics that allows you to store up luck to use as a resource and manipulate certain behind-the-scenes dice rolls to your favor (or against).”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its great sense of humor, particularly its dark humor, which complements its retro Atari aesthetic. While the dialogue and comedic elements are enjoyable and engaging during the initial playthrough, some players find it frustrating to repeatedly encounter them after each boss death. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's fun and addictive nature.
“The Atari look of the game goes hand in hand with the great sense of humor.”
“The dialogue is funny.”
“Fun, smart, hard, addictive, funny, innovative, good story ... Luckslinger satisfied all my needs!”
- story10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth and engaging dialogue, particularly highlighting the motivations of the six main antagonists. Set in a vibrant western world, the narrative is complemented by fun gameplay, though some players noted occasional gameplay disappointments. Overall, the storytelling is described as innovative, addictive, and integral to the game's charm.
“The story of the game is really good, with some great dialogue that gives life to the characters—special note given to the main six bad guys of the game, who each have interesting reasons for doing what they do.”
“Great action platformer with superb controls, an interesting story, as well as really, really good music.”
“Fun, smart, hard, addictive, funny, innovative, good story... Lucklinger satisfied all my needs!”
- atmosphere8 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 featuring hip-hop music that enhances the overall experience. However, some players found the difficulty level to be a barrier to fully enjoying the atmosphere.
“The different locations are all visually unique and sport some cool design choices, and each one has great atmosphere.”
“The music is also really damn good, with some excellent hip-hop choices that really complement the atmosphere.”
“Amazing western atmosphere/setting.”
- grinding6 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 unengaging enemies. The challenge posed by overpowered bosses further exacerbates the feeling of monotony, leading to a lack of enjoyment in the grinding experience.
“The core problem is that the combat becomes tedious and the enemies stop being fun.”
“The challenge wasn't enjoyable; it was just tedious.”
“Grinding is tedious, especially when facing overpowered bosses.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by clunky controls, which can lead to frustrating experiences, such as taking damage from minor interactions with enemies. This design choice detracts from the overall enjoyment and emotional engagement players might otherwise feel.
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While "Luckslinger" offers some replay value and interesting player choices, many users feel that the frequent, seemingly unavoidable deaths detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a desire to stop playing.
“The game has some replay value and great uses of player choice.”