Macbat 64
- March 17, 2017
- Siactro
"Macbat 64 is a charming 3D platformer game, inspired by the late 90s, that follows the story after Kiwi 64. The game features new bonus levels and bug fixes, and it is beautifully accompanied by a soundtrack by JD Moser and stunning CGI rendering by Laura_Omnomnom. With its unique characters and holiday spirit, Macbat 64 is a delightful adventure that will keep you engaged for hours."
Reviews
- Macbat 64 is a charming homage to N64 platformers, successfully evoking nostalgia for fans of the era.
- The game features a variety of gameplay styles, including platforming, kart racing, and mini-games, keeping the experience fresh.
- Despite its short length, the game is enjoyable and well worth the price, with cute character designs and a fun soundtrack.
- The game is very short, taking only about 30 minutes to an hour to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Gameplay can feel simplistic and lacks challenge, with easy puzzles and minimal enemy interactions.
- Camera controls can be frustrating at times, and some levels feel underdeveloped or lacking in depth.
- graphics54 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of Macbat 64 are a nostalgic homage to the Nintendo 64 era, successfully capturing the low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles like Donkey Kong 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. While some players appreciate the simplicity and charm of the visuals, others criticize them for being overly simplistic and lacking in detail, with occasional technical flaws such as blurry textures and a wonky camera. Overall, the game's art style resonates well with fans of retro platformers, making it a delightful experience for those who cherish the aesthetics of 90s gaming.
“I like this graphics simplicity - a game you can enjoy playing, not staring at thousands of details like most modern games.”
“The art style is charming and captures the essence of the era, the music is incredibly catchy, and each world's visual style is clever.”
“The graphics feel nostalgic and really nail the aesthetic of classic N64 games.”
“It's mainly whenever just base PNGs are used because they don't match the art style at all and looked really lazy.”
“Bad graphics, bad camera, bad resolution…”
“The game feels more like one of those 3D graphic tech demos used to show off an old-timey graphics card.”
- gameplay54 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Macbat 64" is characterized by its simplicity and charm, offering a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic N64 platformers. While it features varied gameplay elements and light puzzles, many players find the mechanics to be barebones and lacking challenge, focusing more on aesthetics and nostalgia than depth. Overall, the game is enjoyable for those who appreciate its retro homage, but may disappoint players seeking a more robust gameplay experience.
“Macbat in general is a delight to experience and it's a refreshing low-stakes adventure that allows you to enjoy an hour or so of gameplay playing a cute dapper bat mostly doing non-intrusive fetch quests for characters that aren't annoying with no violence at all.”
“The gameplay is simple, but well designed.”
“The game surprised me by mixing up the gameplay, though I won't say how for spoilers' sake.”
“While the game does succeed in getting the art style down, the gameplay is almost barebones, with each level taking roughly 5 minutes each.”
“There is very little to explore, no real enemies or mechanics beyond moving and flapping your wings to gain height. The 'puzzles' are incredibly easy, and since you can flap 9 times before you have to return to the ground, there's no tension to any of the platforming.”
“Just desperately in need of some refinement, added game mechanics, and depth in general.”
- story32 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in "Macbat 64" is characterized as charming and nostalgic, evoking a sense of whimsy reminiscent of classic N64 platformers, though it is often described as simplistic and forgettable. Players appreciate the lighthearted, low-stakes narrative filled with goofy humor and references to iconic games, but many feel it lacks depth and engagement, making it a fun yet fleeting experience that can be completed in under an hour. Overall, while the story is enjoyable for its nostalgic appeal, it does not offer a compelling or immersive plot.
“A fun platformer with a nice story.”
“"Macbat 64" is a nice, charming, short and well-made tribute to the classic platforming-action-adventures on the N64 with bonkers story and writing, chill puzzles, and some diversity in the gameplay elements.”
“The story was cheesy and silly and reminded me a lot of the goofy stories I would make up when playing with my stuffed animals when I was little.”
“The story is forgettable.”
“The story is definitely lacking; the game likes to throw you straight into the action.”
“It's clear the developer wants the game to be silly and fun in a really imaginative way, but there isn't any depth to the story or any characters to feel invested in.”
- music27 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and nostalgic quality, often drawing comparisons to the beloved soundtracks of classic titles like Banjo-Kazooie. Reviewers highlight the charming and fitting compositions that enhance the gameplay experience, making each level feel unique and enjoyable. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a standout feature that adds significant value to the game, despite some criticisms regarding the graphics.
“The art style is charming and captures, the music is incredibly catchy, and each world visual style is clever.”
“The music is also absolutely incredible, with it being very clearly inspired by games like Banjo-Kazooie.”
“Music is really great, and each level feels unique.”
“It can feel a bit derivative, especially in the soundtrack department, but it's such a wacky little adventure that I honestly can't recommend it enough.”
“1st level is some super meat boy style platforming with unsettling music, 2nd is finding coins while something chases you and the camera angles are straight out of the original Resident Evil games.”
“Even just adding some form of collectible, like music notes and golden feathers in similar games, to help give the game some extra stuff to do.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its funny characters, charming dialogue, and nostalgic references that evoke a sense of joy reminiscent of classic titles. While the short levels and lighthearted writing contribute to an enjoyable experience, some reviewers feel that the humor alone may not justify the game's overall value, especially given its brevity. Overall, the game is noted for its cute art style and effective fourth-wall breaks, making it a memorable, albeit short, comedic adventure.
“The levels are short, can be beaten in about 3-5 minutes tops, but you're getting a lot of funny characters and some fun dialogue from them as well.”
“Very charming, nostalgic, and funny!”
“So many cute references, funny jokes, and great graphical fidelity make this a memorable trip down memory lane... and those bonus levels were the icing on the cake!”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke nostalgia and happiness, reminiscent of childhood experiences. Players find it to be a sweet and wholesome adventure, though some mechanics, like the camera and level reset upon contact with certain elements, detract slightly from the overall emotional impact.
“10/10 made me feel like a kid again.”
“Made me feel nostalgic, provided happiness for a bit more than an hour and gave me bonus chills.”
“A really sweet and wholesome platforming adventure!”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as charming and nostalgic, evoking feelings reminiscent of classic titles like Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, with unique atmospheric elements and easter eggs that enhance the experience. While some players appreciate the indie charm and the recreation of an N64-like ambiance, others feel it may not appeal to those seeking a more traditional gaming experience. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and fluid gameplay within its engaging atmosphere.
“It's charming and has some unexpected atmospheric flairs here and there.”
“10/10 pretty decent plot with a lot of humor, fluid gameplay, and nostalgic atmosphere.”
“Unless you're just super into supporting indie titles, or want to see an experiment in recreating N64 atmosphere, or playing through an 'N64-esque experience' more than a game, I really can't recommend this... and that bums me out.”
“A nice, short little game reminiscent of games like Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64 as far as atmosphere and art style are concerned.”
“10/10 pretty decent plot with a lot of humor, fluid gameplay and nostalgic atmosphere.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character designs, particularly for Mac and the captain, are praised for their quality, reviewers note that the game's short length limits the potential for significant character development. Despite this, the game compensates with diverse gameplay styles alongside its platforming elements.
“The character designs are great, especially Mac and the Captain.”
“Taking Rare's classic style as a basis for the character design, Macbat 64 compensates for its short length by offering a variety of gamestyles in addition to the platforming.”
“Map designs are awesome, character designs are awesome.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While the game lacks significant replayability, its charm and delightfulness make players open to revisiting it in the future. Comparatively, other titles in the series offer better technical performance and replay value.
“It's not replayable in the slightest, but it was so charming and delightful that I wouldn't mind having another go at it sometime later.”
“That isn't to say the other Siactro games aren't amazing; if anything, they're better on a technical level, a replayability level, and a charm level.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is generally stable but has some minor bugs, including missing sound effects and UI glitches. While these issues are present, many users feel the game is still worth the price despite its limited content.
“Short and a bit buggy, but it's good for the price.”
“The only two issues I really have with it are some minor presentation issues, such as parts of the game that seem to be missing sound effects or UI glitches, and the unfortunate lack of content.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort to progress, likening it to needing a second life to manage it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding for minimal rewards.”