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
- Captures the nostalgic feel of N64 platformers, evoking fond memories for players who grew up with those games.
- Charming character designs and a pleasant art style, with fun music that enhances the overall experience.
- Short and sweet gameplay, making it a perfect quick play for those looking for a light-hearted adventure.
- Extremely short, with a full playthrough taking only about 30-60 minutes, leaving players wanting more content.
- Gameplay is overly simplistic and lacks challenge, with minimal enemy interactions and straightforward puzzles.
- Camera controls can be frustrating, often hindering the gameplay experience and making navigation difficult.
- graphics108 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 4 % 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 unrealistic and lacking in detail, with occasional technical flaws such as poor camera control and blurry textures. 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.
“For one, the graphics are the closest I've seen to replicate the N64 Rare 3D platformer style almost perfectly.”
“I grew up on Donkey Kong 64, so seeing the aesthetics replicated faithfully to a point of being a mirror image of DK64 is pretty incredible.”
“The graphics feel nostalgic and really nail things.”
“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.”
- gameplay108 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Macbat 64" is characterized as simple and nostalgic, drawing inspiration from classic N64 platformers, with a focus on collecting items and completing easy fetch quests. While some players appreciate the charming aesthetics and varied gameplay elements, many criticize the lack of challenge and depth, noting that the mechanics feel barebones and often lack polish. Overall, the game is seen as more of a tribute to the feelings of old-school gaming rather than a 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.”
“"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.”
“It's a really sweet and good game with cool gameplay variety, lots of bonus levels, and easter eggs.”
“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.”
“It's cute, but woefully lacking in gameplay.”
- story64 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally described as simple, nostalgic, and low-stakes, often evoking a sense of charm reminiscent of classic N64 titles. While some players appreciate its lighthearted and goofy nature, many find it forgettable and lacking depth, with a straightforward premise that doesn't engage players deeply. Overall, the narrative serves as a fun backdrop for the gameplay but is not a standout feature.
“Macbat 64 is a nice, charming, short, and well-made tribute to the classic platforming-action-adventures on the N64 with a bonkers story and writing, chill puzzles, and some diversity in the gameplay elements.”
“Relaxing game with not much challenge; the premise of the story is simple and cute, and so are the characters.”
“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.”
“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.”
- music54 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and nostalgic quality, often compared to the beloved soundtracks of classic titles like Banjo-Kazooie. Reviewers highlight the solid and charming soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making each level feel unique and enjoyable. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's graphics, the music stands out as a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“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.”
- humor30 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently praised for its charm, funny characters, and clever dialogue, often featuring nostalgic references and fourth-wall breaks. While the short levels and overall brevity of the game may leave some wanting more, the comedic elements and enjoyable writing contribute significantly to its appeal. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect, making the experience memorable despite the game's flaws.
“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.”
“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!”
“The writing is also really funny, and even makes some welcome cultural references.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players overwhelmingly express that the game evokes strong feelings of nostalgia and happiness, reminiscent of childhood experiences. The emotional impact is heightened by its wholesome and cute design, despite some gameplay mechanics, like the camera system and level resets, being viewed as less than ideal. Overall, the game successfully delivers a touching and joyful platforming adventure.
“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!”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % 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 unexpected atmospheric elements and a playful, liminal space vibe. While some players appreciate the indie charm and the recreation of an N64-like experience, others feel it may not appeal to those seeking a more traditional gaming experience. Overall, the game successfully captures a nostalgic and whimsical atmosphere, enhanced by fluid gameplay and humor.
“It's charming and has some unexpected atmospheric flairs here and there.”
“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 development8 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 and creativity, reviewers note that the game's short length limits the potential for significant character development. The focus on diverse gameplay styles somewhat compensates for this lack, but many players still express a desire for deeper character arcs.
“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.”
“I would have loved to see some character development, but the game is far too short for any major character developments.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is generally considered not replayable, yet its charm and delightfulness make players open to revisiting it in the future. Comparatively, other titles in the series are noted for their superior technical quality and replayability.
“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.”
“It's not replayable in the slightest, but it was so charming and delightful that I wouldn't mind having another go at it some time 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.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is generally stable but has some minor bugs and presentation issues, such as missing sound effects and UI glitches. While these problems are noted, many users feel the game is still worth the price despite its short length and limited content.
“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.”
“Short and a bit buggy, but it's good for the price.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”