Magenta Horizon

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"Magenta Horizon" is a challenging 2D precision platformer set in a vibrant, abstract world. Players control Maddison Baek, who uses a variety of skills and abilities to navigate treacherous environments filled with spikes, saws, and other hazards. With permadeath and randomly generated levels, each run is unique and requires quick reflexes and strategic planning to survive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews

music16 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Magenta Horizon features a unique and stylish art style, complemented by an excellent soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
The combat system is engaging and encourages aggressive play, with a diverse roster of enemies that keeps encounters fresh and challenging.
The game offers generous checkpoints and difficulty options, making it accessible while still providing a satisfying level of challenge.

Some players have noted issues with difficulty balancing, where normal levels can feel harder than boss fights, leading to frustration.
The level design can be maze-like and occasionally tedious, with some platforming segments feeling awkward due to the movement mechanics.
There are complaints about the combat feeling clunky at times, particularly with the lack of invincibility frames and the sensitivity of controls.

music
30 mentions
53 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its excellent blend of prog rock and classical elements, with standout tracks enhancing both exploration and combat experiences. Players appreciate the dynamic soundtrack that transitions seamlessly between calm and intense themes, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the game. However, some users noted that not all levels had equally appealing music, with one level being particularly criticized for its lackluster track.
- “The soundtrack is solid, and fits the setting of the game well.”
- “Thankfully, Magenta Horizon's OST is really great. I love the mix of rock with classical instruments, which I tend to hear more from games like Xenoblade Chronicles or other JRPGs. I especially love how each stage has a calming song that transitions into the combat version when you encounter enemies, which really pumps me up.”
- “Great combat and movement system and a banger soundtrack too.”
- “Every time I open the game, the music and GUI work fine, but now all there is is a black screen.”
- “Level 7-2 was the worst by far, not only because it was so excruciatingly long, but this was the only level in the game, as far as I know, where I didn't like the song at all, and it made for a really painful experience for me.”
- “The other thing to mention is the soundtrack; I tend to really care a lot about video game music, especially because it affects my enjoyment of playing a game.”
graphics
16 mentions
88 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their unique and strange art style, featuring expressive and grotesque enemy designs that draw players in. While some reviewers noted that the level visuals could be improved, the overall aesthetic, including the impressive story panels, is considered outstanding and complements the engaging combat and soundtrack effectively. The art style has been compared to titles like Hollow Knight and Rayman, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “I loved the art style, with the often impeccably gross and expressive enemy designs. I enjoyed the story and characters, with Gretel being an overall pretty compelling protagonist, and I really liked the soundtrack, loving the implementation of a stage having two tracks that seamlessly swapped depending on if you were exploring or in combat.”
- “Comes included with a banging soundtrack and great visuals too, the serious story panels look absolutely amazing.”
- “Hollow Knight meets DMC in the best ways, with an art style reminiscent of things like Rayman.”
- “Level visuals are a bit lacking, but everything else is amazing. Combat is really fun, and I'm interested in the story so far.”
story
16 mentions
63 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The story is surprisingly engaging, featuring a compelling protagonist, Gretel, and enhanced by hand-drawn cutscenes and humorous character interactions. While it takes some time to develop, the narrative balances serious moments with lightheartedness, complemented by unique monster designs and a captivating soundtrack. Overall, the art style and animation contribute significantly to the storytelling experience, making it visually striking and enjoyable.
- “Surprisingly good story; I actually found myself getting quite into it with all the hand-drawn cutscenes between levels and the dialogue between some characters.”
- “I loved the art style, with the often impeccably gross and expressive enemy designs. I enjoyed the story and characters, with Gretel being an overall pretty compelling protagonist. I also really liked the soundtrack, especially the implementation of a stage having two tracks that seamlessly swapped depending on whether you were exploring or in combat.”
- “While the story has its serious moments, it always knows how to have a nice sense of humor, especially in some of the character interactions throughout the stages and story. I really love the way this game looks and how everything is animated; it's like you are looking at weird abstract paintings shaped like monsters or humans.”
- “The story itself also takes a while to get going.”
- “While the story has its serious moments, it always knows how to have a nice sense of humor, especially in some of the character interactions throughout the stages and story.”
- “The story itself also takes a while to get going.”
gameplay
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is designed to promote an aggressive playstyle, allowing players to manage multiple unique enemies that require quick decision-making and strategic use of their abilities. Heavily inspired by the DMC series, it emphasizes combo-building and maintaining momentum while avoiding enemy stagger. The inclusion of a healing bomb mechanic further encourages players to engage actively, making the game accessible and engaging, though it is still in early access with potential future updates.
- “The game incentivizes an aggressive playstyle with its gameplay systems, allowing you to control an entire room of differing enemies that all relentlessly go for you.”
- “Each enemy has its own set of quirks, along with ways that they synergize with other enemies. The different ways they threaten you lead to constant split-second decision making that often requires you to utilize your full gameplay toolset.”
- “The gameplay is heavily inspired by the DMC series, focusing on making big combos and maintaining your combo meter as high as possible while avoiding being staggered by enemies and bosses.”
- “The gameplay is heavily inspired by the DMC series, focusing on making big combos and maintaining your combo meter as high as possible while also avoiding being staggered by enemies and bosses.”
- “Each enemy has its own set of quirks, along with ways that they synergize with other enemies. The different ways that they threaten you lead to constant split-second decision making that often requires you to utilize your full gameplay toolset.”
- “The game incentivizes an aggressive playstyle with its gameplay systems, allowing you to control an entire room of differing enemies that all relentlessly pursue you.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly enjoying the comedic elements associated with the character of a funny bird that humorously defeats enemies. The combination of humor and engaging combat has been a significant draw for players, enhancing their overall experience.
- “I played this game during an earlier alpha, and I can say the humor and combat sold me after I got past the first level.”
- “I like playing as the funny bird and making her hit the bad guys until they fall over; it's pretty good!”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the overwhelming nature of certain enemies like Slashpluckers and dealer automatons, which can prolong encounters unnecessarily. The need to engage in drawn-out 1v1 battles with gembusters further contributes to the sense of grind, making the gameplay feel repetitive and burdensome.
- “Grinding in this game feels excessively tedious, especially when dealing with enemies like Slashpluckers and gembusters that require prolonged engagements.”
- “The health of dealer automatons makes grinding a frustrating experience, as their projectile attacks can be overwhelming and lead to drawn-out battles.”
- “Facing gembusters often turns into a tedious 1v1 scenario that drags on, making the grinding aspect feel more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge.”
stability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck as well.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Gretel's character development is highly praised for her engaging role in the story, appealing design, and memorable one-liners that enhance the gameplay experience.
- “I really like Gretel's role in the story; she has a really cool character design, and I enjoy her one-liners throughout the stages.”