Mission 1985
- October 4, 2021
- Consulog
Get on SteamThis game is a tribute to the Run "N Gun games (Commando, Ikari Warrior, Heavy Barrel, Guerilla Wars, Mercs...) from the mid 1980's that you could find in arcades or on 16 bit consoles.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Captures the nostalgic feel of classic 1980s run and gun arcade games, providing fun and addictive gameplay, especially in local co-op mode.
- Responsive controls and tactical combat enhance the experience, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The game features a variety of enemies and challenging boss fights, keeping the gameplay engaging throughout its 11 levels.
- Lacks modern features such as weapon selection, achievements, and leaderboards, which diminishes replayability and overall experience.
- The graphics and animations are criticized for being unpolished, with issues like oversized scaling affecting gameplay clarity.
- Sound design is limited, with repetitive music and no option to adjust sound levels separately, leading to a less enjoyable audio experience.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a nostalgic retro/arcade feel that emphasizes fast reactions and memorization of enemy patterns, providing a fun and addictive experience for a few hours. However, players note a lack of variety in attacks and mechanics, leading to frustration during unbalanced sections and repetitive gameplay. While controls are praised for their responsiveness, some feel the game lacks modern features and is overpriced for its tribute to classic titles.
“Gameplay captures that retro/arcade feel of being under constant attack, requiring fast reactions and the need to memorize enemy attack patterns.”
“Controls are very crisp and responsive, and the gameplay is both fun and addicting!”
“Overall, I dig it; solid retro gameplay.”
“The gameplay is repetitive.”
“Then, the gameplay is dismal.”
“I also think the price is too high for a tribute that doesn't contain any modern mechanics.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are designed in a nostalgic 16-bit style, reminiscent of classic arcade shooters, which some players appreciate for its retro charm. However, critiques highlight issues such as unvaried character sprites, lack of detail in animations, and overall unattractive visuals that detract from the experience. Despite these shortcomings, the aesthetics effectively evoke the ambiance of 1980s run-and-gun games.
“Mission 1985 (m1985) is an indie-made, shoot 'em up with pixel graphics, MIDI audio, and a mix of vertical scrolling, top-down, and first-person, on-rails levels.”
“The aesthetics and ambiance do a suitable job of recreating the run 'n' gun experience of the 1980s with adequate sound effects and MIDI tracks.”
“The graphics look much better here.”
“Graphically, the game is set in a 16-bit area, which is fine for a run-and-gun game.”
“The character sprites are not changed with those of any equipped upgraded weapon, enemy bullets use the same sprite as the player's character, and grenades have no shadow.”
“First, the graphics are ugly.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game evokes a nostalgic 80s vibe, reminiscent of classic arcade titles, which some players appreciate as a fitting backdrop for the retro gameplay. However, many users express frustration over the lack of customizable audio settings, particularly the inability to adjust music and sound effects independently, leading to complaints about repetitive tracks and unclear voiceovers. Overall, while the music contributes to the retro feel, its execution and the absence of sound options detract from the experience for some players.
“The music is right out of the 80s, putting you back in the feel of playing old school classic games.”
“Retro run and gun + music + challenging = a nice blast from the past, similar to Commando and reminiscent of arcade co-op games.”
“Purposefully crafted levels, high-quality pixel art, great sound and music, and responsive controls make this a quite accessible, albeit difficult to master, retro-inspired run & gun game.”
“The really bad things about the game are repetitive music, sound, barely understandable voices, low number of different enemies, and ridiculous blood spray coming out of dead bodies.”
“The music sucks and you can't turn it off.”
“There needs to be a setting to turn music and sound effects up and down separately from each other.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game's replayability is significantly hindered by the absence of collectibles, easter eggs, and branching routes, which limits players' motivation to revisit levels. This lack of content diminishes the overall longevity of the experience.
“The game offers a variety of collectibles, easter eggs, and route branches that significantly enhance its replayability.”
“Replayability is high due to the numerous secrets and alternate paths available in each level.”
“The diverse gameplay options and hidden elements encourage players to return for multiple playthroughs.”
“A lack of collectibles, easter eggs, other secrets, and route branches to take on levels limits their replayability significantly.”
“The game feels too linear, making it hard to find reasons to replay it after finishing the main story.”
“Once you've completed the game, there isn't much incentive to go back and experience it again.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization of retro-looking games on Steam is often criticized for featuring numerous asset flips and cash grabs, leading to a perception of low effort and quality in many offerings.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with essential features locked behind paywalls.”
“I can't believe how much they charge for basic content; it feels like a cash grab.”
“The game is fun, but the constant push for microtransactions ruins the experience.”
