"Nefarious" is a comedy platformer game where you play as the villain, on a mission to kidnap princesses from five kingdoms. The game features stunning 2D animation, reverse boss fights, and various customization options for your character. With its intriguing storyline, mystery, and humor, Nefarious offers an engaging and unique gaming experience.
The game features a charming and humorous story with well-developed characters.
The reverse boss battles are a unique and enjoyable twist on traditional gameplay.
The art style and music are vibrant and engaging, enhancing the overall experience.
The controls can feel clunky and imprecise, leading to frustrating platforming sections.
Some levels have poor enemy placement and can feel unfairly difficult.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
gameplay
413 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
54%
11%
The gameplay of *Nefarious* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it features interesting mechanics and a unique premise of playing as the villain, it often falls short in execution. Critics point out issues such as clunky controls, unpolished mechanics, and a lack of depth in gameplay elements, particularly with the underutilization of certain mechanics like the princess abilities. Despite these flaws, some players found the gameplay enjoyable and engaging, especially during boss fights, and appreciated the humor and character interactions that enhance the overall experience.
“With tight controls, solid level design, and interesting mechanics such as the reverse boss fights, Nefarious is truly a breath of fresh air for the platforming genre.”
“The gameplay was very fun, excellent platforming challenges mixed with an entertaining form of combat that made me look forward to replaying levels with missed collectibles rather than dreading it!”
“Great story, varied gameplay, phenomenal characters, just an all-round great experience.”
“Both the gameplay and the story are lackluster; the only consolation is that it's so short.”
“The gameplay is slow, boring, and just bad.”
“The levels feel so simple and empty, and don't mix well with Nefarious's gameplay. No option to use a controller or rebind controls, along with an out-of-place wonky aiming system, make the game feel very clunky and awkward to play.”
story
352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The story of the game is widely praised for its humor, engaging characters, and clever subversion of traditional villain tropes, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics. Many players found the narrative to be both entertaining and thought-provoking, with memorable dialogue and a unique perspective on the hero-villain dynamic. However, some noted that the story's pacing can be uneven, and while it offers enjoyable moments, it may not be deeply complex.
“The story is somewhat deep, while still being true to the over-the-top crazy nature of the game, and the characters have beautifully-developed personalities that lead to hilarious and heartwarming dialogue interactions.”
“The story blew me away, it really made me enjoy myself as the villain, taking me through the other side of the classic story of a captured princess, but with a fun spin!”
“The writers behind this game really knew what they were doing, and having an interesting story and lovable characters made this title one that will not be forgotten.”
“Both the gameplay and the story are lackluster; the only consolation is that it's so short.”
“Just be warned as the repetitive unchanging music mixed with a featureless art style, frustrating gameplay, and somewhat disappointing outcome of the story can make for a boring experience that might as well have been time spent on something else.”
“The story isn't that deep (which is expected for the genre but still with some surprising twists), but some of the characters are well written; sadly, most of them are mediocre or haven't enough interaction to have any real personality.”
music
346 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and thematic qualities, particularly highlighting the work of composer Matthew Taranto. However, several players noted issues with the music's looping, which can disrupt immersion, and some tracks were described as repetitive or not fitting the mood of certain situations. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, it is marred by technical flaws and a lack of variety in some areas.
“The music was amazing, fitting to every situation and every area and really hyping me up to play the game.”
“I can't stress how good the music is.”
“Top notch platforming, unique reverse boss fights that definitely are fun in their individual contexts, and a surprisingly excellent soundtrack.”
“The music, while it reuses the main theme a lot, is fun and jazzy, but the rest of the music ranges from bland to annoying.”
“Just be warned as the repetitive unchanging music mixed with a featureless art style, frustrating gameplay, and somewhat disappointing outcome of the story can make for a boring experience that might as well have been time spent on something else.”
“The music was cute but personally, it kind of laid on top of the level instead of immersing the player into the world they designed.”
humor
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging dialogue, and the ability to subvert typical video game tropes, making it both funny and relatable. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and their interactions, which contribute to a light-hearted and enjoyable experience filled with absurd situations and witty banter. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that enhances the game's charm and keeps players entertained throughout.
“The story is somewhat deep, while still being true to the over-the-top crazy nature of the game, and the characters have beautifully-developed personalities that lead to hilarious and heartwarming dialogue interactions.”
“The humor and riffing on the classic hero vs villain mentality makes even the truly evil crow a joy to watch as he wreaks havoc, princess in tow.”
“The writing is witty, and most of the time rather humorous.”
graphics
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming and colorful art style, particularly in character portraits and backgrounds, while others criticize the overall visual quality as unpolished or reminiscent of an early beta. Many players appreciate the hand-drawn elements and thematic visuals, but note inconsistencies and glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics may not be universally acclaimed, they are often complemented by strong music and engaging storytelling, making the game enjoyable despite its visual shortcomings.
“Fortunately, they did have enough time to invest in both visuals and music, which are as beautiful as they are thematic.”
“Not only does it look beautiful with its obviously hand-drawn graphics, but the music puts on the finishing touches to make the whole game feel like a well-orchestrated experience.”
“Overall this game is beautifully designed to remind you of old, classical platformers, the art style is unique, the gameplay is fantastic, it's a mix of side-scrolling platformers mixed with RPG elements, and I totally recommend this.”
“The graphics during gameplay are kinda sorta really awful, but the story, character portraits, and gameplay make up for this fun little gem's ugly exterior.”
“Graphically speaking, it's not very great.”
“The graphics are bad, the music is ok at best, the gameplay can be choppy at times, but the concept is fantastic.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally described as buggy, with various glitches that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, such as falling to death due to unresponsive mechanics or awkward animations. While these issues are noted, many players feel they do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game, suggesting it remains fun despite its unfinished state.
“I got it by accident when I forgot to cancel my subscription to Indiebox, and while I am having a lot of fun with it, it is also an incredibly unfinished game with awful menus and some awkward animation and sound glitches.”
“Buggy and poorly implemented combat mechanics, utterly empty sound design, and blocky art prevent a genuinely good idea from being a good game.”
“Levels involving jumping off of grenades suspended in midair are buggy; they frequently don't trigger, leaving you to fall to your death.”
character development
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
15%
15%
Character development in the game is widely praised, with reviewers highlighting the depth and humor of the protagonist, Crow, and the solid storytelling that supports character growth. The character designs are also noted as a significant strength, drawing inspiration from iconic styles while maintaining a visually appealing art style. Overall, the combination of strong character development and excellent design contributes to a compelling experience for players.
“Excellent character design and development.”
“The character development is deep, the protagonist is funny, the story is very solid.”
“- uninspired character designs”
“- uninspired character designs”
“It really is the biggest strength this game has, alongside its character design maybe.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it offers good replay value due to multiple endings and nostalgic elements, others note a lack of incentive beyond collecting items that have little impact. Despite its short length of around four hours, many reviewers appreciate the enjoyable gameplay and humor, contributing to a generally positive perception of replayability.
“Yeah, it's a bit short, being around four hours long but it has a lot of replay value!”
“[b]Pros:[/b] incredible soundtrack [i](a particular nod to the 'heartless abyss' level's music)[/i], great nostalgic references for seasoned platform gamers, great humor, RPG-like upgrade system, multiple endings, great replay value.”
“Overall, it's been a very enjoyable game, which I find has a pretty high replay value.”
“For example, frustrating difficulty and non-replayability.”
“- not much replayability.”
“- not much replay value outside of finding the crowns (which do nothing as far as I know).”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a deep and engaging story with well-developed characters, resulting in both hilarious and heartwarming interactions. Players experience an emotional roller coaster, particularly during the impactful endings that evoke feelings of satisfaction and inspiration. The combination of a whimsical art style and fitting music enhances the overall emotional experience, making it a memorable journey.
“The story is somewhat deep, while still being true to the over-the-top crazy nature of the game, and the characters have beautifully developed personalities that lead to hilarious and heartwarming dialogue interactions.”
“Finally, when you reach the endings, the game hits you with very emotionally satisfying scenarios, which will leave you with a smile (nefarious or otherwise) as the screen returns to the main menu.”
“This game took me on an emotional roller coaster, and the ending was an extremely excellent finale to the game.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with an excellent and catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, particularly in standout segments like the underwater scene. However, some tracks are considered bland and generic, which slightly detracts from the otherwise immersive atmosphere. Overall, the combination of music and environment contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The atmosphere of the whole game and the music really made it one of the best games I've played this year.”
“Excellent soundtrack, wonderfully catchy and atmospheric.”
“There are a few tracks that really stand out and create such a nice atmosphere, like the one in the underwater segment.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious due to the cumbersome level select system, which always starts at the first two levels. However, the instant respawn feature mitigates frustration, making repeated attempts feel less burdensome despite the potential for numerous deaths. Overall, while the grinding can be annoying, it is made more manageable by the game's mechanics.
“Navigating the level select is rather tedious because it always starts you at the first two levels, then you have to navigate to the second and third screen every time you want to progress the game.”
“The game isn't hard and you'll die one or two times or over 50 times in my case, but since you instantly respawn, I think it's fine. It makes it a lot less tedious than it could have been, that's for sure.”