Nongünz
- May 19, 2017
- Brainwash Gang
- 2h median play time
"Nongunz" is a single-player platformer game known for its fabulous gameplay, beautiful graphics, and charming soundtrack. The game features unique, dark imagery and intense action, with many secrets to discover. Credits go to the talented development team, including Verz Erd, Ezru Rubiera, Beibei Coli, Muffin de Sepia, Charly Santafé, Guille Laorga, Rafer Labarta, and Bakir Khawam. Follow Sindiecate Arts for updates.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and intriguing art style that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- The soundtrack is fantastic and complements the gameplay well.
- The game offers a challenging experience that encourages players to learn and adapt their strategies.
- The lack of clear instructions and explanations for game mechanics can be frustrating for players.
- Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, making gameplay less enjoyable.
- The difficulty spikes can be punishing, leading to a sense of unfairness in some encounters.
- gameplay116 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Nongünz" is characterized by its roguelike elements and a minimalist approach that leaves players to discover mechanics on their own, often leading to frustration due to a lack of guidance and clarity. While some players appreciate the challenge and depth that comes from figuring out the game, many criticize its obtuse interface and repetitive mechanics, resulting in a mixed reception regarding overall enjoyment and accessibility. The game features a blend of platforming and shooting mechanics, but the execution is often seen as lacking, with some players recommending external guides to navigate its complexities.
“Nongunz throws you into a roguelike that is reminiscent of old-school games while utilizing modern mechanics.”
“The gameplay itself is pretty standard jump and shoot, and really isn't terrible.”
“I heartily recommend Nongunz to everyone; it is an absolute gem of a game which has such intense depth and rewarding gameplay.”
“Never in my life have I cared less about learning a game’s mechanics, but even if I wanted to understand what was going on, I don’t think the deliberately opaque and artsy interface would have allowed me to.”
“The gameplay is trite and the menus are inscrutable.”
“This game just seems to lack the tight mechanics of others.”
- graphics49 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising its unique and vivid art style that enhances the overall atmosphere, while others criticize the clarity and execution of the visuals. Some players appreciate the aesthetic and sound design, noting that it contributes to the game's eerie vibe, but others find the graphics poorly drawn or lacking in detail. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as a double-edged sword, offering charm and creativity but sometimes sacrificing clarity and usability.
“I bought this game when it came out, and I played it for some time. I saw some gameplay about it and I loved the aesthetic and the mystery.”
“The game truly did shine with its very unique art style, and the acoustics in the background were very well done.”
“It's 2D graphics, but it looks gorgeous with a unique art style and very cool lighting effects.”
“I don't like the art style personally, and the complete lack of direction hurts it as a whole.”
“Just poorly drawn graphics.”
“Combine that with meh graphics and no story, there is just nothing interesting about the game to keep me playing.”
- music44 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its fantastic quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, contributing to a sense of gloom and engagement. While some noted minor issues like repetition or audio cutouts, the soundtrack is generally described as memorable and fitting, with a unique style that complements the game's aesthetic and gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly enriches the gaming experience.
“Each boss has a curious and original design to say the least, and the game is really challenging, with a soundtrack that will probably stick in your mind for a while after playing.”
“Everything, from the music to the characters, matches to generate a real feeling of gloom that perfectly aligns with the intent of the story and mechanics.”
“The music in the game really adds to the oppressive, nihilistic atmosphere, and the whole game is engaging and dark with rich, fleshy sound effects and smooth animations.”
“The music keeps cutting out when I'm wearing earbuds, which is a shame because I really like the music, but that's just a couple of little nitpicks on a bone-solid game.”
“The movement feels clunky, the music is so frustrating and I couldn't figure out how to turn it off, if you even can.”
“While the art and music in this game is fairly decent, the gameplay left a bad taste.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, often leading to feelings of frustration and despair. While some appreciate the depth it adds to gameplay and the eventual rewards, others criticize the reliance on grinding for progression, which can detract from the overall enjoyment and make the experience feel shallow. Overall, the grinding mechanics seem to polarize players, with some embracing the challenge and others wishing for a more streamlined approach.
“Until then, you'll keep grinding and fighting with a feeling of despair as your only guide to get to the end of it all.”
“This game is brilliant once you've collected enough cards to get decent speed and jump height, it just takes way too much time grinding to get to that point.”
“- the grinding required to both unlock the final boss and get some achievements isn't enjoyable.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story in Nongünz is minimalist and cryptic, creating a sense of mystery that some players find engaging, while others feel it lacks depth and clarity. The atmospheric elements, such as music and character design, contribute to a gloomy tone that aligns with the game's intent, but many reviewers express a desire for more narrative substance and clearer mechanics. Overall, the game's storytelling approach is polarizing, with some appreciating its artistic style and others criticizing its lack of direction and user-friendliness.
“Everything, from the music to the characters, matches to generate a real feeling of gloom that aligns perfectly with the intent of the story and mechanics.”
“That’s about as specific as I can get into the plot without spoiling it, and Nongünz exists to have its mysteries unraveled.”
“The minimalist approach to story is very reminiscent of the Souls series.”
“The game is very minimalist, visually, story-wise, and mechanically.”
“On the surface, Nongunz looks like a roguelike shooter with next to no story behind it.”
“Everything is just symbols, no text, so figuring out what to do is a mission without outside help from forums and wikis.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as gripping and dark, enhanced by a poignant soundtrack and rich sound effects that create an oppressive, nihilistic feel. The unique art style and smooth animations contribute to an engaging experience, making players eager to delve deeper into the game's intriguing narrative. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that effectively draws players in and encourages continued exploration.
“The music in the game really adds to the oppressive, nihilistic atmosphere, and the whole game is engaging and dark with rich, fleshy sound effects and smooth animations (I especially like the rolling animation while wearing a skull, very cute).”
“But also the dark art style works well for the game's atmosphere, which is aided by the soundtrack (which grows as you progress!).”
“The intriguing atmosphere makes this title very interesting and pushes you to play more to try and understand what is actually going on.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“Despite the potential, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The game’s atmosphere is overshadowed by repetitive environments and a lack of engaging sound design.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is consistently praised for its clever and non-intrusive writing, with players finding amusement in quirky elements like animal skulls. Even frustrating moments are met with a lighthearted attitude, reflecting the developers' comedic touch.
“Even when I was unable to exit the game, it didn't make me mad enough to leave a negative review; it just made me smirk at the fact that the devs are being humorous.”
“The writing is consistently funny, but not invasive.”
“The fact that the skulls are animals seems very funny to me.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts very high replayability, with players noting the challenge of achieving 100% completion and the enjoyment of exploring random dungeons. Its engaging gameplay and support for a new developer further enhance its replay value, making it a worthwhile experience.
“Very high replayability because completing the game 100% is a tremendous feat.”
“It's fun, replayable, a great price, and it supports a new developer.”
“Random dungeons = extremely replayable.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, user reviews on stability are mixed; while some players report no glitches and a smooth gameplay experience, others have experienced occasional screen glitches.
“I have wanted to get this game for a while now, and since it was on sale, I finally decided to give it a go. I'm glad to say that this game does what it wants to do perfectly—no glitches that I have encountered, no annoying tutorials, and it features challenging and fantastic survival gameplay and mechanics, along with an amazing, creepy atmosphere and art style.”
“The screen sometimes glitches, why?”
“The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable.”
“I experience constant lag and frame drops during gameplay.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character designs and overall aesthetic are praised for their uniqueness, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the game.
“The character designs are interesting, the music is fantastic, and the general aesthetic is pretty unique.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization for the game is notably poor on Mac systems, leading to significant performance issues that hinder gameplay.
“Terrible performance on Mac; I can't really play.”
“The game runs poorly on lower-end systems, making it frustrating to enjoy.”
“Frequent frame drops and long loading times ruin the experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express a strong emotional response to the potential financial impact on the game, indicating that it evokes feelings of sadness and concern for its success.