Overclocked

"Overclocked" is a single-player Horror Platformer game with good graphics, where you play as Amber, a vigilante fighting to protect her home from a computer virus. The game features fast-paced action with one-hit deaths and constantly changing obstacles. The public alpha includes the first two episodes with 20 unique levels and 3 challenge levels. The story is intriguing, focusing on Amber's struggle to protect her home and uncover the truth behind the virus.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 169 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The game features tight and responsive controls, making the platforming experience enjoyable and fluid.
The art style and soundtrack are well-received, adding to the overall atmosphere of the game.
It's a free game that offers a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience, with a good amount of content and replayability.

The level design can be frustratingly punishing, with one-hit kills and a lack of checkpoints leading to repeated failures.
The story and characters are often described as generic and forgettable, detracting from the overall experience.
Some players find the controls awkward and the gameplay repetitive, leading to a less enjoyable experience over time.

gameplay
43 mentions
44 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its strict mechanics that demand mastery and precision, offering a challenging yet rewarding platforming experience. Players appreciate the smooth controls, unique mechanics, and engaging level design, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. While the game features a mix of enjoyable action and puzzle elements, it also includes some frustrating aspects, such as instant death mechanics and certain flawed design choices.
- “It's hard not to recommend a free game with solid gameplay.”
- “The jumping puzzles are incredibly satisfying and they present unique mechanics in every area.”
- “Overclocked is a fast-paced platformer, this game has not only good controls but the action puzzle in it is fun and the level design is awesome like Super Meat Boy.”
- “The gameplay is strict; either you play how the developers want you to play or you die.”
- “Bland story, unappealing art style, and overly punishing instadeath gameplay drag this game down just enough that I could not fully enjoy it.”
- “Solid story, pretty solid albeit a bit flawed gameplay (the jab is useless, antigravity mechanics are wack, lots of memorization to be able to clear obstacles you couldn't see coming, all bosses are either 'wait to be able to attack once' or in the case of the final boss 'total garbage in every way imaginable' and there's some filler-y 'defeat the enemies' levels too) but the core gameplay is fun enough and the stage design generally fun enough as well that I can recommend it regardless.”
story
40 mentions
25 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally viewed as mediocre, with many characters being forgettable and the plot often described as generic and clichéd. While some players appreciated the main villain's motivation and the sci-fi setting, others found the narrative lacking depth and engaging character development. Overall, the gameplay is often highlighted as the main draw, overshadowing the story, which is considered either bland or merely functional.
- “Interesting story and very well executed boss fights.”
- “The game has a sci-fi setting, with hand-crafted levels used to convey the story and plot that's told between levels.”
- “Worth the time to play; tight controls, enough story to hook you, and enough challenge to keep that 'just one more try' playthrough going.”
- “The story is kinda mediocre, mostly due to the characters being pretty forgettable and uninteresting for the most part, but the main villain is pretty decent and pleasantly surprised me with his motivation later on.”
- “The story and characters are terrible but harmless; do yourself a favor and skip the cutscenes straight to the fun part.”
- “The story overall is a little lackluster.”
music
25 mentions
56 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its stunning blend of styles and distinct instrumentation. Players appreciate the soundtrack's range, from soothing to exhilarating, and several have expressed a desire to purchase it after experiencing the game. While some noted that certain tracks may be overused, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The music is also equally stunning, how it blends into the atmosphere and contextual tone of each stage, and the very distinct instrumentation to really sell it.”
- “The soundtrack ranges from soothing to oh my god holy s#&@ amazing 10/10 woooooooooooooo.”
- “Overclocked is a game with beautiful visuals, great music, and gameplay that is fast, precise, and constantly challenging you.”
- “The game is mostly free/donationware (the developers want $4 USD for the soundtrack).”
- “I'm glad that it is as I likely would have skipped it otherwise, but the $3 something for the soundtrack doesn't feel like enough.”
- “What I liked most in the trailer was indeed the music, I liked it a lot, but there is simply no music when I play.”
graphics
20 mentions
50 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the clean visuals, good character design, and appealing art style, particularly in the context of a freeware title. However, some players criticize the use of retro pixel art as outdated and note a lack of distinction in level visuals, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered solid and visually appealing, opinions vary on their execution and artistic direction.
- “Graphics are really clean and very readable.”
- “The game's graphics are too gorgeous, the sci-fi, futuristic motif is portrayed excellently, there's really not much I can expand on that, it's just amazing.”
- “Overclocked is a game with beautiful visuals, great music, and gameplay that is fast, precise, and constantly challenging you.”
- “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “My actual problems with it are the common lack of distinction between level visuals and that the art direction of characters may lead some people to think it's a knockoff.”
- “The art style looked a little clunky, and it just seemed like a cheap platformer.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features good design and a visually appealing art style, though some players find the character designs to be somewhat bland. While the game includes achievements, it lacks depth in character progression, which may detract from the overall experience. However, the game's free-to-play model mitigates some of these concerns.
- “Good character design, cool art style (personally I prefer lower res pixel art but it still looks good), proper music, good controls, and good game mechanics. It's free, so I can't complain.”
- “The character designs tend to be on the blander side, and the art style is a little rough, but nothing visually hinders the gameplay.”
- “The character designs tend to be on the blander side, and the art style is a little rough, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “Character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “The progression system is uninspired, leaving characters feeling static and uninteresting throughout the game.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that the writing includes unexpected jokes that add a delightful twist to the overall tone. This blend of humor enhances the gaming experience, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “The writing can also be funny at times, with some of the jokes I never expected based on the established tone of the game.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-received, but users report stability issues on Linux, particularly with bugs. Running the game in full screen mode using Proton Experimental improves performance, though some problems persist.
- “It's an excellent game, although buggy on Linux. It seems to work a lot better in full screen with Proton Experimental, but there are still a few issues.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Many users criticize the monetization of 2D retro pixel platformers on Steam, labeling them as cash grabs that often consist of hastily assembled asset flips designed to generate quick profits rather than offering quality gameplay.
- “The vast majority of 2D retro pixel platformers on Steam are cash grabs, asset/template flips slapped together and dumped into game bundles for a quick, dirty buck.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
- “It's frustrating to see a game that could be enjoyable turned into a pay-to-win experience, where players are pressured to spend money to compete.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by stunning music that seamlessly blends with the contextual tone of each stage, featuring distinct instrumentation that effectively immerses players in the experience.
- “The music is stunning, blending seamlessly into the atmosphere and contextual tone of each stage, with distinct instrumentation that truly enhances the experience.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with rich visuals and sound design that create a captivating experience.”
- “Every element of the environment contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged and on edge throughout the game.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is not groundbreaking or particularly innovative, yet it effectively complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The emotional depth of the characters really drew me in, making me feel connected to their journeys.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with my own experiences and left a lasting impact.”
- “The game masterfully blends gameplay with emotional storytelling, creating moments that truly tug at your heartstrings.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be tedious, particularly due to the need for precise mechanics like chaining air-dashes; however, players who enjoy such challenges may find it engaging.
- “I found nonstop precision chaining air-dashes to be tedious, but if that sort of thing sounds fun to you, give this game a try.”