Pang Adventures
- April 19, 2016
- Dotemu
Pang, Buster Bros. Whatever you call it, this is what it is.
In Pang Adventures, players fight against a worldwide alien invasion in a frantic arcade-style experience. Utilizing an arsenal of weapons, bazookas, and power-ups, up to 2 players can cooperatively battle through over 100 levels of balloon bursting action. With multiple challenges, missions, and modes available, Pang Adventures provides a modern take on a classic game that is easy to pick up, yet difficult to master.
Reviews
- Great co-op gameplay that enhances the fun, especially for fans of the original Pang series.
- Polished graphics and nostalgic elements that successfully capture the essence of the classic arcade game.
- Offers a variety of weapons and modes, providing engaging gameplay for both new players and returning fans.
- Frantic pacing and aggressive timers can make the game feel stressful and less enjoyable compared to the original.
- Some players find the level design repetitive and lacking in challenge, leading to a short overall experience.
- Technical issues, such as lag during boss fights and problems with online play, detract from the overall enjoyment.
- gameplay26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a nostalgic blend of classic mechanics with modern enhancements, featuring bubble-bursting action, end-of-level bosses, and a variety of modes that keep the experience fresh. While many players appreciate the fun co-op mode and the engaging art style, some criticize the repetitive nature and lack of online play, which may limit long-term replayability. Overall, it offers a solid arcade experience, though opinions vary on its value and execution.
“A great remake with fun gameplay and nice co-op mode, and a good reminder of what we were playing in our youth.”
“The game doles out new gameplay mechanics at regular intervals to keep things fresh, which also serves to improve your overall bubble bursting techniques.”
“While the broad repetition of mechanics and lack of online play and truly new content will surely grate, Pang Adventure remains decent fodder for a quick session whenever you have the odd few minutes to spare for its classic arcade beats.”
“[Stunted, regressive gameplay manages to mar other aspects that could have flourished. Console and PC versions feel overpriced for what you get.]”
“Core mechanics remain essentially the same as they were, but there are a few more modes, ball effects, weapons, and boss fights to spice things up.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the clear, colorful art style and modern HD visuals that enhance the experience. However, some players feel that the new graphics detract from the retro aesthetic and simplicity of the original game, leading to a less enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, while the graphics are considered superb by some, they are also seen as a point of contention for those nostalgic for the original's style.
“The graphics are superb; they are clear and colorful and suit the game.”
“Still… most people expect a simpler type of game when it comes to a series like Pang, and the art style really is fantastic.”
“+ appealing visuals”
“Unfortunately, the retro aesthetic is ruined by these 'new modern HD sprites'.”
“The dreadful art style and less than optimal gameplay really hurt the fun, especially when coupled with the 'story' segments.”
“I would have preferred the original with these graphics; it had simplicity, you knew what to do and it was fun. This version, however, is kind of half the original and puzzle part game, and to be honest, it is damn annoying.”
- story9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story mode is criticized for its lack of depth, with many reviewers noting that it offers minimal narrative and focuses more on gameplay challenges. The art style and gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it feel less engaging. While it attempts to skip traditional story tropes, the limited lives and time constraints add to the frustration rather than enhancing the experience.
“It cuts out all the 'save the world' story BS and gets you straight into the action in increasingly difficult challenges.”
“But in story mode, you only have one life (no extra life at all) and limited time, which is tough.”
“It cuts out all the 'save the world' story nonsense and gets you straight into the action in increasingly difficult challenges.”
“- no real story”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing a desire for a soundtrack that echoes the original games rather than the current tunes. However, the sound effects and music effectively contribute to a nostalgic retro atmosphere, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“Sound effects, music, and graphics work well to rekindle that retro feeling, and it still has that balancing act between firing your grapple or dodging, and the timing and calculating ahead to pop the bouncing bubbles as efficiently (and as quickly) as you can.”
“Even the timeless piece of art that is the music tune playing throughout the levels is noteworthy.”
“Even the timeless piece of art that is the music tune playing throughout the levels got shoved out.”
“I wish they would've gone with a soundtrack more reminiscent of the original games though.”
“Sound effects, music, and graphics do work well to rekindle that retro feeling, but the music feels lacking compared to the original.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with the core tour mode being short and easy, while the additional modes lack depth. While players can enjoy a few hours of gameplay, the content does not offer enough variety or challenge to encourage extended replay.
“There is enough content for a few good hours or more to clock the tour mode, plus a bit more with multiplayer, score, and panic modes.”
“The gameplay is compelling enough to keep you playing for a few hours, but whether its trio of modes provide much replay value is another matter.”
“The core tour mode is too short and too easy, and then the extra modes are far too limited to give this sufficient replayability.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability on Linux, including optimal performance on the Steam Deck, consistently achieving 60 fps.
“This game runs great on Linux, and of course that means on the Steam Deck too, getting 60 fps.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, largely due to the small game area, which limits exploration and variety in gameplay.
“The game area is too small and tedious.”
“The game area is too small and tedious.”
Critic Reviews
Pang Adventures Review
Pang Adventures offers a tense and instantly enjoyable ode to a timeless arcade romp, and one that’s bound to engage and reward players who enjoyed it 30 years ago as well as those discovering it for the first time on the eShop. The support for online play is a real bonus, as many puzzle games of this ilk are want to simply plump for couch-play only, but for all its colourful chaos you are left hoping for something a little less predictable. Fans of the original will love it, but they may also lament the fact that more hasn't been done to update this classic series.
70%Pang Adventures
+ Fun challenging gameplay + Appealing visuals + Co-op - Fairly short - No real story (Reviewed on Switch, also available on PlayStation 4, Android, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Xbox One)
70%Pang Adventures Review
Pang Adventures is a thoroughly retro arcade game that offers addictive bubble-bursting fun in a modestly sized package. The gameplay is compelling enough to keep you playing for a few hours, but whether its trio of modes provide much replay value is another matter. It's certainly worth a look if you have an old-school itch that needs scratching, and fans of the original game will be pleased with just how faithful Pastagames has been to that decades-old formula.
70%