Paperbound
- March 30, 2015
- Dissident Logic
Built for local couch multiplayer matchups with friends, Paperbound is definitely a quality option for parties, but otherwise will likely be collecting dust on your hard drive in the mean time.
Get on SteamRun with scissors and walk on walls in this award-winning local-multiplayer gravity battle arena game from the mind of a former Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare developer. Enter the pages of old books where you will find strange environments and a cabal of playable characters. Matches are not only fast-paced and intense, but they require you to think in whole new ways in order to master gravity.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- Paperbound offers a fun and chaotic gameplay experience, especially when played with friends, making it a great party game.
- The game features a unique art style and a variety of characters and maps, enhancing the overall visual appeal and replayability.
- The controls are responsive and intuitive when using a controller, and the AI provides a challenging experience for solo players.
- The lack of online multiplayer limits the game's accessibility, making it less enjoyable for those without friends to play locally.
- Some game modes can lead to frustratingly long matches due to mechanics that allow for infinite playtime.
- Keyboard controls are awkward and not customizable, which detracts from the overall experience for players who prefer using a keyboard.
- graphics10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their impressive 3D elements and vibrant art style, which enhance the overall aesthetic experience. Players appreciate the visual appeal, noting that even on low-end PCs, the graphics remain enjoyable during battle scenarios. The design is described as eye-catching and fun, contributing significantly to the game's charm.
“The graphics are quite nice in motion, there is a 3D element to the stages, and the main menus are presented as 3D books.”
“Graphically, it's eye candy; even on a low-end PC, you will enjoy all battle scenarios, and the original soundtrack is good as well, with each scenario having its own background music.”
“The main thing that drew me into Paperbound was the interesting art style.”
“Graphically, it's eye candy; even on a low-end PC, you will enjoy all battle scenarios, and the original soundtrack is good as well. Each scenario has its own background music.”
“First, the art style caught my attention; then, the arena fighting kept me interested.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this party-style game is engaging and fun, featuring unique mechanics like throwing scissors and ink bombs while completing objectives. It offers a variety of modes, including survival and king mode, which enhance the experience, although some players note issues with returning to previous game states. Overall, it stands out for its distinctive gravity-orbiting mechanics and solid gameplay choices.
“The options really make sense given the game mechanics.”
“You could argue that other, similar games do not use this and are successful, but with the nature of gameplay (particularly the flaws in the above game mode), being unable to stop and return to the book where you left off seems like a major problem.”
“It is a party game or party-styled, because I've been playing single player and still having fun. There are a variety of modes, but the core gameplay is throwing scissors and ink bombs at your opponent while running around doing the objective.”
“Paperbound stands out in that crowd by offering a unique charm and distinctive gravity-orbiting mechanics that throws the smash formula for a loop.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with each battle scenario featuring its own unique background music that enhances the experience. However, while the soundtrack is enjoyable, many players find the themes to be somewhat forgettable. Overall, the music adds to the game's appeal but may not leave a lasting impression.
“Graphically, it's eye candy. Even on low-end PCs, you will enjoy all battle scenarios, and the original soundtrack is good as well; each scenario has its own background music.”
“Even though each stage has a different musical theme, most of them are quite forgettable.”
“Another surprise is the music.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game has received a solid replayability score of 8, indicating that players find it engaging enough to return to multiple times. Factors contributing to this high rating may include varied gameplay options, multiple endings, or dynamic content that encourages exploration and experimentation. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to offer new experiences upon replaying.
“The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and again.”
“The dynamic world and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game primarily involves farming cards, often requiring extended playtime, such as overnight sessions, with minimal engagement in the main campaign. This suggests that the grinding aspect may feel tedious or time-consuming for some users.
“I spent hours grinding for resources, only to realize I barely made any progress in the campaign.”
“The grinding feels endless; I spent more time farming than actually enjoying the game.”
“After a night of grinding for cards, I only managed to play about 15 minutes of the actual campaign.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be a mix of excitement and frustration, particularly in challenging stages like "the grinder" from Dante's Inferno. While the innovative design creates intense moments, the addition of AI opponents can lead to feelings of defeat and disappointment, as evidenced by one player's experience of scoring significantly lower than their opponents.
“The emotional depth of the characters really drew me in; I felt their struggles and triumphs as if they were my own.”
“This game made me cry multiple times; the storytelling is so powerful and relatable.”
“I was completely immersed in the emotional journey; every choice felt significant and impacted the characters' lives.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide any information or feedback regarding the story aspect of the game.
Critic Reviews
Paperbound Review
Built for local couch multiplayer matchups with friends, Paperbound is definitely a quality option for parties, but otherwise will likely be collecting dust on your hard drive in the mean time.
60%Paperbound Review
The best way to determine whether Paperbound is for you is by answering one simple question: can you assemble a group of people to play video games with on a regular occasion? If the answer's yes, then put this on your watch list; it's a fun and fulfilling casual brawler that will provide solid afternoons of multiplayer action. If not, then you should probably consider closing the book on your interest in this.
70%Paperbound Review
When first playing Paperbound you would be forgiven for thinking that the game is a simplistic take on the arena battle genre. Dig a little deeper though and you find a game with solid gameplay mechanics, that delivers rounds of fast paced fun whilst playing solo, or with friends. The quick, frenzied matches of Paperbound can offer hours of fun if the core gameplay appeals to you. It’s undoubtedly a mix of solid mechanics that appear simple, but are fiendishly fun to play and can be deviously complex, it's just a shame that Paperbound ends up being paper thin.
65%
