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"Pester" is a fast-paced, vertically-scrolling shooter game with intense old-school action and TATE support. The game features remastered sprite work and a thumping soundtrack, with over 100 customizable play options for a highly replayable experience. Originally released for Xbox Live Indies, this game offers a challenging and exciting experience for shooter fans.

Pester screenshot
Pester screenshot
Pester screenshot
Pester screenshot
Pester screenshot
Pester screenshot
Pester screenshot
Pester screenshot

43%
Audience ScoreBased on 120 reviews
music4 positive mentions
graphics6 negative mentions

  • The game offers a nostalgic retro feel reminiscent of classic arcade shooters, appealing to fans of the genre.
  • It provides a budget-friendly option for players, with several game modes and the ability to customize music and backgrounds.
  • Some players found it to be a fun and challenging experience, especially for those new to the shoot 'em up genre.
  • The game is plagued by numerous technical issues, including crashes, poor controls, and unresponsive gameplay.
  • Many reviews highlight the lack of polish, with rough visuals and sound design that detracts from the overall experience.
  • The gameplay is described as simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth and intentional design, making it less enjoyable for most players.
  • music
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic and arcade-like techno-grumble style, while others find the volume settings frustrating and the music selection limited. Users enjoy the ability to choose between old school and new music, but many wish for a randomization feature to enhance variety. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, though volume control issues detract from the experience.

    • “Good selection of music and a cool scanline filter which I'm a sucker for :d”
    • “Retro shmup with basic gameplay and cool music that emits a nostalgic vibe.”
    • “Techno-grumble style music makes it feel like an arcade game, and for $0.99 this is a huge deal and a fun time passer.”
    • “The music volume settings for some reason are not saving for me, so every time I start this game again I need to go to options to turn it down.”
    • “Music is way too loud.”
    • “You can only change the music volume between 0-10.”
  • graphics
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the graphics have received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing them as poor, muddy, and blurry, particularly in the modern style. Some players appreciate the option to choose between old school pixel graphics and new sprites, favoring the former for its clarity. While there are mentions of improvements in the remake, the visuals still fall short of expectations.

    • “It's a good remake, in the sense of improving the graphics.”
    • “You can also select music, backgrounds, and graphics between old school and new.”
    • “The visuals are horrible.”
    • “I prefer old school, because I can see the pixel graphics versus the new sprites that look muddy, dark, and blurry because they're stretched.”
    • “The graphics are somewhat poor but the gameplay is unforgiving.”
  • gameplay
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is criticized for its lack of polish and depth, with many reviewers describing it as a generic vertical shoot-em-up that suffers from loose hitboxes and low replayability. While some appreciate the nostalgic music and classic elements, the overall consensus is that the gameplay offers little value and is ultimately disappointing.

    • “Retro shmup with basic gameplay and cool music that emits a nostalgic vibe.”
    • “Classic gameplay, re-vitalized.”
    • “The core shoot-em-up mechanics all fall short of their goal, leaving this game in bullet purgatory due to a lack of polish.”
    • “The gameplay itself has little value, just a generic vertical shmup with loose hitboxes.”
    • “There is not much in this game, not enough content or polish to the gameplay itself; it's a waste of time, I don't recommend this game at all.”
  • story
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, highlighting that perseverance in the face of adversity can lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes.

    • “The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a playful, irreverent tone, with players likening the chaotic on-screen action to "bullet diarrhoea," showcasing a blend of frustration and amusement at the overwhelming visuals. This toilet humor adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise intense gameplay experience.

    • “The screen is so small, bullets are flying everywhere. If you use your super hyper attack, it's really easy to get hit as you see almost nothing except blinking colors. It should be called 'bullet diarrhea,' pardon the toilet humor.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been criticized for its very low replayability, with multiple users expressing disappointment in the lack of incentive to play again.

    • “The gameplay has really low replayability.”
    • “The gameplay has really low replayability.”

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