Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds

About

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds is a 2D beat 'em up game by Mages/5pb, featuring classic beat 'em up gameplay with a fighting game twist. Fight against the minions of the evil wizard Phantom in Story Mode, across 8 stages inspired by famous Tokyo districts. Challenge yourself in Arcade Mode, or team up with friends in Multiplayer for a fun and exciting experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds screenshot

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,846 reviews

gameplay116 positive mentions

grinding48 negative mentions

The game features a solid combo system that allows for satisfying gameplay.
The art style is charming and colorful, reminiscent of classic arcade games.
Each character has unique abilities and playstyles, adding variety to the gameplay.

The tutorial is lacking, making it difficult for new players to learn the mechanics.
There are significant issues with controller support and no option to remap keyboard controls.
The game lacks online multiplayer, which limits its replayability and social experience.

gameplay
341 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The gameplay of Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds is a blend of beat 'em up and fighting game mechanics, offering a unique experience with a variety of combos and techniques that provide depth and replayability. However, players note a steep learning curve due to insufficient tutorials and complex mechanics, which can lead to frustration, especially during chaotic boss battles. While the game is visually appealing and fun once mastered, some find it too simplistic or short to sustain long-term interest.
- “Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds had the great idea to combine fighting game mechanics with the beat 'em up genre, and it worked very well.”
- “The implementation of fighting game mechanics gives this game a lot of depth and a ton of replayability that no other beat 'em up could ever really hope to achieve other than Scott Pilgrim, and is very fun once you've learned how to properly combo.”
- “The gameplay is side-scrolling beat 'em up, with a surprising amount of combos, special attacks, and techniques to use.”
- “Even reading through the guide in the menu, it's awful at actually describing what each ability and tech can do, especially as each character can be entirely different in its mechanical flow.”
- “The gameplay is too basic and the story too shallow to keep someone interested in grinding and leveling.”
- “There's actually a lot about the mechanics which are left unexplained.”
story
272 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
78%
6%
The game's story is generally considered shallow and nonsensical, often described as a typical "save the kidnapped sister" plot that lacks depth and coherence. While the narrative is brief, taking around 2-3 hours to complete, it offers some replayability through different characters and modes, though many players feel the story is not the main draw of the game. Overall, the focus is more on gameplay and character customization rather than a compelling storyline.
- “While the game is short, it offers lots of replayability with a good selection of characters with different playstyles and skills, plus a lot of unlockable ones, and a few different game modes focusing either on the storyline or pure arcade action aiming for high score/combos. Combat is surprisingly deeper than your usual beat 'em up, with lots of different skills and abilities to unlock and customize to better suit your playstyle as you level up your character.”
- “Play as a host of adorable (magic) girls on their quest to save the land and their friend's little sister from the evil phantom!”
- “The chiptune-style music is epic to listen to, and while the storyline can feel as though it's trying too hard, you can still learn some good life lessons, especially when you play Mikoto's story mode.”
- “The story, on the other hand, is completely nonsensical and did not captivate me whatsoever.”
- “The story is utterly forgettable.”
- “The story seems half-assed and not very interesting, basically a guy called Phantom comes along, steals some little sister called Nagi, and you have to traverse different areas and realms to rescue her.”
graphics
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The graphics of "Phantom Breaker" are characterized by a vibrant and colorful anime aesthetic, featuring clean pixel art and fluid animations that evoke nostalgia for classic beat 'em ups. While some players appreciate the charming character designs and detailed backgrounds, others note that the visuals may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer more modern graphics. Overall, the game's art style is well-received, with many praising its engaging and cute presentation, despite some rough edges and a lack of customization options.
- “Graphics are cute, colorful, with fluid animations and lots of personality.”
- “The graphics are fantastic; it is such a refreshing sight to see colorful, vibrant backgrounds in today's movement towards gritty dark realism.”
- “The graphic and art style in Phantom Breaker looks really nice.”
- “Sure the controls might feel a bit off despite using a gamepad, and the graphics are rough around the edges, but graphically, the game is pretty detailed on the levels.”
- “If you don't mind the graphics being between NES and SNES-era quality and a weird/borderline goth/horror storyline with overly cute anime girl characters, this is a fun beat-em-up game with RPG character-building.”
- “I could ignore the horrible presentation and graphics if the developers actually put time into making the game play well, but of course they didn't.”
music
203 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring catchy chiptune tracks that complement its vibrant pixel art and fast-paced gameplay. While some players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, others note that it can become repetitive over time, with a few tracks being particularly memorable. Overall, the music enhances the game's charm, making it a solid addition to the beat 'em up genre.
- “Super fun beat em up action, adorable characters, and a great soundtrack.”
- “The chiptune music and style is so charming.”
- “The music throughout the game was great, it had a pulsating BGM beat to it, it fitted in with the fast-paced gaming mechanics.”
- “The music is bland, you won't remember anything; every girl sounds exactly the same, a typical, standard kawaii anime girl.”
- “After the start screen, the music gets pretty mediocre as the game goes on.”
- “Music is supplementary to fighting enemies/typical brawler, but the sounds can get repetitive/annoying after a period of time.”
replayability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
6%
The game offers significant replayability through its diverse roster of characters, unlockable content, and multiple difficulty levels, making it particularly enjoyable in cooperative play. While some players feel the story mode is short, the variety in character abilities and the skill tree system encourage repeated playthroughs. Overall, the replay value is high, especially for fans of beat-em-up games, though it may depend on individual player investment.
- “I found it to be pretty replayable with trying to unlock characters and clear achievements; however, this game will really shine if you have a buddy to play it with.”
- “There are also several different characters that play differently, and a few of them are unlockable, which adds a lot of replay value to the game.”
- “Naturally, this encourages replayability, as difficulties are unlocked through each successful playthrough.”
- “Due to the short length and replay value essentially being limited to the number of playable characters, I don't believe that it's worth full price.”
- “Sitting down to marathon the game though will leave you feeling like the game came up short because of just how short it really is, but it has a ton of replayability for the price tag.”
- “As a result, game replay value is diminished because I'm not too emotionally invested in my characters.”
grinding
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for being excessive and repetitive, particularly in the late game where players must level up multiple characters individually. While some players find the grinding satisfying and necessary for character progression, many feel that the lack of variety in gameplay and story makes the grind tedious and unenjoyable, especially when playing solo. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the game's potential enjoyment.
- “The gameplay is too basic and the story too shallow to keep someone interested in grinding and leveling.”
- “Even though the sprites and the backgrounds look really nice, most of the screens are boring and repetitive; the game becomes very grindy and the enemies are constantly reused and feel completely out of place.”
- “This is one of those games in which you have a progression system; it's quite slow and grindy, and you're forced to choose between boring but powerful statistical upgrades and the special abilities that actually make the combat fun.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its cute characters and funny dialogue, reminiscent of old-school arcade games. While some find the humor hit-or-miss, particularly in the context of gameplay mechanics and music, many enjoy the lighthearted, button-mashing fun and the amusing animations during fights. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay, making it a fun experience despite some criticisms.
- “Amazing beat'em up game, reminds me a lot of the Scott Pilgrim game (RIP) and I love the humor in the dialogues.”
- “It was a hilariously one-sided match-up, but it was so much fun pulling off wicked combos that you simply didn't care.”
- “Fighting is great, the upgrade system is good, and the characters are hilarious.”
- “a bland, forgettable, and unfunny game”
- “a bland, forgettable, and unfunny game”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The optimization of the game is a mixed bag, with some users reporting smooth performance and no frame rate drops, while others experience frequent crashes, bugs, and stuttering. Control options are criticized for being poorly optimized and inflexible, particularly for keyboard users. Overall, many reviewers recommend waiting for further optimizations before purchasing.
- “It runs smoothly with no hang-ups, and it's overall a great experience of a game.”
- “Run smoothly... I didn't experience any FPS drop here. Sadly, you cannot change the video options much; this might turn some people off.”
- “+ decent game performance”
- “Poorly optimized with frequent crashes.”
- “Control options could be optimized and made more loosely modifiable so a controller wouldn't be the best solution.”
- “Do not buy before proper optimizations are made.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent glitches, freezing issues during startup, and problems with online play. While some players have enjoyed the gameplay, the overall experience is marred by these technical difficulties, making it hard to recommend without reservations. Many hope that future updates will address these stability issues.
- “The gameplay is pretty fun when it does work, but frankly, the game is too short to justify the amount of troubleshooting it requires.”
- “There seems to be multiple issues with the game, some of them concerning glitches and others about features of the game that haven't been implemented.”
- “Game freezes on startup unless you skip the intro.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is primarily highlighted through its appealing art style and character designs, which some players find to be the standout feature. While the game is short, the unique anime pixel art contributes positively to the overall enjoyment, though it may not resonate with all players.
- “The cute, anime, pixel art may not appeal to everyone, but I really like the art style and character designs.”
- “It's a short game but very enjoyable; I think the character designs are the best part of this game.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's emotional impact is lacking, leading to a diminished investment in the characters and overall replay value. Many users suggest waiting for improvements before engaging with the game, as it currently fails to evoke strong emotional connections.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers consistently highlight the game's ability to evoke a strong old-school atmosphere, effectively immersing players in a nostalgic experience that resonates with classic gaming aesthetics.
- “And it actually fits really well, creating an old-school atmosphere.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with in-game currency being largely irrelevant while upgrades are tied to gems. Players express frustration over the lack of meaningful financial engagement, suggesting that the system detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game feels like a cash grab, where money means nothing and gems are the only way to upgrade your character.”
- “The monetization system is frustrating, making it seem like the developers are more interested in profits than player experience.”
- “It feels like the entire game is designed around pushing players to spend more money rather than enjoying the gameplay.”