Picklock
- May 7, 2020
- CreepyBrothers
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Picklock" is a single-player simulation game with an intriguing story following the character Picklock, an experienced thief who starts fresh in a new town with 13 unique missions. Accomplish missions and sell stolen items to gain earnings, enabling the purchase of new cars, homes, and more. With perfect visuals and good music, the game offers a chance to enjoy a robbery adventure and live the life of a pro thief.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fun and engaging gameplay with clever problem-solving mechanics that encourage strategic thinking.
- Charming pixel graphics and a light-hearted atmosphere make for an enjoyable experience.
- Great value for the price, especially when on sale, providing a few hours of entertainment.
- Controls can be frustrating, particularly with the camera and the mechanics of opening doors.
- The game is very short, often completed in under 5 hours, leading to concerns about replay value.
- Some design choices, such as unclear objectives and lack of in-level saves, can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay51 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplistic mechanics and limited variety, primarily revolving around stealth and puzzle-solving elements. While some appreciate the engaging levels and the tension created during heists, others criticize the poor control mechanics and lack of depth, leading to a short and potentially repetitive experience. Overall, the game offers a fun yet basic gameplay experience that may not satisfy those seeking more complex mechanics or a longer playtime.
“The simple stealth mechanics are mixed in with some really well-designed levels to make for some genuinely tense decisions in the middle of your heists.”
“An interesting game with excellent mechanics.”
“The gameplay is fascinating and unusual; I assure you will be engaged.”
“Limited game mechanics: other than picking up loot, there are only opponents with view cones on pre-determined paths and security cameras shielding areas that you deactivate via terminals.”
“The game has something to improve, for example: the mechanics of opening doors - it is terrible.”
“I understand this is from an indie studio, but at the very least I would expect the core gameplay elements (breaking and entering, stealing) to have been prioritized and made to handle well and feel good, even if other aspects were lacking.”
- story48 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is centered around a protagonist who transitions from an honest life to a thief, navigating a series of interconnected missions that emphasize stealth and puzzle-solving. While players appreciate the unique character and atmosphere of each mission, many express a desire for more mission variety and depth in the narrative, as the overall story feels simplistic and the game is relatively short, often completed in under three hours. Despite its brevity, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay mechanics and charming art style, making it a fun experience for fans of the genre.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The plot is also a huge plus of this game.”
“Each of the missions has a real sense of character to them, and the puzzle aspects mean you always need to think a few steps ahead before executing your plan, which is nicely satisfying.”
“I guess it is pretty chill game but after some time it gets really boring; there isn't a story, not worth the money to be honest. Overall, the gameplay and puzzle maps are pretty cool.”
“You can go through it in less than an afternoon; it's a set of somewhat interconnected missions.”
“I think you should update the game with more levels and a bigger story.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and quirky pixel art style, often compared to voxel and Minecraft aesthetics. While some players find the graphics basic, they appreciate the distinct visual appeal and how it complements the fun gameplay. Overall, the art style is seen as a significant draw, enhancing the game's enjoyable and relaxing experience.
“Super fun game with retro graphics.”
“It has its charms like the distinct voxel art style.”
“A short and sweet game with charming graphics, a variety of levels, customization, and a few hidden collectibles.”
“While the voxel graphics are pleasing enough, I just can't take this game seriously.”
“Graphics reminiscent of Minecraft and a very cool style of the game.”
“Graphics - pixel characters add a twist to this game.”
- music18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its retro style and pleasant atmosphere. However, some reviewers noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive and lacks variety across levels, leading to a desire for more diverse tracks. Overall, while the music enhances the gaming experience, it may become monotonous over time.
“This game has appealing graphics and nice background music.”
“There are low requirements for computer components, which cannot but rejoice, there is also an excellent soundtrack, a pleasant atmosphere.”
“The music is beautiful, the soundtracks are just perfect, they don’t bother!”
“The music becomes annoying as soon as you are hunted by the police.”
“The music is serviceable, but I did turn it off after a while because it's basically the same basic track for the whole game.”
“Having different music for each level would be nice.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky art style and clever mechanics, such as exploiting enemy vision cones for comedic stealth moments. Players appreciate the blend of humor with tension, enhanced by retro-style music, making the overall experience both entertaining and engaging.
“A hilarious exploit is the detection and size of the cone vision of the enemy; oftentimes I could slip right next to a door and go behind them, or purposely bait some enemies and hide behind the wall to give them the easy slip.”
“The art style is fun and quirky with the right mix of humor and tension.”
“The game is funny.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with many players feeling that once achievement medals are completed, there is little incentive to revisit the game. Suggestions for enhancing replay value include adding more levels or allowing community-generated content, as the current experience is enjoyable but short, lasting only 4-6 hours.
“It has a somewhat medium difficulty; you don't sweat over it, but need to use that brain of yours. The beautiful art style and a content length of 4-6 hours, plus a good amount of replay value, make it a great deal for its price.”
“Replay value is not huge once you complete the achievement medals.”
“In short, it's a fun game, yet too short and has no replay value.”
“A suggestion for adding replay value is to either make it a grinding game (which isn't fun and feels cheap), or add more levels, or maybe even let the community create content.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game's grinding elements are well-planned and balanced, avoiding excessive investment of time while still providing an engaging experience. They suggest that instead of relying on grinding for replay value, the game could benefit from additional levels or community-generated content.
“Well-planned game elements, the learning curve neither needs heavy investment (you want to enjoy the game, not write a PhD thesis, which I am already doing in real life!), nor is it dull and mindless grinding.”
“A suggestion as to how you can add replay value is either by making it into a grinding game (which isn't fun and feels cheap), or by adding more levels or maybe even letting the community create content.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by a compelling story and an excellent soundtrack, creating an immersive experience. Additionally, the low system requirements make it accessible to a wider audience, contributing positively to the overall ambiance.
“A good story that builds the atmosphere.”
“There are low requirements for computer components, which is great, and there is also an excellent soundtrack that contributes to a pleasant atmosphere.”
