Pixel Privateers
- February 21, 2017
- Quadro Delta
- 8h median play time
Pixel Privateers is a squad-based tactical RPG where you lead a team of mercenaries through a wormhole to gather technology in a mysterious galaxy. With a vast universe to explore, complete with various factions, enemies, and loot, each playthrough offers a unique experience. The game features robust multiplayer and customization options, making it accessible to all types of gamers.
Reviews
- Engaging and addictive gameplay with a strong loot system that keeps players coming back for more.
- Beautiful pixel art and a charming aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
- Variety of character classes and customization options allow for unique playstyles and strategies.
- Lack of auto-attack feature leads to tedious combat, requiring players to manually click on every enemy.
- Inventory management can become overwhelming due to the sheer amount of loot collected, making it tedious to sort through.
- Game can feel repetitive over time, with missions often following a similar pattern and lacking significant variation.
- story166 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 89 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as generic and lacking depth, with many players noting that it becomes repetitive and tedious over time. While some appreciate the basic narrative and mission structure, they feel it fails to engage fully, leading to a grind of similar quests without significant plot development. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling element, with many players prioritizing loot and customization over narrative engagement.
“I just... can't explain how happy I am with this game, it has so much progression and a storyline that doesn't get stale, customization that I look for in games.”
“The story is simple and yet I know there's a lot more in that game.”
“The story, wow... it's so simple but somehow it kept me interested, as it's all randomly generated on where things happen it felt nice whenever we found a base belonging to one of the antagonists and small dialogues broke out where we could vote on our responses as a group.”
“The game feels unfinished despite one major 5-part quest chain.”
“The final boss was quite a let down and there's no real desire to do new game plus after completing the short main story.”
“You don't play this for its story though as there is no real story here.”
- gameplay121 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the aesthetic and mechanics, while others find it repetitive and lacking depth. Many appreciate the addition of auto-attack combat and tactical elements, but criticize the overall engagement and progression, often describing it as monotonous and simplistic. Despite its potential and solid mechanics, the gameplay is seen as needing improvement to enhance player experience and reduce tedium.
“So in this update of the game, there is an auto-attack combat mechanic they added that makes the game more enjoyable, and you'll be happy you started playing it this way right off the bat.”
“Overall, the gameplay is stellar if you like grinding.”
“This game has fun gameplay, a wonderful soundtrack, and a nice amount of comedy.”
“Devs are bankrupt, and the gameplay gets boring very quickly.”
“Repetitive gameplay and no feeling of progression after the first few hours made me stop playing.”
“The gameplay itself becomes very repetitive, with hardly any difference in room after room of mobs.”
- graphics47 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their appealing pixel art style and vibrant aesthetics, with many players noting the beautiful landscapes and detailed artwork. While some users appreciate the nostalgic feel of the pixelated visuals, others mention occasional performance issues and a desire for more gameplay depth. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The graphics are gorgeous and it didn't have a single bug the entire time I played it.”
“Visuals: pixel art is great, love the style and there are quite a few beautiful landscapes to see as you slaughter a plethora of aliens collecting fuel and matter.”
“I love the pixel art style thus far, the way things glow and the user interface is stunning.”
“I don't mind pixelated graphics, but... you have to compensate with something, and the gameplay isn't fun.”
“The game is very laggy where you wouldn't expect it, and there are almost no graphics options.”
“Also some graphics issues if you play for long periods of time and from the looks of the other reviews seem to be a common trend.”
- music38 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising the unique and enjoyable soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly in the ship's bar. While some find the music to be silly and charming, others criticize certain tracks as annoying or repetitive, especially during dialogues. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its beauty and ability to complement the game's aesthetics, despite occasional issues like lag during loading screens.
“The soundtrack is unique and enjoyable.”
“The music can be a bit laggy during loading screens, but that's okay with me.”
“Let me tell you this game is really enjoyable, you travel the galaxy with a team you manage and explore world after world with, but all feel different from the last ones that you've visited... and the music is like listening to Alvin and the Chipmunks... but oh so much better.”
“The sound effects are alright, except for the utterly annoying music put on the ship deck for some reason, which will mostly ruin many a dialogue with various NPCs.”
“We had no disconnects but we were all falling asleep between the soundtrack filled with elevator music and the lack of meaningful gameplay; I personally dozed off more than once.”
“Music is a hit and miss.”
- grinding29 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding grinding in the game, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive due to excessive loot management and lack of engaging content. While some enjoy the thrill of grinding for incremental improvements and loot, others criticize the uninspired gameplay mechanics and the overwhelming amount of items that complicate inventory management. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate grinding, but may frustrate players who prefer a more streamlined experience.
“Hardly any content; the game had potential, but there are no updates, and you end up grinding for nothing.”
“If you don't find endless loot farming for incremental character improvements satisfying, then tread lightly.”
“The problems, as I'm sure you're aware from other reviews, is too much loot, making equipment management tedious, and no auto attack, meaning having to right-click on every enemy on a mission is tedious.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is generally well-received, featuring a mix of subtle references, quirky dialogue, and amusing easter eggs that enhance the overall experience without becoming overwhelming. While some players find the humor can wear thin after a while, many appreciate its tasteful integration with gameplay and story, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a lighthearted approach in a roguelike setting. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the game's charm, appealing to fans of both RPG elements and comedic undertones.
“Roguelike/tactical feel still fun and cartoony, tasteful humor, very addicting without feeling too grindy.”
“It has hilarious callbacks and references to other geek culture things without being hamfisted about it, and a lot of the references are subtle enough that I barely caught them.”
“Overall, I'd happily recommend this game for most gamers who like to grind and enjoy quirky humor.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on most modern and older PCs, some players experience significant performance issues, particularly after extended play sessions, leading to stuttering in key areas like the galaxy map. Additionally, the inventory system and UI require further optimization to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“Speaking of performance, any modern and even old PC is capable of running a title with this graphical style, so there should be no problems.”
“If the storage system is optimized, then the amount of time spent juggling the loot could be reduced, which means you can get back to the dungeon crawling - which I enjoy a good bit, personally.”
“+ Game runs smoothly.”
“Game was fun initially, but after a few hours of gameplay, there's massive stuttering at the galaxy map (and therefore the research screen, the crew inventory/management screen, etc).”
“The thing that turned me away from it was the performance.”
“However, the inventory UI is lackluster and needs optimization.”
- stability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches, particularly at higher levels and with specific resolutions. Many players express frustration over unfinished features and poor coding, leading to a lack of polish reminiscent of other abandoned titles. Despite these issues, some remain hopeful for future improvements, believing the game has potential if the stability problems are addressed.
“Pixel Privateers works in many similar ways, but the whole game has such a polish and is far more bug-free.”
“Seems very polished and bug-free so far on my first playthrough.”
“I really want to like the game, however as it stands right now it is completely bug-ridden at higher levels.”
“First of all, I won't swear at UX designers here (surprise!), but the problem lies in just bad code: in 4K you're unable to select a planet (you should switch to Full HD) and in Full HD lifts are buggy (the lift goes somewhere, but the camera does not and there is no way to move the viewport, you should switch back to 4K and so on).”
“I tried quite a few troubleshooting options to no avail.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a mixed bag in terms of replayability. While many players appreciate the abundance of content, gear mods, and the "new game+" feature that allows for indefinite scaling, some criticize the lack of depth and the repetitive nature of gameplay, leading to a divided opinion on its long-term replay value.
“Still worth getting as it does have a lot of content and is replayable.”
“That combined with the Diablo/Borderlands style gear mods gives the game a good replay value.”
“Replayability is definitely there, you'll find it in the form of 'new game+', which stacks indefinitely (ng++++++).”
“But this game seriously lacks any depth and replayability.”
“It has some replay value with a new game + mode, but it's literally the same thing over again with no added benefit.”
“No replayability”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive exploration, featuring beautiful graphics and atmospheric music that enhance the experience for RPG enthusiasts and grinders alike. Players appreciate the variety of classes and diverse locations to discover, contributing to a rich and engaging environment.
“This game is for RPG lovers and grinders, featuring a rich atmosphere to explore with various classes and places to discover.”
“Beautiful graphics and atmospheric music.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, leading users to recommend avoiding it altogether.
“Dead, just move on away from this cash grab.”