Pixelpunk XL

About

Pixelpunk XL is a single player action game. It was developed by Mykhail Konokh and was released on April 20, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Pixelpunk XL is a pixelated old school first person shooter with rogue-like game mechanics set in sci-fi environment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

Smooth and satisfying controls with a strong sense of 6 degrees of freedom flight reminiscent of classic Descent games.
Level generation is interesting and mostly fun, offering unique rooms and replayability through randomized stages.
The atmospheric audiovisual style, especially with the 'toxic' shader, creates a distinct, immersive retro-futuristic ambiance.

Content is very limited with only a few enemy types, a small number of bosses, and short overall playtime leading to repetition.
Gameplay balance issues including enemies that can often deal damage unpredictably, and weapons with awkward firing directions that limit combat effectiveness.
Technical problems such as crashes on startup for some users and a lack of polish including minimal game progression systems and a confusing default visual filter.

graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The graphics feature a unique, stylized aesthetic that some users find visually appealing and atmospheric, especially when using alternative modes like the "toxic mode." However, the default art style can be confusing and hinder gameplay due to difficulty in distinguishing enemies and projectiles. Overall, the visuals are praised for their ambience and retro-inspired design but may require adjustment for optimal enjoyment.
- “I use only the excellent toxic mode in the menu for graphics, with gorgeous results to my taste, brilliant visualization and ambience.”
- “This little gem of a game honors the classic Descent in a lot of ways ... add in a cup of rogue-lite tastiness and stylized or pixelized graphics to your choosing and that mix starts to resemble what Pixelpunk XL is representing.”
- “Also the default art style is really frustrating, it looks good, but it is difficult to aim with and confusing at times; once I switched to the second style it was much easier to play and in my opinion looked much cooler and sharper.”
- “- Default art style hinders gameplay; makes enemies and bullets hard to hit or see.”
- “- Level generation is very nice and pretty once you swap over to the second art style.”
- “+ Visuals look decent most of the time.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is fundamentally fun and mechanically sound but lacks depth and content, resulting in a short experience that may only appeal to those familiar with the genre. Some design choices, such as the art style and hitbox inconsistencies, can hinder clarity and smooth gameplay flow. Overall, it's challenging yet straightforward, though better suited for a brief, sale-priced playthrough.
- “And no problems with the real difficulty of the challenging gameplay.”
- “Mechanically, the game works well.”
- “The core gameplay is fun, but the actual game flow itself is a bit weird.”
- “What the game lacks is content and complex gameplay systems to provide depth for a longer experience.”
- “The default art style hinders gameplay, making enemies and bullets hard to hit or see.”
- “I was able to destroy it from outside, and while I figured out the lasers' mechanic, I couldn't for the life of me identify a consistent hitbox on the device, so I just kept mashing fire and moving around until it died.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
12%
13%
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as fitting, atmospheric, and enhancing the gameplay experience with a nostalgic, Metroid-like vibe. While some find it slightly monotonous or tame, many appreciate its ambience and how it complements the game's mood and pace.
- “Good, very fitting background music.”
- “The atmospheric music is reminiscent of Metroid and the resolution is distinctively low.”
- “The music goes perfectly along with the game and kept me hyped up during playing.”
- “The music is slightly monotonous.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its enjoyable aesthetic and fun, immersive experience, enhanced by atmospheric music reminiscent of Metroid. However, some note the distinctively low resolution as a notable visual characteristic.
- “Really fun controls, visuals, and atmosphere.”
- “Really enjoyable atmosphere and aesthetic.”
- “The atmospheric music is reminiscent of Metroid and the resolution is distinctively low.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers decent replayability due to its roguelike nature, despite its short length. However, users feel that adding an upgrade system, similar to games like Tower of Guns, could enhance its replay value and overall interest.
- “The game is pretty short, but the replayability is there since it's a roguelike.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel the story is underdeveloped and lacks depth, suggesting that more effort in crafting a purposeful narrative or level system would significantly improve the game's value.