Platformines
- March 28, 2014
- Magiko Gaming
With plenty reasons for replay value I can't see why player's wouldn't want to prolong the experience. Tedious combat that's mostly unavoidable.
Get on Steam"Platformines is a single-player 2D platformer game with RPG and shooter elements, set in a randomly generated underground world filled with traps, enemies, and treasures. Customize your character with countless options and master 3 difficulty levels to jump to the top of the leaderboards. Discover hidden chests, loot enemies, and collect items to help you rebuild your spaceship and uncover the mysteries of the mine complex."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a mix of exploration, shooting, and looting that keeps players entertained for hours.
- Unique graphics and a fun soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Offers a fair challenge with a variety of weapons and upgrades, appealing to fans of retro platformers.
- Controls can be frustrating and awkward, particularly the aiming system which relies on movement keys.
- Endgame difficulty spikes significantly, making progression feel unbalanced and discouraging.
- Repetitive gameplay and limited enemy variety can lead to a lack of long-term engagement.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of run-and-gun mechanics and metroidvania elements, offering solid action and exploration within a vast cavern system. While many players find the initial experience enjoyable and engaging, the gameplay tends to become repetitive and overwhelming as the game progresses, with some noting a steep difficulty spike and a lack of variety in upgrades. Overall, it provides a decent amount of content for its price, but may not sustain long-term interest for all players.
“Although having said that, the gameplay is brilliantly unique.”
“Fine at the beginning with solid run and gun gameplay mixed with metroidvania-type mechanics that get ushered in gradually.”
“A lot of the gameplay elements here are very familiar -- precision platforming, gobs of randomized loot, a never-ending cycle of weapon upgrades -- but it feels fresh; these elements were never combined in quite this way before.”
“Not enough work done on core gameplay.”
“The scale doesn't truly hit you until you've picked up 4 or 5 engine pieces and at that point you might think 'damn... I might never finish this.' And therein lies the flaw... the game is simply too huge for the gameplay that supports it.”
“Gameplay fun at first, but very repetitive by the end, and huge difficulty spike for the last two objectives.”
- music18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a blend of electronic and classical elements, with standout tracks like a unique rendition of Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King." While many players appreciate the soundtrack's creativity and nostalgic 8-bit influences, some find it repetitive and occasionally annoying. Overall, the music is seen as a highlight, though opinions vary on its lasting appeal.
“It has some fun music with an electronic curve to classical music.”
“An excellent version of 'In the Hall of the Mountain King' by Grieg, which is basically the manic miner music, is included.”
“The soundtrack is a modern remix of classic orchestral sounds done with many video game overtones.”
“An amazing game, but the soundtrack can be annoying at times.”
“On top of all this, the music is forgettable, the storyline confusing (have these guys heard of simple objectives?!), and the graphics cartoony and cheesy.”
“Just make sure to turn off the music.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their crispness and unique art style, featuring a variety of items, weapons, and enemies that enhance the gameplay experience. While some describe the visuals as charming and suitable for a platform game, others find them to be cartoony and cheesy. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal, despite mixed opinions on their resolution and artistic direction.
“The graphics are very well done, with lots of different items, weapons, and enemies.”
“The graphics are crisp with a unique art style.”
“It's a fun little platform shooter with charming retro graphics and a lot of replayability.”
“On top of all this, the music is forgettable, the storyline confusing (have these guys heard of simple objectives?!), and the graphics cartoony and cheesy.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some appreciate the slow advancement and find it refreshing, others find it tedious and time-consuming, especially when trying to progress against tougher enemies. The grinding can feel necessary for combat effectiveness, but it may detract from the overall enjoyment for those who prefer a faster-paced experience.
“Although, I had to spend considerable time grinding for a while to be able to combat creeps further away from home.”
“Finding the right path was a bit tedious sometimes, especially in the final ‘ring’ where you can die in a second even with full upgrades.”
“Tedious combat that's mostly unavoidable.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, with many players appreciating its charm and randomized elements that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some users noted that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, which may diminish the desire to replay. Despite this, the combination of engaging mechanics and retro graphics contributes to a solid replay value for those who enjoy the genre.
“It's a fun little platform shooter with charming retro graphics and a lot of replayability.”
“The bad: gameplay got repetitive for me. Despite having a blast at first, I stopped playing, so even with everything being random, the replay value is low.”
“With elements of SteamWorld Dig (randomized mines, collect minerals of ever-increasing value the deeper you go, locate portals for quick returns in trickier parts of the map), this offers plenty of replayability, even though the shooting and platforming elements start to get a little repetitive over what seems to be a single enormous level.”
“With plenty of reasons for replay value, I can't see why players wouldn't want to prolong the experience.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being non-existent and confusing, with players noting a lack of clear objectives. Instead, the focus is on fast-paced action and gameplay mechanics like platforming and loot collection, overshadowing any narrative elements. Overall, the storyline is deemed forgettable and unimportant to the overall experience.
“Random world, random weapons, fast action, metroid-like platforming, collecting minerals, killing stuff, no story.”
“On top of all this, the music is forgettable, the storyline is confusing (have these guys heard of simple objectives?!), and the graphics are cartoony and cheesy.”
“So let's just shoot the story and go for a little platforming and shooting and loot collecting... in a mine!”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting the diverse and engaging music tracks that enhance the overall experience. The varied styles contribute significantly to creating an immersive environment.
“The other tracks in-game are really awesome as well - varied in style and atmospheric.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
“Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a desire for more creativity in weapon naming, suggesting that humorous and memorable names would enhance the game's overall charm and engagement. The current generic names detract from the potential for humor in the game.
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever dialogue and hilarious character interactions that keep me laughing.”
“I love how the game incorporates witty puns and jokes into the gameplay, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
“The absurd situations and quirky characters add a delightful layer of humor that makes the experience truly enjoyable.”
