Pulling No Punches
- August 10, 2022
- BrainDead Broccoli
Get on Steam"Pulling No Punches" is a satirical beat'em up 2D game with classic arcade influences and a modern style. The game follows the fictional story of a pandemic ignored by disbelievers, causing four ordinary protagonists to deal with them using their fists. The game features hand-drawn art and animations, and allows players to punch, kick, grapple, and headbutt enemies in various ways.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features excellent graphics and a beautiful art style that captures the essence of Brazilian culture and politics.
- Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a variety of characters and moves that enhance the beat 'em up experience.
- The satirical narrative and humor resonate well, especially for those familiar with the socio-political context of Brazil during the pandemic.
- The game is quite short, with many players finishing it in under two hours, which may limit replayability.
- There are several bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with hitboxes and character movement.
- The political themes and messages may alienate some players, particularly those who do not share the same views or are looking for a more neutral gaming experience.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is widely praised for its fluidity, engaging mechanics, and adherence to classic beat 'em up formulas, enhanced by unique art and a humorous narrative. Players appreciate the variety of moves and complexity that develop as they progress, although some note minor camera glitches and a desire for longer gameplay. Overall, it successfully combines enjoyable mechanics with a rich cultural backdrop, making it accessible to both local and international players.
“A great game, filled with sarcastic humor and current affairs, the gameplay is fluid and resembles classic beat 'em ups, the art is lovely and well done, and the levels are full of details.”
“Gameplay is varied, you pick up new moves/complexity as you progress.”
“Gameplay is varied; you pick up new moves and complexity as you progress.”
“As far as how it plays, pulling no punches certainly ticks all the boxes for mechanics expected in a beat 'em up.”
“It works on the classic Streets of Rage formula and adds a handful of simple concepts that deepen the gameplay.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its sharp and sarcastic humor, particularly in its satirical take on current events and societal issues, especially in Brazil. Players appreciate the clever jokes and well-crafted animations that enhance the comedic experience, making it a fun choice for playing with friends. While some note its leftist perspective, the humor resonates well with those familiar with the cultural context, adding depth to the gameplay.
“Yeah, this game is funny as hell, I love it!”
“A great game, filled with sarcastic humor and current affairs. The gameplay is fluid and resembles classic beat 'em ups, the art is lovely and well done, and the levels are full of details.”
“But give credit where it's due, this game is funny and has a lot of jokes on point, considering the actual situation about the country it is supposed to mock.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered around a virus and the conflict between mask-wearers and non-mask-wearers, is engaging yet politically charged, which may alienate some players. While the campaign is short and can be completed in an evening, it offers enjoyable mechanics and a thought-provoking narrative, though many players wish for a longer experience with more depth. Overall, the story's political undertones spark mixed reactions, with some appreciating the commentary while others desire a less divisive approach.
“The story certainly raises some eyebrows and has most of us thinking, 'I see what you did there ;)'”
“Good mechanics, controls, and storyline (with a nice difficulty degree).”
“Overall, I wish the game was a little bit longer, maybe one or two stages to draw out the story a little bit more.”
“The story is about a virus killing millions, and you beat up anyone not wearing a mask, just like in real life with the crazy Karens trying to use verbal and actual violence against non-mask wearers.”
“I don't mind its short length, but I expected it to have a longer story and it really has no replay value.”
“Overall, I wish the game was a little bit longer; maybe one or two stages to draw out the story a little bit more.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their vibrant, cartoon-like art style, featuring detailed hand-drawn animations and a unique blend of cuteness and gore. Reviewers appreciate the effort and creativity put into the visuals, which not only enhance the gameplay experience but also reflect cultural and political commentary, making it enjoyable for both local and international players. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature that adds significant value to the game.
“Those who are just going to play the game without being Brazilian, or knowing Brazil, will have fun because the gameplay is great, the graphics have a beautiful design, and the music is awesome. But those who were here will be able to see in a caricature the whole spirit of an era in our society.”
“I love the art style, love the wording, and love the gazillion references put everywhere.”
“Worth it for the fantastic art style alone.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features a short playtime of 1-2 hours, but offers decent replayability through four playable characters and hidden secrets across its four stages. While some players appreciate the replay value, others feel the lack of a longer story diminishes overall replay potential.
“The game is nothing but a simple and short beat 'em up that you can easily finish in 1-2 hours, but offers good replayability since you have 4 characters to play across 4 stages and some secrets to find.”
“The insane replayability makes the short length worth it.”
“I don't mind its short length, but I expected a longer story and it really has no replay value.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of different endings or choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it lacking, others appreciate it as part of an engaging gameplay experience that captures the spirit of Brazilian culture. Overall, the music is seen as a complement to the game's vibrant graphics and entertaining mechanics.
“The gameplay is great, the graphics have a beautiful design, and the music is awesome, capturing the spirit of an era in our society.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and well-received, though some users have noted minor glitches in camera movement that affect stability.
“The gameplay is very good, but there are a few glitches in the camera movement that detract from the experience.”
“I encountered frequent crashes that made it hard to enjoy the game.”
“The game has potential, but the stability issues really ruin the overall experience.”
