Pulling No Punches

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+13

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 162 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features excellent graphics and art direction, providing a visually appealing experience.
Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a variety of characters and moves that enhance replayability.
The satirical content and humor resonate well, especially for those familiar with Brazilian politics and the pandemic context.

The game is quite short, with many players finishing it in under two hours, which may limit replay value.
There are several bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with hitboxes and camera movement.
The political themes and messaging may alienate some players, particularly those who do not share the same views.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
45%
13%
The gameplay is highly praised for its fluidity, engaging mechanics, and adherence to classic beat 'em up formulas, enhanced by unique hand-drawn 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 offers a fun and challenging experience, appealing to both those familiar and unfamiliar with Brazilian culture.
- “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 and complexity as you progress.”
- “Gameplay is varied, you pick up new moves/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.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its sharp and sarcastic humor, particularly in its satirical take on current events and societal issues in Brazil, especially regarding the country's response to COVID-19. Players appreciate the clever jokes and well-crafted references to Brazilian culture, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends. However, some note that the game carries a distinct leftist perspective, which adds to its comedic value but may not resonate with everyone.
- “A super funny game to play with friends that makes fun of the stupidity of half a nation.”
- “It is beautifully animated, exceedingly fun to play, and - especially if you lived in a country with as abysmal a response to COVID as Brazil had - funny as all hell.”
- “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.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The game's story, centered around a virus and the conflict between mask-wearers and non-mask-wearers, is both engaging and politically charged, prompting mixed reactions from players. While many enjoyed the mechanics and found the narrative entertaining, they expressed a desire for a longer campaign and noted the potential for alienating audiences due to its political themes. Overall, the story is seen as thought-provoking but lacking in replay value.
- “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).”
- “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.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoon-like art style, featuring unique hand-drawn animations that effectively blend cuteness with gore. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail and the cultural references embedded in the visuals, which resonate particularly with Brazilian players while still being enjoyable for a broader audience. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “I love the art style, love the wording and love the gazillion references put everywhere.”
- “Worth it for the fantastic art style alone.”
- “I love the art style and that was the motive for me to buy, after seeing how much effort and details they put on the game overall, and on the animations.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game features a short playtime of 1-2 hours, but offers good 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 some good replayability since you have 4 characters to play within 4 stages and some secrets to find.”
- “The insane replayability makes the short length worth it.”
- “I don't mind it's short, but I expected it to have a longer story and really has no replay value.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it lacking while others appreciate it as fitting within the game's vibrant design and context. Overall, while the gameplay and graphics are praised, the music does not stand out as a highlight for many players.
- “The gameplay is great, the graphics have a beautiful design, and the music is awesome, capturing the spirit of an era in our society.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with users noting that while the gameplay is enjoyable, there are minor glitches, particularly with camera movement.

Buy Pulling No Punches

Pulling No Punches
$9.99
See offer on Steam

Videos

88%295reviews

Songs for a Hero

2016

Casual Action Adventure

61%182reviews

99Vidas

2016

Arcade Hack and Slash

89%266reviews

Kandidatos

2020

Fighting

Gemaplys Ultra Basics and Educational Adventure Image

89%247reviews

Gemaplys Ultra Basics and Educational Adventure

2023

Action

92%180reviews

SUPER CHICKEN JUMPER

2021

Casual Platformer

+11

91%579reviews

Super Mombo Quest

2021

Casual Hack and Slash

+11

87%167reviews

Pocket Bravery

2023

Arcade Fighting

81%192reviews

Mayhem Brawler

2021

Arcade Hack and Slash

This game contains adult content

71%391reviews

171

2022

Open World Shooter

This game contains adult content

78%109reviews

Wulverblade

2018

Casual Hack and Slash

Pulling No Punches Tweets

Pulling No Punches

Platforms

About

Buy Pulling No Punches