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.
Reviews
- The game features a beautiful hand-drawn art style with detailed environments and humorous references, making it visually appealing.
- Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a variety of characters and moves that provide a satisfying beat 'em up experience.
- The satirical content effectively captures the absurdity of the pandemic and political climate in Brazil, offering a cathartic experience for players.
- The game is relatively short, with a campaign that can be completed in about 1-2 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
- There are several bugs and issues with hitboxes and control customization, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- The heavy political messaging and themes may alienate players who prefer a more neutral gaming experience.
- humor7 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 in Brazil. Players appreciate the clever jokes and references that resonate with local culture, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends. The humor is complemented by vibrant animations and engaging gameplay reminiscent of classic beat 'em ups.
“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.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its fluidity and variety, reminiscent of classic beat 'em ups, with well-designed graphics and engaging music. Players appreciate the balance of mechanics and controls, alongside a storyline that offers a suitable level of challenge, although some minor camera glitches were noted. Overall, it provides an enjoyable experience for 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.”
“The gameplay is very good - a few glitches in the camera movement aside - and so much fun.”
“Gameplay is varied; you pick up new moves and complexity as you progress.”
“Laura has balanced gameplay.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their beautiful design and unique art style, which effectively captures the spirit of Brazilian culture and society. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail and the balance between cute and gory elements, making the visuals a standout feature that enhances the overall 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 it, after seeing how much effort and detail they put into the game overall, and on the animations.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story campaign is engaging and enjoyable, providing a mix of action and political themes, though some players feel it could alienate those averse to political content. While the mechanics and controls are praised, there is a desire for a longer narrative experience to further develop the storyline.
“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.”
“Finishing the story campaign only took an evening, but I had a blast pounding sense into idiots and fascists.”
“Overall, I wish the game was a little bit longer; maybe one or two stages to draw out the story a little bit more.”
- 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 game's design and mechanics are praised, overshadowing the music's shortcomings 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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and stable, though some users have noted minor glitches in camera movement.
“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 is often unstable, with random freezes that disrupt the flow of play.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability despite its short 1-2 hour completion time, as players can choose from four different characters across four stages and discover various secrets.
“The game is a simple and short beat 'em up that you can easily finish in 1-2 hours, but it offers good replayability since you have 4 characters to play across 4 stages and some secrets to find.”
