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 a beautiful art style with detailed animations and a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic beat 'em ups.
- Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a variety of characters and moves that provide replayability and a cathartic experience.
- The satirical content effectively captures the political climate and societal issues in Brazil, making it relatable and humorous for players.
- The game is relatively short, with some players finishing it in under two hours, which may leave some wanting more content.
- There are several bugs and issues with hitboxes and control customization, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The heavy political messaging and caricatured characters may not appeal to all players, leading to mixed feelings about its thematic approach.
- humor14 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, especially regarding the country's response to COVID-19. Players appreciate the clever jokes and cultural references, alongside beautifully animated visuals and engaging gameplay reminiscent of classic beat 'em ups. Overall, it is considered a hilarious experience, especially when played with friends.
“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.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its fluidity and variety, reminiscent of classic beat 'em ups, with well-designed graphics and engaging music. Players appreciate the balanced mechanics, controls, and storyline, although some minor camera glitches were noted. Overall, it offers a fun experience that resonates with both Brazilian culture and broader audiences.
“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.”
“The gameplay is very good - a few glitches in the camera movement aside - and so much fun.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and detailed art style, which effectively combines elements of cuteness and gore. Reviewers appreciate the effort put into the animations and the numerous cultural references, making it particularly resonant for those familiar with Brazilian society. Overall, the graphics are 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.”
“Wonderful art style that balances cute and gore very well!”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story campaign is engaging and well-structured, providing a satisfying experience despite its brevity, which some players found could benefit from additional content. While the political themes resonate with some, others feel that a less politically charged narrative could attract a broader audience. Overall, the mechanics and controls complement the storyline, but players desire a longer campaign to further develop the plot.
“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.”
“Overall, I wish the game was a little bit longer; maybe one or two stages to draw out the story a little bit more.”
“For me, if they could just point the story in a different direction that is not politics, they would appeal to a greater part of the audience, because we all know how politically addicted people are, and they will refuse to buy anything if they feel offended.”
“Finishing the story campaign only took an evening, but I had a blast pounding sense into idiots and fascists.”
- music4 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 fitting within the game's vibrant design and overall enjoyable gameplay. Brazilian players may have a deeper connection to the music, as it reflects cultural nuances, while others may still find the experience entertaining despite the music's shortcomings.
“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. Those who were here will be able to see in a caricature the whole spirit of an era in our society.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with users noting that while the gameplay is enjoyable, there are minor glitches in camera movement that can detract from the experience.
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Despite being a short beat'em up that can be completed in 1-2 hours, the game offers decent replayability through its four playable characters and hidden secrets across the four stages.
“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, along with some secrets to find.”
