Q: A Neon Platformer
- June 18, 2020
- Manatea Entertainment
Q: A Neon Platformer is a challenging skill-based jump 'n' roll game with tight controls and a focus on timing and reflexes. Players guide a little square through a dangerous maze of spiky obstacles, seeking to master its unique movement mechanics and discover secret paths. Emphasizing speedrunning, the game offers multiple routes, advanced techniques, and a vibrant, neon-lit world to race through.
Reviews
- The game features excellent level design and a unique neon aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
- Once players adapt to the controls, the gameplay is highly rewarding and addictive, providing a satisfying challenge.
- The soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, creating an engaging atmosphere that keeps players immersed.
- The controls can be difficult to master initially, leading to frustration, especially for new players.
- Some levels have poor visibility of hazards, making it hard to navigate and resulting in unfair deaths.
- The steep difficulty curve may deter casual players, as the game requires significant skill and practice to progress.
- gameplay22 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players criticizing the lack of precision in platforming mechanics, leading to frustration and a sense of unfairness. Conversely, others praise the game's smooth movement, engaging mechanics, and effective introduction of new gameplay elements, which contribute to a rewarding learning curve. Overall, while some find the gameplay poorly optimized, many appreciate its complexity and the enjoyable aesthetic that enhances the experience.
“Clean minimalist aesthetic and does a good job of mixing up the mechanics and visuals frequently enough to keep it fresh.”
“You are presented with simple mechanics that become very complex as a result of their simplicity.”
“The gameplay is super precise platforming similar to Super Meat Boy with a neon aesthetic and a synthy soundtrack that neither gets repetitive nor boring even after dying multiple times.”
“The reason I did not enjoy the game is because it's a precise platformer, but the gameplay mechanics aren't precise at all, which is a huge issue for this kind of game.”
“It is one of the worst platformers I've played for being unfair with both the gameplay and visuals.”
“It's just terribly optimized gameplay and visuals.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their clean, minimalist aesthetic and vibrant neon visuals, drawing inspiration from titles like Geometry Dash. Reviewers highlight the effective integration of visuals with gameplay mechanics, creating an engaging experience that is both challenging and visually stunning. The combination of eye-catching graphics and a captivating soundtrack enhances the overall enjoyment, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Clean minimalist aesthetic and does a good job of mixing up the mechanics and visuals frequently enough to keep it fresh.”
“The gameplay is super precise platforming similar to Super Meat Boy with a neon aesthetic and a synthy soundtrack that neither gets repetitive nor boring even hearing it after dying over and over again.”
“It is one of the worst platformers I've played for being unfair with both the gameplay and visuals.”
“---{ graphics }---”
“The sound effects match the pleasing visuals that are, as you can see, very glowy, neony, eighties-y.”
- music10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its catchy and immersive quality, perfectly complementing the vibrant visuals and gameplay. Reviewers note that the soundtrack remains engaging without becoming repetitive, enhancing the overall experience even during challenging moments. The combination of a synthwave-inspired score and stunning aesthetics creates a captivating atmosphere that keeps players invested.
“The music is awesome so that when you die over and over again you still don't get sick of hearing it!”
“Very neat visuals and a sweet soundtrack that doesn't get old.”
“The music is what you would want for this type of game - pleasing and noticeable in the background, catchy but neither distracting from the gameplay nor getting old after a few levels.”
“You are a neon cube that tries to make its way through platform levels that were designed to correlate with your buttocks while synthwave-esque music constantly penetrates your brain like a corkscrew and you begin to question your life choices.”
“The gameplay is super precise platforming similar to Super Meat Boy with a neon aesthetic and a synthy soundtrack that neither gets repetitive nor boring even hearing it after dying over and over again.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game features minimal to no story or narrative, leaving players without a substantial plot to engage with.
“No story.”
“Close to no story or narrative.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, affecting both gameplay and visuals, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
“It's just terribly optimized, both in gameplay and visuals.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frustrating performance issues.”
“I experienced frequent lag and crashes due to poor optimization.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its deeply emotional experience, with players highlighting the rewarding journey of collecting items, uncovering secrets, and overcoming challenging levels, making it a memorable adventure that players won't regret.
“It's beautifully emotional; you won't regret it. The journey to collect all items, unlock secrets, and complete challenging levels is truly rewarding.”
“The game takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, making you feel deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
“Every moment in the game is filled with emotion, from the heartwarming scenes to the intense challenges that leave you breathless.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted as a standout feature, contributing to its charm alongside its precision platforming mechanics. Players find it capable of eliciting laughter while also providing a relaxing experience, though it can occasionally lead to frustration. Overall, the humor enhances the memorable nature of the game.
“It's the best precision platformer I've ever played; it's the peak of the genre. It can be funny, it can be relaxing, and sometimes it can be frustrating, but at the end of the day, you'll always remember Q - a neon platformer.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is satisfying, with each level-up feeling like a significant achievement.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers something new to strive for.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”