RetroMaze
- May 21, 2018
- BrazMonkey Studio
Get on Steam"RetroMaze" is a casual, single-player game with great mechanics and exceptional visuals, featuring a retrowave style and an exciting soundtrack. The game offers 30 levels with scalable difficulty and additional features such as achievements, trading cards, and backgrounds. Powered by GameMaker Studio 2 and with music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- RetroMaze offers a nostalgic experience with its charming pixel art and catchy synthwave soundtrack, making it visually and audibly appealing.
- The game is very short, taking around 20-30 minutes to complete, but it provides a generous amount of achievements (232) that are visually attractive for profile customization.
- The mazes gradually increase in difficulty, providing a fun challenge without being overly frustrating, making it suitable for both casual and hardcore gamers.
- The game is extremely short, with only 30 levels, leading to a feeling of disappointment for players expecting more content.
- The repetitive music track can become annoying over time, detracting from the overall experience.
- Many players feel that the achievement system is spammy, as a large number of achievements are awarded at the end of the game, which can diminish their significance.
- music308 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in Retromaze is characterized by a catchy synthwave soundtrack that many players find enjoyable and fitting for the game's retro aesthetic. However, the repetitive nature of the single track can become tedious over time, leading some to wish for more variety. Overall, while the music enhances the game's vibe, its limited selection may detract from the experience for longer play sessions.
“Retromaze has 30 levels and a beautiful visual concept, as well as an exciting soundtrack.”
“The visuals are so vibrant and the music so catchy that you’ll feel like you should be wearing leg warmers while playing.”
“The soundtrack is indeed amazing, and that + the achievements make it a must-have for any 80's lover.”
“Had to turn down the music as it was repetitive and frustrating.”
“The music was decent but the one track repeating for the entire time started to get old towards the end.”
“This game gets boring fast and it's incredibly repetitive with only one song playing in the background.”
- graphics116 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of Retromaze are characterized by a vibrant retro aesthetic that effectively captures the essence of the 80s and retrowave trends, appealing to fans of nostalgic visuals. While many players appreciate the charming pixel art and unique design, some note that the simplistic 2D graphics lack depth and could benefit from more substantial enhancements. Overall, the visuals are considered enjoyable and complement the game's engaging soundtrack, making it a delightful experience for those who appreciate retro aesthetics.
“Its charming pixel art graphics and nostalgic chiptune soundtrack instantly transport players to a time when gaming was all about simple yet addictive challenges.”
“The visuals are so vibrant and the music so catchy that you’ll feel like you should be wearing leg warmers while playing.”
“Good retro style graphics, good music, good mazes with the later ones offering a nice level of challenge without being frustrating.”
“While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
“Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
“Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
- gameplay64 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and repetitive, with most players completing around 30 levels in approximately 30 minutes. While the mechanics are straightforward and accessible, the lack of complexity and innovation has led to mixed feelings, with some appreciating the nostalgic maze experience and catchy soundtrack, while others feel the game could benefit from more diverse gameplay elements. Overall, it offers a quick and casual experience, particularly appealing for those interested in achievements.
“The game's strength lies in its ability to capture the essence of classic maze gameplay while infusing it with fresh and engaging elements.”
“Came for the achievements, but stayed for the music and gameplay!”
“Great gameplay, great music, great achievements, great price.”
“The gameplay is extremely repetitive.”
“There is no new gameplay element throughout the game.”
“Under 30 minutes of gameplay for a normal playthrough.”
- story12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a central moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, emphasizing that giving up can prevent one from achieving their potential. However, several users noted a lack of a substantial story, indicating that the narrative may be minimal or absent in some aspects of the game.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“No story.”
“No story.”
“No story.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of "Retromaze" to be quite extensive, often requiring significant time investment, especially towards the end where puzzles become larger and more tedious. While the initial gameplay is enjoyable, many feel that it devolves into a tedious grind, although it remains appealing for those interested in achievement farming.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“To conclude, Retromaze is a game I enjoyed the first 20 minutes or so; after that, it became a tedious grind.”
“Surprisingly, for a dollar game that's clearly centered around achievement farming, Retromaze is quite fun.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game has minimal replayability, primarily appealing to achievement hunters due to its short length and lack of varied content. With only 30 levels and no procedurally generated elements, players may find it repetitive and lacking in incentive to revisit after completion. Overall, it is recommended mainly for those interested in unlocking achievements rather than for its gameplay experience.
“It does not feature procedurally generated levels, which would add some replayability.”
“Sadly, due to the lack of replay value and limited content, the only real incentive to play is for the achievements.”
“Recommended only for achievement hunters, since the game itself is so basic and repetitive that it has basically no replayability.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of amusing achievements and quirky "easter eggs," which initially entertain but can become overwhelming due to their sheer volume. While the end sequence is noted as particularly funny, the excessive number of badges received after a short playtime detracts from the overall comedic experience. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted atmosphere, appealing to fans of retro and horror themes.
“Nice game just to relax for retro-wave and old horror movies lovers (names and pics of some achievements contain funny 'easter eggs').”
“Lastly, a funny end sequence.”
“Screen and imagery were interesting...but when I finished the game, I was flooded with nonstop achievements, funny at first, but they are still going as I write this review.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the enjoyable music and overall ambiance as key elements that enhance the experience. Many appreciate the combination of a captivating atmosphere and engaging gameplay, making it a memorable and rewarding experience.
“I love the music and the atmosphere; it's the only game I have to get 100%! Yay me!”
“30 minutes of flow - good price - cool atmosphere - pretty achievements.”
“With nice music and atmosphere :)”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that prioritize profit over quality, leading to a perception of it being a platform for "shovelware" and cash grabs.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game's difficulty evokes intense emotional reactions, with some experiencing frustration so profound that it leads to tears and external disturbances.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its stability issues, particularly regarding buggy resolution, which detracts from the overall experience despite its low price and short length.
“The game is incredibly short and costs nearly 1 euro (without discount), but that is not an excuse for not fixing the buggy resolution.”
