Rick Henderson

About

Rick Henderson is an endless horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up with infinite replayability, a true hommage to 16-bit shooters wrapped in graphics we all loved. Twitch your fingers through five enemy factions and their bosses, upgrade your ship and try to survive through unpredictable space events.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

music8 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel graphics and a fantastic synthwave soundtrack, creating an engaging retro atmosphere.
Gameplay is enjoyable with a variety of weapons and upgrades, allowing for strategic choices against different enemy types.
Boss fights are well-designed with unique patterns, providing a fun challenge that keeps players engaged.

The game has been criticized for its similarities to Steredenn, with many elements feeling like a direct copy rather than an original creation.
There are issues with key binding and control configuration, making it difficult for players to customize their experience.
Some players have noted that the game can become repetitive due to similar enemy patterns and a lack of hull repair options.

music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its fantastic synthwave soundtrack that evokes a nostalgic 80s arcade feel. The well-selected background music and sound effects enhance the gameplay experience, contributing to a vibrant atmosphere that complements the colorful pixel graphics. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the game to a must-play for fans of classic shooters.
- “The synthwave soundtrack is pretty great and the controls feel very precise and finely tuned.”
- “Great atmosphere and music, real old school 80s arcade space game feeling :)”
- “The stunning pixel-based graphics and stellar soundtrack make it an awesome experience.”
- “Nice but kinda smallish game similar to Sterenden with some ravin' music.”
- “Music and sound effects: well-selected background music that fits well with the gameplay, as do the sound effects, which are well selected and implemented.”
- “+ decent music and sound effects.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
9%
18%
The graphics of the game are praised for their vibrant pixel art and retro style, reminiscent of classic arcade games while maintaining a contemporary fluidity. Players appreciate the clear visuals and well-designed boss patterns, which enhance the overall experience alongside a fantastic soundtrack. Overall, the graphics are described as colorful and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The boss bullet patterns are well thought out and fun to dodge, the bosses themselves have cool designs and the visuals are generally very clear.”
- “The stunning pixel-based graphics and stellar soundtrack make it an awesome experience.”
- “I mentioned that it's retro-style, but the fluidity and graphics are quite contemporary and just beautiful.”
- “The visuals are basic and lack any elaborate design, merely giving a nod to classic arcade games.”
- “The graphics are retro-style, but the fluidity and overall presentation feel quite contemporary and beautiful.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The gameplay is a nostalgic tribute to classic 16-bit shoot 'em up games, featuring smooth, endless action and simple controls using WASD or arrow keys. While the lack of initial guidance may catch players off guard, the well-selected soundtrack and pixel graphics enhance the overall experience, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of the genre.
- “With a great soundtrack, graphics, and gameplay, it teleported me back to the good old times of Amiga when those kinds of shoot 'em up games were popular.”
- “A fun 16-bit shoot 'em up, which pays tribute to classic endless arcade-style gameplay.”
- “Smooth endless gameplay, fantastic soundtrack, nice pixel graphics that don't feel recycled, and no-nonsense flow - at this price, it's a no-brainer.”
- “Gameplay: as soon as you get into the game, you will be thrown off guard because of the lack of pointers and button maps.”
- “The base gameplay is pretty simple, with its WASD or arrow keys to control the spacecraft's movement.”
- “- no heads up before gameplay”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic 80s arcade vibe, complemented by an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- “Great atmosphere and music, really captures that old school 80s arcade space game feeling :)”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The stability of the game has been criticized due to the presence of numerous bugs and glitches, which have negatively impacted the overall user experience.
- “The game is plagued by bugs and glitches that ruin the experience.”
- “I encountered numerous stability issues that caused frequent crashes.”
- “The constant lag and freezing make it nearly unplayable at times.”