Savage Halloween
- October 26, 2020
- 2ndBoss
Get on SteamIn "Savage Halloween," monsters from the afterlife have taken over the world, and farmer James, now undead and armed, leads the resistance to send them back. Joining him are Lulu, a werewolf with an identity crisis, and Dominika, a dark lord's daughter longing for home. Together, they must crash the monsters' 24-hour Halloween rave and restore peace to the earth.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Entertaining retro platformer with a nostalgic Halloween theme, featuring great art and music.
- Challenging gameplay with varied levels and fun boss fights, offering high replayability and multiple characters to choose from.
- Responsive controls and a good balance of difficulty, making it accessible for casual players while still providing a challenge for veterans.
- Controls can feel awkward and unresponsive at times, particularly when shooting and jumping simultaneously.
- Some levels are overly long and can feel repetitive, with certain design choices leading to frustration during gameplay.
- Weapon selection is limited, with some power-ups feeling situational or underpowered, making combat less engaging against tougher enemies.
- music17 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback for its enjoyable and fitting soundtrack, which blends modern and retro elements effectively. While many players appreciate the fun and nostalgic quality of the music, some noted that it can become repetitive quickly. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, making it a highlight for many players.
“This game is amazing, I literally looked up 'Halloween' in the Steam store and saw this game for 5 bucks and bought it. I would recommend this game because the music is great, the sprites are well done, and overall it's a really fun time.”
“The music is fun and not repetitive.”
“The music also gets repetitive quickly.”
“It's cool, and actually pretty fitting, but I can't help but feel that if the music was another 30 seconds to 1 minute of looping, it would be much more appealing.”
“While the soundtrack would not be considered retro, I still really enjoyed it and the music complemented the pace of the game.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, offering a nostalgic NES feel with rewarding and fluid mechanics that evoke classic platformers without the punishing difficulty often associated with them. Players appreciate the variety in characters, weapons, and environments, though some mention unpolished level designs and a fluctuating difficulty curve. Overall, the game provides a fun and whimsical experience, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of retro-style gameplay.
“The gameplay is rewarding and fluid.”
“The variety between guns, characters, and environments made gameplay feel whimsical and fresh.”
“Hella fun gameplay that is a strong enough intrinsic reward to keep me from being turned away amidst some discouraging hurdles.”
“The Halloween theme is nice, but the actual gameplay is just a bit too vanilla for me.”
“This game utilizes a lot of game mechanics from the NES era, and it does it very well.”
“Great soundtrack, nostalgic aesthetic, simple gameplay - maybe not for everyone.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their unique art style and nostalgic NES-inspired aesthetic, which effectively captures a Halloween theme. However, some players find it challenging to distinguish between background scenery and interactive game elements, particularly with certain hazards like spikes. Overall, the visuals are considered enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay experience.
“Great art style, tight controls, good difficulty progression.”
“I love the art style.”
“The game has a cool Halloween aesthetic set in a world where Dracula has decided that he's not re-opening the portal that's normally opened up for one night each Halloween.”
“Savage Halloween has an aesthetic that is very much inspired by NES; I think the coloring is perfect, even though it's probably a bit too advanced for the system.”
“A fun platform side-scrolling shooter with retro graphics.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by entertaining boss fights and well-crafted, amusing characters, contributing to an overall fun experience.
“Now here's a fun and funny boss fight to gnash on!”
“The characters are great and funny.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Savage Halloween is praised for its lack of grinding, making it more accessible and straightforward compared to games like Mega Man Zero and Gunvolt. Players find it easier to engage with than Cuphead, which features a slower world map and equipment unlocks that can feel tedious.
“Savage Halloween doesn't require grinding like Mega Man Zero or Gunvolt.”
“Savage Halloween is more simple and easier to jump into than Cuphead, which has a tedious and slow world map and requires unlocking various equipment.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability through its normal mode, which encourages players to achieve high scores, and a hardcore mode that presents a significant challenge for dedicated players. Some users suggest that additional enemy spawns could enhance replay value, potentially leading to the introduction of a new difficulty mode.
“The normal mode offers a good challenge with replayability in seeking a high score, while the hardcore mode is definitely very challenging, if not frustratingly hard, and can offer endless replayability for the super game-freaks!”
“If you had more spawns behind the player like they have in Contra, I think it would give the game more challenge and replay value. If not in the main game, maybe it could be another difficulty mode.”
“The game lacks variety in its levels, making it hard to feel motivated to replay it after finishing.”
“Once you complete the game, there’s little incentive to go back; the story doesn’t change and the challenges feel repetitive.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as a nostalgic journey, reminiscent of classic retro platformers like "Ghosts & Goblins," "Wonder Boy," and "Mario," set against a Halloween theme. Players express excitement about diving into the narrative, which evokes fond memories of their youth and the vibrant arcade culture.
“This game is a great retro platformer with a Halloween theme. I can't wait to get into this story!”
“This game reminds me of 'Ghosts & Goblins', 'Wonder Boy', and 'Mario'.”
“Time to get my PC and arcade stick out and flashback to a time when the neon was bright and I was young!”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks any real depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the plot to be predictable and uninspired, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and their motivations are unclear, leaving the story feeling flat.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, highlighting its wholesome moments and the enjoyable riding stages that contribute to a positive experience, all within a concise two-hour playtime.
“The game takes you on an emotional journey that stays with you long after you've finished playing.”
“Every character's story is beautifully crafted, making you feel deeply connected to their struggles and triumphs.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the emotional moments, enhancing the overall experience and drawing you into the narrative.”
