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Shotgun Legend

92%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, stability
92% User Score Based on 920 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWinWindows
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About

"Shotgun Legend" is an action RPG that pays homage to classic console games, with a modern twist. You play as Eugene, who must navigate through a strange land filled with alien technology and creatures to find his way back home. The game features 10 dungeons to explore, 16 items to collect, and a unique multiplayer experience where a second player can join and share health with the main player. With minimal hand-holding, the game encourages players to figure things out on their own, and offers the thrill of eventually dual wielding shotguns.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Shotgun Legend screenshot
Shotgun Legend screenshot
Shotgun Legend screenshot

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 920 reviews
gameplay34 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Shotgun Legend is a fun homage to the original Legend of Zelda, offering nostalgic gameplay with a unique twist of using a shotgun instead of a sword.
  • The game features a variety of weapons and upgrades, encouraging exploration and providing a satisfying combat experience.
  • The art style and retro aesthetics capture the charm of classic 8-bit games, making it enjoyable for fans of retro gaming.
  • The controls are clunky and cannot be customized, which can lead to frustration during gameplay.
  • Some bosses and enemies can feel unfairly difficult, leading to a steep learning curve that may deter some players.
  • The soundtrack is limited, with only a few tracks that can become repetitive over time.
  • gameplay
    114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Shotgun Legend" is heavily inspired by the original "Legend of Zelda," featuring exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving elements, albeit with a modern twist through its unique shotgun mechanics. While the game offers a nostalgic experience with straightforward mechanics and enjoyable challenges, some players find the controls clunky and the shotgun overpowering compared to other weapons. Overall, it provides a fun, albeit simplistic, gameplay experience that may not sustain long-term engagement but is enjoyable for short sessions.

    • “The game brilliantly balances the nostalgia of retro gaming with fresh mechanics, making it a beacon of innovation in the realm of indie games.”
    • “Gameplay is as zeldaesque as it gets: you explore a familiar yet foreign land, fight spiders, skeletons and other god-knows-whats, solve puzzles and shoot your shotgun, of course.”
    • “Overall the game stands out particularly in the gameplay it has to offer, the rest is pretty forgettable, the balance of the game is quite well made to give you a challenge, the bosses are interesting and not easy; you need to learn their pattern to beat them, while not being overly difficult and not making it horrible for the player.”
    • “In the end, Shotgun Legend, while enjoyable, doesn't offer a wide variety of gameplay elements to maintain long-term engagement.”
    • “The mechanics are just trash and the movement gets stuck.”
    • “The lack of a strafe mechanic becomes an immediately glaring issue after dying multiple times to a misplaced tap of the d-pad, and the way the game controls in general leads to many more cases of being screwed over even after just an hour of playtime.”
  • story
    110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a light-hearted parody that unfolds through found notes, providing a humorous backdrop to the gameplay, though many players feel it lacks depth and originality. While some appreciate the comedic elements and the unique premise of a redneck battling aliens, others criticize the narrative for being shallow and poorly integrated into the overall experience. Overall, the story serves more as a fun addition rather than a central focus, with players often prioritizing gameplay over narrative coherence.

    • “The story is a funny, light-hearted parody of the genre, which normally takes itself extremely seriously, and is gradually told throughout the game via concise notes written by either an ally of yours or the antagonists.”
    • “Overall, I highly recommend it because it's a good game which is reasonably challenging, it's short and isn't a huge time commitment, the redneck theme is humorous while the story is a light-hearted parody.”
    • “The game provides a very basic concept for a story during the intro, but this becomes more fleshed out as you advance and find various notes left around the world that add more to the game's backstory.”
    • “The game's presentation leaves a ton to be desired; from the way the cliche-reliant story's kind of just thrown at you upon starting a new game to the several locations, enemy designs and behaviors that are almost directly lifted from classic games, many aspects of this title feel just not very thought-out and end up devoid of uniqueness.”
    • “There's a vague plot in the background that you can almost completely ignore if you're more worried about just shooting things.”
    • “Storyline very sporadic and doesn't really match the game at all (you're a redneck with a shotgun... fighting wizards, giant crabs, and skeletons... and it talks about aliens, like whaaa?)”
  • music
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric qualities and nostalgic vibes reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda, while others criticize its limited variety and repetitive nature. Many found the soundtrack enjoyable but noted that it could become grating over extended play sessions, leading some to turn it off entirely. Overall, while the music has its highlights, it lacks the depth and variety that some players desired.

    • “The soundtrack of 'Shotgun Legend' is a riveting collection of tunes that amplify the game's atmosphere.”
    • “From the adrenaline-pumping battle themes to the haunting melodies of the dungeons, the music is a constant companion in your journey, echoing the harmonious howls and songs of our clan.”
    • “The breathtaking music and thrilling beats are something I would put on during any occasion, at a party, a wedding, a funeral, and even to put my 114 children to slumber... ah yes... the kids, that is without question.”
    • “Entire game takes around 6-7 hours to beat, but I had to turn off the music after 2 hours of playing.”
    • “The mostly chill and infantile music just does not match with the shotgun annihilation you do in the game.”
    • “Also, the music is limited and the shotgun sound gets really old after the first 30 minutes.”
  • graphics
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game feature a nostalgic 8-bit aesthetic that appeals to fans of retro titles, with a mix of charm and sharpness. However, many reviewers noted inconsistencies in quality, particularly with certain character designs and a lack of detail in the environment, leading to a perception that the graphics are basic and sometimes disappointing compared to original NES games. While some appreciate the clean and crisp visuals, others feel that the overall graphical presentation could benefit from more variety and coherence.

    • “The graphics use 8-bit colors and sprites, reminiscent of games from the 8-bit era, but with a slightly sharper look and a little more detail overall.”
    • “The graphics have a certain charm and are crispy/sharp.”
    • “It's well made, the world seems pretty large - and the look of the graphics is perfect for this style of game.”
    • “Graphics are a letdown, uglier than the original NES titles.”
    • “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
  • humor
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Shotgun Legend" is a standout feature, characterized by its light-hearted parody of classic adventure games like "The Legend of Zelda." Players appreciate the amusing storyline, quirky character design, and numerous funny references and easter eggs that enhance the overall experience. The game successfully combines challenging gameplay with a comedic narrative, making it an enjoyable homage to the genre.

    • “Shotgun Legend is a top-down action-adventure game that parodies the iconic Legend of Zelda with a humorous twist: you play as Eugene, a shotgun-wielding bearded redneck wearing a farmer's hat and overalls, who has been mysteriously transported to a foreign land named Loriam in order to collect the nine broken pieces of a truck rim.”
    • “The story is a funny, light-hearted parody of the genre, which normally takes itself extremely seriously, and is gradually told throughout the game via concise notes written by either an ally of yours or the antagonists.”
    • “Very well paced - the 'golden triangle' reference here is just too funny!”
  • grinding
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the need for backtracking through dungeons and repeatedly clearing the same rooms to unlock progress. While some achievements can be earned through casual play, others require significant exploration and grinding, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Those who appreciate classic Zelda-style games may tolerate the grind, but many feel it adds an unnecessarily tedious element to the experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “After finishing the game, I was trying to go back through to get the achievements, but walking to all of the different dungeons and then fighting through each one to see if there was a possibility that I missed something was a little too grindy for me.”
    • “I enjoyed it for the first 2 hours and then it became hella tedious.”
    • “As a result, it gave the game an unnecessarily tedious feel.”
  • stability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is polarizing among users; while some report a smooth experience with no bugs, others highlight significant issues with crashes and glitches. This inconsistency has led to mixed feelings, particularly regarding the game's early access status, which some feel suggests it is unfinished and prone to instability.

    • “The game is stable and bug-free.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “- Bug-free (I didn't run into any).”
    • “The game is crash prone and filled with glitches.”
    • “I was already leaning towards a mediocre review based on it only being a mediocre game; but when it's also buggy and crashes a lot, it's not even worth the $1.”
    • “"Early access" to me indicates buggy and/or unfinished games, that I would basically be paying to be a playtester for.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Shotgun Legend" is enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that evokes a strong retro 80s vibe, immersing players in its nostalgic setting.

    • “The soundtrack of 'Shotgun Legend' is a riveting collection of tunes that amplify the game's atmosphere.”
    • “This gives the game a great retro 80's atmosphere.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players have noted that the game has a strong emotional and dramatic impact, effectively drawing them in and creating a sense of welcome and engagement. However, some users feel that it takes time to fully experience this emotional connection.

    • “Only a bit into the game right now, but as of late I've had nothing that just gripped me, pulled me in, and made me feel welcome.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of Gamemaker Studio is criticized for enabling the creation of low-quality, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a prevalence of shovelware in its ecosystem.

    • “Gamemaker Studio is often used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers minimal replayability after achieving 100% completion, which some players find disappointing, though it doesn't detract significantly from their overall enjoyment.

    • “That being said, there is close to zero replayability once you 100% it, but I can't complain.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers express high satisfaction with the character design, particularly praising the creativity and appeal of both the opponents and the merchant. This strong positive sentiment highlights the game's effective character development and visual storytelling.

  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its quality, but users report significant optimization issues, experiencing frame rate drops and stuttering even on capable hardware. Additionally, there is a request for improved language support, specifically Spanish translation.

    • “The game is very good, but it lacks optimization. I experience more than 60 FPS, but sometimes it gets stuck.”
    • “I appreciate the opportunity to play the game. It's great, but it could use some optimization to improve performance.”
    • “Thanks for giving me a key to play the game. The game is very good, but it lacks optimization. I am getting more than 60 FPS, and sometimes it just gets stuck.”
    • “The game is enjoyable, but the optimization is poor. I experience frequent stuttering even with a decent frame rate.”
    • “While the gameplay is fun, the optimization issues really detract from the experience, causing lag and performance drops.”

Buy Shotgun Legend

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
3-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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