Sideway New York

41%
Game Brain Score Based on 28 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Sideway New York Game Cover
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In Sideway New York, players navigate a graffiti-covered 3D city as Nox, solving puzzles and battling enemies in a unique 2D/3D perspective. Unlock new abilities to soar, slide, jump, and blast foes while surviving a vibrant, dangerous world influenced by your chosen color. Experience local co-op and eccentric boss battles, all set to an original soundtrack by Mr. Lif.

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Reviews

41%
Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews
music5 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features an interesting art style and unique level design that creatively utilizes graffiti as a gameplay mechanic.
  • The platforming experience is enjoyable, especially when played with a friend, and the game has a vibrant atmosphere.
  • The soundtrack, while repetitive, includes enjoyable hip-hop tracks that complement the game's urban theme.
  • The game suffers from poor framerate issues, often running at 30 fps, which can make it feel laggy and unresponsive.
  • Controls are described as floaty and imprecise, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during platforming sections.
  • The game has a short story and can become tedious, with some players finding it uninteresting or boring after a brief playtime.
  • music16 mentions

    The game's soundtrack features a limited selection of enjoyable hip-hop tracks, including contributions from artists like Mr. Lif and Akrobatik, but the music quickly becomes repetitive, with players often hearing the same few songs on loop. While some fans appreciate the tunes, many find the lack of variety detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration, especially when combined with other gameplay issues like framerate problems. Overall, the music is a mixed bag, appealing primarily to diehard fans of the genre but potentially wearing thin for others.

    • “The music in the game surprised me a lot.”
    • “Sideway is really more of an old school platformer 'collectathon' with a nice art style, head-boppin' rap music, and an intriguing yet a tad gimmicky 'play on the walls of a building' gameplay.”
    • “The soundtrack, which was prepared by Skullcandy (headphone maker) and hip hop artist Mr. Lif, is unfortunately reused a lot throughout the game, but they're good enough tunes for me to not mind too much.”
    • “The music will get repetitive really quickly.”
    • “The game runs choppy, and although the music they use is enjoyable (I'm a big fan of the Perceptionists), it seems like the game repeats the same 2 songs over and over.”
    • “The choppy display and especially the repetitive music are wearing thin on me already, and I haven't even made it very far into the game.”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The graphics of the game are praised for their interesting and endearing art style, which enhances the overall atmosphere and reflects the developers' dedication. While the artwork is well-executed and fits the game's theme, some players expressed a desire for more interactive elements related to the graffiti style, similar to Jet Set Radio. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the nostalgic platforming experience.

    • “The artwork is great and fits the game very well, creating an enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “Sideway is really more of an old school platformer 'collectathon' with a nice art style, head-boppin' rap music, and an intriguing yet slightly gimmicky 'play on the walls of a building' gameplay.”
    • “The first half of the game was so endearing and fun, and I can see a lot of love went into the art style and scope of the game.”
    • “I was hoping that with the graffiti-based art style, there would be more painting/tagging involved, like in Jet Set Radio.”
  • gameplay5 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a unique wall-running mechanic that offers an intriguing twist on traditional platforming, but it suffers from generic level designs and framerate issues. While the art style and hip-hop soundtrack are appreciated, the repetitive music and choppy performance detract from the overall experience, making it more appealing to diehard fans of the genre. Overall, it presents a nostalgic "collectathon" feel, but could benefit from more innovative mechanics.

    • “Brilliant side scrolling puzzler with a twist on gameplay.”
    • “A cool concept and it isn't broken, but it seems like the level designs are all pretty generic. I will still play through more of it here and there.”
    • “For myself, despite being a fan of both hip-hop music and graffiti, I find it hard to recommend this unless you're a diehard fan of either and looking for a platformer with a unique mechanic and can tolerate some chunky framerate issues.”
    • “A cool concept and it isn't broken, but it seems like the level designs are all pretty generic. I will still play through more of it here and there, but the choppy display and especially the repetitive music are wearing thin on me already and I haven't even made it very far into the game.”
    • “Sideway is really more of an old school platformer 'collectathon' with a nice art style, head-boppin' rap music, and an intriguing yet a tad gimmicky 'play on the walls of a building' gameplay.”
  • story3 mentions

    The story is considered simplistic and unremarkable, with a runtime of only 3-4 hours. While some believe that platforming games don't require a complex narrative, the combination of floaty controls and a frustrating second half detracts from the overall experience, leading to a recommendation against purchasing at full price.

    • “The story is pretty plain.”
    • “However, due to the floaty controls, short story (only about 3-4 hours), and just aggravating second half, I can't recommend this at full price.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, citing tedious and lengthy processes to defeat enemies, compounded by the lack of health or magic pickups. The experience is further marred by unskippable cutscenes that prolong the challenge, leading some to consider quitting.

    • “I nearly wanted to quit when I had to go through a long, tedious process to hit him, with no health or magic pick-ups. After hitting him each time, he does a one-hit kill move that you have to dodge, or else you have to sit through his long, unskippable intro.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged. It often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real progress.”
    • “I find the grinding mechanics frustrating; it takes too long to level up, and the rewards don't feel worth the effort put in.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game has been criticized for significant stability issues, with players reporting persistent bugs, such as audio looping problems, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “Seriously, I don't know if the game is just that buggy, but I only heard one track loop over and over in the hour I tried to enjoy this bland, half-assed platformer.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's artwork is highly praised for its quality and suitability, contributing significantly to an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.

    • “The artwork is great and fits the game very well, creating an enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “The immersive sound design enhances the overall atmosphere, making every moment feel alive.”
    • “The lighting and environmental details contribute to a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by eye-catching and organic design, enhanced by fluid animations and a smooth camera movement that follows the character seamlessly.

    • “The character design is eye-catching and organic, with its fluid animations further complemented by the smoothness of the camera as it rotates around corners while following the character.”
    • “The depth of character development is impressive, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character's unique backstory and growth throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the choices I make impact the character's development, making each playthrough feel unique and personal.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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