Skybolt Zack

About

"Skybolt Zack" is a platformer game where you don't jump, but instead use rocket punches and dashing to maneuver through 48 challenging levels. The game features color-matching mechanics, branching routes, and an evolving soundtrack inspired by 90's platformers. With dedicated speedrun and score attack modes, players can compete on leaderboards for best scores and times. The game combines 3D assets with digital painted textures and explosive FX for a unique art style.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Skybolt Zack offers a unique blend of fast-paced action and rhythm-based gameplay, making it a fun and addictive experience.
The game features tight controls, vibrant visuals, and an excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall enjoyment.
With multiple levels and branching paths, it provides great replayability and encourages players to improve their skills and scores.

The control scheme can be frustrating, as it requires precise inputs that may lead to mistakes, especially in later levels with high difficulty spikes.
Some players find the level design to be overly long and punishing, with a lack of checkpoints that can lead to repetitive gameplay.
The game's price point has been criticized, with some feeling it does not match the value offered, especially for casual players.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
58%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by its easy-to-understand core mechanics, rhythmic timing, and a blend of platforming and rhythm elements that create a fast-paced, addictive experience. While some players find the mechanics initially challenging, mastering them leads to satisfying gameplay, enhanced by polished visuals and a solid soundtrack. However, critiques mention that later levels can feel overcrowded with ideas, suggesting a need for more concise level design in future iterations.
- “The core concept of the game is easy to understand and there's a nice element of rhythm and timing to the gameplay.”
- “Great gameplay, solid soundtrack, and excellent replayability make this worth your time.”
- “It's got very addictive, polished, and innovative gameplay which could be described as 'Mighty No. 9 done right.'”
- “The gameplay mechanics are a bit difficult to handle, but once mastered, it is incredibly satisfying!”
- “The level design ideas generally are not bad and there's a lot of variety in constructing different platforming challenges out of the same mechanics, but the later levels feel too overstuffed with ideas and pretty much all of them could've been cut in half, or more, to make several smaller levels.”
- “I found it more frustrating than fun to play even with how cool the concept itself should be.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
23%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its dynamic and engaging quality, often described as "pump-up" video game music that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the solid soundtrack and its ability to complement the gameplay, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's fun and addictive nature, making it a standout feature.
- “Great gameplay, solid soundtrack and excellent replayability make this worth your time.”
- “A game with an artistic direction and an excellent soundtrack!”
- “Also, the soundtrack is pretty good!”
- “The music is solid pump-up video game music, and there's an element of a dynamic soundtrack, but it all kind of sounds the same in the end.”
- “It's like a mix between a precision platformer and a rhythm game, but without the musical aspect.”
- “Visuals-wise, the game looks nice and simple, though what I really liked was the music, as it reminded me of the Mega Man X series' rock-themed music.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
27%
27%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant colors and unique 3D cell-shaded aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles like Viewtiful Joe and Mega Man. While some players feel that the level backgrounds are somewhat repetitive, the dynamic visuals and smooth animations contribute to an engaging experience, complemented by a catchy soundtrack. Overall, the visuals are considered appealing and well-suited to the fast-paced gameplay, enhancing the fun factor.
- “I've only just recently started playing Skybolt, but I can immediately tell that it is and will continue to be an amazing game. I've never had this much button-mashing fun, and will probably add more to this review once I've sunk more hours into it. But yeah, good game, tight controls, bopping soundtrack, loving the color-switching mechanics and the 3D cell-shaded aesthetic.”
- “The game has a unique art style reminiscent of Viewtiful Joe and Mega Man while offering a truly unique spin on the gameplay.”
- “Artwork is gorgeous, and the cool effects never get in the way.”
- “With how fast the game goes, the graphics literally don't matter; I have no idea what I'm killing, I just see colors.”
- “The level aesthetics also change, but again they basically all look the same, because the defining point of the visual aesthetic of each level is the red/blue/yellow enemies more than the actual backgrounds.”
- “The level aesthetics also change, but again they basically all look the same, because the defining point of the visual aesthetic of each level is the red/blue/yellow enemies more than the actual backgrounds.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Skybolt Zack is praised for its high replayability, featuring multiple exits in stages that lead to different overworld paths, encouraging players to revisit levels for improved scores and exploration. The combination of engaging gameplay and a solid soundtrack further enhances the overall experience, making it a worthwhile investment for players seeking longevity.
- “Great gameplay, solid soundtrack, and excellent replayability make this worth your time.”
- “Skybolt Zack offers tons of replay value as most stages have multiple exits that lead the player to different stages in the overworld.”
- “Each level has multiple exits too, so it's a fun score chase for ranks and exits, making it very replayable.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's optimization is highly praised, with players noting its polished performance and well-designed levels that encourage exploration and experimentation. The developers have exceeded expectations in delivering a smooth and engaging experience, enhancing gameplay through various routes and strategies.
- “I've played in the competition on one demo level for more than 15 hours, and there were always new ways to reach a higher score (more color switches, faster executions, more optimized routes).”
- “Fantastic polish, gameplay, content, level design, animations, look, optimization, customization - you want something in a game, these devs went above and beyond.”
- “I've played in the competition on one demo level for more than 15 hours and there were always some new ways to reach a higher score (more color switches, faster executions, more optimized routes).”
- “Fantastic polish, gameplay, content, level design, animations, look, optimization, customization - you want a thing in a game, these devs went above and beyond.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game transforms an initially enjoyable skill-building experience into a tedious and frustrating chore, diminishing the appeal of its core concept.
- “It turns what should be a fun skill-building game into a tedious slog where the coolness of the concept wears off quickly and ends up being more frustration than actual enjoyment.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “What could have been an exciting adventure is bogged down by monotonous tasks that drain the fun out of the experience.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and substance, with many users noting that it feels almost nonexistent.
- “There's barely a story at all.”
- “The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth.”
- “Character development is minimal, making it hard to care about the plot.”