Skybolt Zack
- November 7, 2019
- DEVS MUST DIE
Get on Steam"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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Skybolt Zack is a fast-paced and fun platformer with a unique gameplay style that combines rhythm and action elements.
- The visuals and music are excellent, contributing to an engaging and dynamic gaming experience.
- The game offers great replayability with multiple branching paths and a rewarding scoring system that encourages skill improvement.
- The control scheme can be frustrating, leading to imprecise movements and targeting issues, especially in high-pressure situations.
- Later levels feature a significant difficulty spike and long level lengths without checkpoints, which can lead to repetitive frustration.
- Some players find the game overly challenging, requiring extensive memorization of level layouts rather than skill-based learning.
- music14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its dynamic and energetic qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While many reviewers appreciate the solid, pump-up soundtrack, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere, making it a standout feature.
“Great gameplay, solid soundtrack, and excellent replayability make this worth your time.”
“Special mention for the soundtrack, nice job on the music team!”
“Also, however many times I repeat the same stage, it never gets boring and the music is top tier!”
“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.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its easy-to-understand core mechanics that blend platforming and rhythm elements, offering a polished experience with a solid soundtrack and high replayability. While the level design showcases variety and creativity, some players feel that later levels become overly complex, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its originality and depth, making it engaging for both casual players and those seeking to optimize their performance.
“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.”
“New gameplay elements are introduced regularly, and it clearly has a lot of depth if you like to optimize, but is fun regardless of trying to get good scores or times.”
“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 think the concept would be worth expanding upon in a sequel if it was geared towards shorter levels and introduced more mechanics to make for a bit more variety, but the game we got isn't quite there in my opinion, and I found it more frustrating than fun to play even with how cool the concept itself should be.”
“It's not accumulated skill in the same way mastering the core mechanics are.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their smoothness and responsiveness, with some users highlighting the gorgeous artwork and dynamic effects that enhance the gameplay experience. However, the overall aesthetic is considered average, as the level designs tend to feel repetitive, relying more on enemy colors than distinct backgrounds.
“Visuals are great, music is dynamic, and overall just a fun burst!”
“I'd say a solid 9/10 with smooth and responsive controls, good music along with graphics, and a heck of a lot of fun!”
“The artwork is gorgeous, and the cool effects never get in the way.”
“The level aesthetics change, but they all look the same because the defining point of the visual aesthetic of each level is the red, blue, and yellow enemies rather than the actual backgrounds.”
“The level aesthetics change, but they all look the same because the defining point of the visual aesthetic of each level is the red, blue, and yellow enemies rather than the actual backgrounds.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game offers great gameplay and a solid soundtrack, contributing to its excellent replayability, making it a worthwhile experience.
“Great gameplay, solid soundtrack, and excellent replayability make this worth your time.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, offering new experiences every time.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
