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Skybolt Zack

There’s not much that’s truly original in video games these days, so it’s nice when something comes along to genuinely surprise you.
Skybolt Zack Game Cover
83%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
replayability, grinding
89% User Score Based on 54 reviews
Critic Score 72%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCWindows
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Skybolt Zack Game Cover

About

Skybolt Zack is a single player arcade action adventure game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by ISART and was released on November 7, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"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
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
Skybolt Zack screenshot
+3
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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews
gameplay10 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Skybolt Zack features fast-paced, addictive gameplay that combines platforming and rhythm mechanics, making it a unique and engaging experience.
  • The game boasts impressive visuals and a dynamic soundtrack that enhances the overall enjoyment, contributing to its status as an underrated gem.
  • With multiple paths and a scoring system that encourages replayability, players can enjoy a satisfying challenge as they master the game's mechanics.
  • The game can be extremely punishing, with a steep difficulty curve that may frustrate players, especially in later levels where mistakes can lead to significant setbacks.
  • Control issues arise from the color-matching mechanics, which can lead to confusion and misinputs, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Some players feel that the level design is overly long and repetitive, making it tedious to replay sections after failing, which can diminish enjoyment.
  • gameplay
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its engaging rhythm and timing mechanics, offering a unique blend of platforming and action that rewards skill mastery. Players appreciate the polished visuals, catchy soundtrack, and high replayability, although some find the later levels overly complex and frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative mechanics and satisfying challenge, appealing particularly to those who enjoy fast-paced, skill-based gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “With a polished, colorful visual style and an excellent, reactive soundtrack, Skybolt Zack is a game with a unique feel and rewarding gameplay for players who are up for the challenge.”
    • “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
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received high praise for its dynamic and engaging qualities, often described as a "boppin soundtrack" that enhances the overall gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the energetic and polished soundtrack, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's vibrant visuals and challenging mechanics, contributing to its replayability and fun factor.

    • “Great gameplay, solid soundtrack, and excellent replayability make this worth your time.”
    • “A game with an artistic direction and an excellent soundtrack!”
    • “With a polished, colorful visual style and an excellent, reactive soundtrack, Skybolt Zack is a game with a unique feel and rewarding gameplay for players who are up for the challenge.”
    • “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
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant, colorful aesthetic and a unique art style reminiscent of classic titles like Viewtiful Joe and Mega Man. While some players noted that the fast-paced gameplay can make it difficult to focus on the visuals, the overall presentation is praised for its crispness and simplicity, complementing the dynamic soundtrack. Despite some critiques regarding the repetitiveness of level backgrounds, the engaging visuals contribute positively to the game's fun and replayability.

    • “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.”
    • “Looks and sounds great, with crisp, clean, and colorful visuals and a great soundtrack that ramps up with the game.”
    • “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
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players consistently highlight the high replayability of the game, noting features like multiple exits in stages that lead to different paths and a focus on score chasing. The engaging gameplay and appealing visuals further enhance the desire to replay, as players seek to master more challenging routes and improve their ranks. Overall, the combination of varied gameplay elements and a solid soundtrack contributes to a compelling replay experience.

    • “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 which 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.”
    • “The game lacks significant replayability; once you've completed the main objectives, there's little incentive to return.”
    • “While the gameplay is enjoyable, the limited variety in levels makes replaying feel more like a chore than a challenge.”
    • “After a few runs, the game becomes repetitive, and the lack of new content or challenges diminishes the replay value.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
    • “The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth.”
    • “Character development is minimal, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 clearly invested effort into ensuring smooth gameplay and a rich experience, making it a standout in terms of optimization.

    • “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.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional experience of the game to be frustrating, as its unforgiving nature can alienate those who struggle with its challenges. The interruption of progress due to mistakes can lead to feelings of helplessness, detracting from the overall enjoyment and emotional engagement.

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Skybolt Zack is a arcade action adventure game with science fiction theme.

Skybolt Zack is available on Nintendo Switch, PC and Windows.

Skybolt Zack was released on November 7, 2019.

Skybolt Zack was developed by ISART.

Skybolt Zack has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Skybolt Zack is a single player game.

Similar games include Cyber Hook, 10 Second Ninja X, Splasher, DeadCore, Fight'N Rage and others.