Songs for a Hero
- March 24, 2016
- Dumativa
Get on Steam"Songs for a Hero: Definitive Edition" is a rhythm game where players tap buttons in time with music to control a character's movements through story-driven levels. The game features a diverse soundtrack, including pop, rock, and electronic music, and allows players to customize their character's appearance and abilities. The game's story follows the journey of a young hero as they fight against evil and uncover the truth about their past.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game is a charming and creative platformer with a unique musical gimmick that keeps the gameplay engaging and humorous.
- The graphics and art design are beautiful, with varied levels and bosses that enhance the overall experience.
- The humor in the songs and the clever references to gaming tropes add a delightful layer to the gameplay, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated players.
- The singing can become repetitive and annoying over time, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Some gameplay mechanics feel unpolished, with issues like clunky controls and frustrating level design that can lead to unfair deaths.
- The narrative and lyrics may not resonate with all players, especially those who do not speak Portuguese, limiting the game's appeal.
- music79 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in "Songs for a Hero" is a standout feature, characterized by clever, humorous lyrics that reflect the player's actions and enhance the gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the unique musical gimmick and catchy tunes, some find the constant singing repetitive and occasionally annoying, especially during cutscenes. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its creativity and charm, making it a delightful addition for fans of musical platformers.
“Incredibly charming musical experience that successfully delivers a creative concept in a fun way.”
“The songs are clever, fun to listen to, and hilarious!”
“Each level has a song tailored just for it with lyrics to boot, and they fit the atmosphere perfectly for wherever it plays.”
“The singing gimmick is interesting at first but very annoying when you can't skip/fast forward and there's a lot of places where you'll just stand still and wait for the song to finish to let you proceed.”
“The music is supposed to be something unique but I had to mute it, especially the voiceover; it's just grating to hear over and over.”
“It was a really nice attempt, it was mostly well done and polished, but for a game where the music is the main feature, they really should have put a lot more effort into it.”
- gameplay41 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fun mechanics and creative boss battles, while others criticize it for being repetitive and unpolished, particularly in level design and certain mechanics. The integration of music into gameplay is seen as a unique feature, but many feel that the overall experience lacks depth and can become tedious over time. While some players enjoyed the nostalgic feel of the platforming, others found it basic and lacking in innovation.
“The gameplay is fun, and I would recommend playing this game regardless.”
“The 2D platforming gameplay may seem very simple in the first few levels, but you gradually unlock new abilities over the course of the adventure, always keeping things fresh.”
“The level design in general is also great, with the game always introducing fun new mechanics, so it never gets repetitive or samey.”
“The platforming and level design were pretty bare-bones and unpolished - there were a lot of annoying mechanics (especially in the desert level) and 'so close' jumps that could have been greatly improved.”
“The gameplay gets real repetitive real fast, which is made even worse by the fact that one of the collectibles - the musical notes - increases the amount of notes used in the singing, meaning if you don't collect them, it actually makes the musical aspect worse. The gameplay is too shallow to make replaying levels fun or even really continuing to play.”
“Overall, the gameplay is just a mediocre side-scrolling action game with very basic combat; your character walks as fast as a slug, and there are no dodges.”
- humor23 mentions
- 87 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely centered around its catchy songs and the main character's comedic singing, which many players find engaging and entertaining. While some appreciate the clever and humorous lyrics, others criticize them as shallow or unfunny, suggesting that the humor may appeal more to a younger audience. Overall, the game is described as a fun experience with a mix of charming and grating comedic elements.
“Every level in this game contains a really catchy tune, that is followed by our hero singing over it with (usually) no stop from beginning to end, this is an impressive feat to accomplish, and the game delivers with a marvelous and funny experience through and through.”
“The songs are hilarious, and really help keep the player engaged (and quite possibly laughing at) what is going on or what they are doing.”
“Playing this game I almost always have a smile on my face from the humorous vocals that accompany you through your journey, which makes it feel like the game should have been worth more.”
“The English subtitles would at least allow for an understanding of the lyrics since I understand they are supposed to be funny and would love to see what they are.”
“In short: bad gameplay; generic pixel-art graphics; generic tune and unfunny lyrics.”
“The lyrics, though, are so very unfunny it's painful.”
- story13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as charming yet nonsensical, poking fun at platformer tropes while maintaining a lighthearted tone. While some players found it enjoyable and compelling enough to keep them engaged, criticisms arose regarding its lack of coherence, unsatisfying endings, and unresolved plot holes, with hopes for a sequel to address these issues. Overall, the narrative offers a mix of silliness and intrigue, though it may not satisfy those seeking a deeper or more structured storyline.
“And it has an amazing plot line that is incredibly enjoyable.”
“Nothing groundbreaking in terms of gameplay, but it's fine and the story was just compelling enough to have me curious to know how it ends.”
“It takes a while and a few gadgets to make the world more complex and interesting, but the story picks up once the initial silliness is settled.”
“The story is absolutely nonsensical, and I played to see the ending which was not really an ending.”
“My only criticism is that the ending (the second, 'true ending') is not satisfying and leaves big plot holes, but I hear that a sequel is in the works that might fill in the gaps.”
“The story could've been good but is sadly rather random and unexplained.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their colorful and charming pixel art style, reminiscent of classic Sega titles, with expressive enemies and well-designed bosses. While some reviewers find the visuals to be generic and lacking in originality, many appreciate the consistent artwork, varied environments, and engaging animations that enhance the overall experience.
“The artwork and animation is wonderful, the enemies are expressive and varied and the bosses look great.”
“So I fired it up on stream and was captivated by this game, between its music, its beautiful pixel art graphics and the hero singing non-stop and off-tune.”
“Add to that colorful cozy pixel graphics, fun screen-filling bosses (some of them optional and cleverly hidden), and great level variety ranging from your typical woods, deserts, and lava-filled caverns to some nice surprises late in the game, songs to a hero is an absolute winner.”
“In short: bad gameplay; generic pixel-art graphics; generic tune and unfunny lyrics.”
“The visuals are okay, I guess, but it's a generic throwback pixel art.”
“While it may not be my personal aesthetic, and I'm by no means an expert in the topic, the art is pretty consistent, with a huge number of enemy variations, tilesets, backgrounds, items, with almost everything having a cute animation and giving you nice visual feedback based on your actions.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Songs for a Hero" is highly praised for its unique blend of tailored musical compositions and engaging level designs, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. The combination of drifting melodies and operatic vocals contributes to a whimsical yet captivating environment, making each level feel distinct and well-crafted. Overall, players appreciate the thoughtful arrangements that elevate the game's ambiance.
“Each level has a song tailored just for it with lyrics to boot, and they fit the atmosphere perfectly for wherever it plays.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users note that the game offers surprisingly good replay value, though opinions on its overall replayability vary.
“The game also has some surprisingly good replay value.”
“Replayability, now that's a trickier thing to say.”
“Replayability is lacking; once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return.”
“The game offers minimal variation in gameplay, making it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
“After finishing the main story, I found no compelling reasons to dive back in.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding in the game is essential, requiring significant time investment, but it remains engaging due to the fresh design of levels and the inclusion of boss fights at the end of each world. The game successfully balances homage to the original concept while providing a varied experience across multiple worlds.
“While still managing to homage the original concept, with the first levels being pretty close to the original depictions in the video series, the game keeps it fresh through the entirety of the game, in about half a dozen worlds with three lengthy, but not tedious, levels each - with a boss fight at the end of each world.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's systems function smoothly, with minimal bugs and a balanced difficulty level, contributing to a stable gaming experience.
“The game's systems work well; it's not buggy, unforgivingly difficult, or broken.”
“I appreciate the stability of the game; everything runs smoothly without any major issues.”
“The game offers a solid experience with no crashes or glitches, making it very enjoyable.”
