stikir
- December 16, 2018
- bilge
"Stikir" is a quirky and frustrating platformer game with epilepsy warning, featuring weird boss fights, simple controls , and a striking EGA-inspired color palette. Critics praise its solid gameplay, great pacing, and random humor, making it a wonderful and strange experience for players.
Reviews
- The game is a unique and surreal experience, filled with creative and bizarre mini-games that keep players engaged.
- The art style and music are charming, contributing to the overall enjoyable atmosphere of the game.
- It's a short game that can be completed in under an hour, making it a quick and entertaining diversion.
- The gameplay can be frustrating due to inconsistent difficulty spikes and poorly designed mini-games that may lead to repeated failures.
- Controls are awkward, particularly the jump function being mapped to the up button, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The narrative is often confusing and lacks coherence, leaving players unsure of the game's purpose or direction.
- gameplay26 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this title is a mixed bag, with some players finding it tedious and poorly playtested, particularly due to the frustrating restart mechanics after failure. However, others appreciate the diverse and experimental nature of the gameplay, which features a blend of various mechanics and a surreal, engaging art style. Overall, while the gameplay may not be groundbreaking, it offers a unique experience that some players find enjoyable despite its flaws.
“I highly recommend it to people who like surreal humor mixed with constantly changing gameplay.”
“Sticker is a linear collection of bizarre minigames that consist primarily of shooter and platforming segments, but there’s a whole mixture of experimental mechanics and ideas going on.”
“The art is innovative and strange, the gameplay keeps itself fresh with changes and developments, and the music accompanies the journey well.”
“Failing results in the entire minigame restarting, so I have to go through 30 seconds of brain-dead boring gameplay to get a chance at the only thing that could be potentially seen as challenging.”
“Every single gameplay portion feels like it was never playtested.”
“More annoying gameplay than I expected, mixed with way less meaning than I hoped for.”
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as chaotic and quirky, often lacking coherence and depth, which can detract from the overall experience for some players. While it features inventive elements and a personal touch, many reviewers feel that the narrative doesn't go anywhere meaningful, leaving them wanting more engagement. Overall, the story is seen as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a driving force, appealing to those who enjoy surreal and unconventional storytelling.
“What an utterly chaotic experience, in a good way, and all woven together with a story about needing coffee and making video games.”
“Inventive and quirky little story with a personal touch.”
“The story and characters are crazy and zany, and the soundtrack is very good.”
“Maybe the frustration is part of the storytelling, but it sadly just sucks all of the fun out of the experience.”
“While I was genuinely wanting to see where this goes, with how the story is presented, it's not engaging enough for me to hit my head against a brick wall in segments that are too hard for me until I eventually proceed.”
“I thought the story behind it could be neat, but it ultimately didn't end up going anywhere.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that many players find beautiful and immersive, despite its simplicity and lack of customization options. The high-contrast, neon color palette and varied environments contribute to a unique atmosphere, although some players note that the graphics may feel outdated compared to contemporary standards. Overall, the art style is well-received, enhancing the gameplay experience for many.
“I really loved this game's art style and gameplay.”
“As for the graphics, high contrast, almost neon palette colors fill the stages, something that I haven't seen done properly since Love or VVVVVV.”
“The art style is beautiful and immersive, despite lacking detail.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as surreal and absurdist, with many players finding it consistently funny and enjoyable throughout the playthrough. While the comedic style may not appeal to everyone, it features hilarious moments and clever references, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of quirky humor. Overall, the game is praised for its lightheartedness and engaging comedic elements, especially given its low price.
“This surreal, short and low-priced video game parody is surprisingly fun and funny too!”
“I highly recommend it to people who like surreal humor mixed with constantly changing gameplay.”
“The humor of the game is absurdist and weirdly sincere, and the game keeps this balance well.”
- music12 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting its diversity and fitting ambiance. The soundtrack is described as cool and engaging, complementing the game's visuals and gameplay effectively. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature for players.
“The music immersed me even more, the whole experience was really charming to me, and this is one of the games I feel uses simplicity perfectly.”
“The way the developer took the time to make a soundscape and soundtrack so diverse, subtle at times, and interesting makes this game one of my favorite indie games.”
“The movement feels really smooth (especially the jumping) and the soundtrack is downright incredible, really fitting the game's weird ambient.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply impactful, with many expressing that the ending elicited strong feelings, including tears. The narrative also inspires a sense of motivation and creativity, encouraging players to embark on their own projects.
“The ending made me cry.”
“A short narrative platformer about creating this game in 6 months that has honestly made me feel inspired to take on the same challenge myself.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Replayability is limited, primarily hinging on missable achievements and the option to explore alternate paths, as the game can be completed in under an hour. While there are hints of additional content through unexplored doors, the overall experience may not encourage multiple playthroughs.
“There is also a hint for replayability by showing other doors that I didn’t take during the game, so if I decide to play it again, I will probably get a little more from it.”
“I don’t think there is much replayability outside of the missable achievements, and it is a very short experience with under one hour needed for a playthrough.”
“There is also a hint for replayability by showing other doors that I didn’t take during the game, so if I decided to play it again, I will probably get a little more from it.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in Stikir to be tedious and frustrating, as minor mistakes lead to repetitive gameplay that detracts from the overall experience.
“But the gameplay elements that were borderline at best became tedious once a small mistake forced you to trudge through them again.”
“Stikir is a tedious, self-indulgent mess.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique and eccentric art style, creating an engaging and unpredictable environment that captivates players, even those who typically do not enjoy arcade games.
“Great atmosphere and a neat aesthetic.”
“I am not someone who is into arcade games, but its eccentric art style, unique atmosphere, and the feeling that anything unexpected could happen at any moment easily keeps me going.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While some users perceive the game as a cash grab capitalizing on the popularity of titles like Undertale and Celeste, others argue that it offers genuine value and does not exploit its audience.
“Many people comment that this is just another cash grab on the Undertale/Celeste type game hype, but it is anything but that.”