Super Rad Raygun
- November 8, 2016
- TRU FUN Entertainment
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
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Get on itch.io Store"Super Rad Raygun" is a single-player historical platformer game set in the 1980s, where you play as Rad Raygun, fighting communist robots to save the decade. With a delightful 80s-inspired soundtrack and pop culture references, the game offers sharp graphics and new weapons while poking fun at the politics of the era. It serves as a nostalgic trip down memory lane for retro enthusiasts while incorporating modern gameplay mechanics.
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Reviews
- The game features tight controls and enjoyable gameplay reminiscent of classic Mega Man titles, making it a fun experience for platformer fans.
- The retro 8-bit graphics and catchy soundtrack effectively capture the nostalgic feel of the Game Boy era, enhancing the overall charm of the game.
- The humor and political satire woven into the story are clever and entertaining, providing a unique narrative experience that resonates with players.
- The game can become too easy once players collect enough upgrades, leading to a lack of challenge in later levels.
- Some players have reported issues with level design and enemy placements, which can feel tedious and frustrating at times.
- The battery system, while innovative, can lead to imbalances in gameplay, making it difficult to maintain a consistent challenge throughout the game.
- gameplay17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a nostalgic homage to classic platformers like Mega Man, featuring tight controls and inventive mechanics, particularly the battery system that introduces strategic trade-offs. While many players appreciate the challenge and freedom to customize their builds, some find the levels frustrating and the battery mechanic can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game successfully blends retro aesthetics with modern gameplay innovations, appealing to fans of the genre.
“Fantastic Mega Man-style gameplay, a stellar chiptune soundtrack, and 80s political satire... what's not to love?”
“I really like that the game doesn't bog you down with excessive reminders of your controls and mechanics and it just lets you figure out your preferred build, which is obviously part of the fact that this game pays homage to the old style of game design.”
“The controls are tight, the writing is good, the mechanics are solid, and the levels are challenging without being frustrating.”
“The levels are frustrating and the constant battery depletion mechanic really sucks a lot of the fun right out of this game.”
“The battery mechanic falls apart fairly quickly.”
“It has a great nostalgic feeling in every way, from the looks to the gameplay that is very unforgiving - it's a lot of fun.”
- music15 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its excellent and memorable chiptune soundtrack, which complements the retro 8-bit graphics and gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as catchy, fun, and a perfect fit for the game's nostalgic 80s theme. Many recommend purchasing the soundtrack separately, emphasizing its quality and contribution to the overall experience.
“Good news is all the recent press is spot on, it's a very fun game with an excellent soundtrack.”
“Fantastic megaman-style gameplay, a stellar chiptune soundtrack and 80s political satire... what's not to love?”
“The music was memorable, catchy, and really fit the game’s graphical style.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic Game Boy style, which some players find charming and fitting for the retro theme, while others criticize the lack of clarity in distinguishing foreground and background elements. Despite the limited color palette, the aesthetics are praised for their pleasing visuals and strong 80s pop-culture references, complementing the engaging 8-bit soundtrack. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, though they may not appeal to everyone due to their simplicity.
“What a pleasant Game Boy graphics surprise.”
“Game Boy style graphics, tight controls, and an absolutely awesome retro 8-bit soundtrack.”
“- Great aesthetics (references galore, Game Boy colors, vision dimming, 80s pop-culture references).”
“Also, the old school graphics made it difficult at times to tell what was in the foreground/background and what you could actually step on.”
“The graphics, even though lacking in color, are still pleasant to the eyes.”
“I find it confusing when retro game titles have the word 'super' at the beginning that aren't meant for the Super Nintendo (or in this case, have Game Boy-style graphics rather than SNES-style graphics).”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and clever writing, effectively blending 8-bit nostalgia with witty commentary on historical events. While many find the jokes funny and engaging, some note that they can become repetitive over time. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Hilarious & charming for sure!”
“The dialogue/script was also quite superb, and really helped the humor hit the mark.”
“The icing on the cake is the extremely clever writing that pokes fun at many current and past events in history; it's sure to keep you laughing throughout your playthrough.”
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story, set against a Cold War backdrop, cleverly satirizes governments and politics while maintaining an amusing and engaging narrative. Players appreciate its historical relevance and educational elements, finding the humor to be particularly well-executed. Overall, the story is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
“The story is amusing, focusing on the Cold War, while doing a spectacular job of making fun of governments and politics.”
“The humor is spot on, and the plot is even historically relevant and educational.”
“I even found myself enjoying the story.”
“I guess if this game were set in the 90s, the plot would have to have been completely different, but it's really weird to me.”
“The story is amusing, focusing on the Cold War, though it does a spectacular job making fun of governments and politics.”
“Love the even nature of the story.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about childhood experiences reminiscent of playing Mega Man. The inclusion of a smart battery system, inspired by the challenges of multiple sclerosis, adds a heartfelt layer to the gameplay, enhancing its emotional depth.
“This game made me feel like I was playing Mega Man again when I was a child.”
“The smart battery system is a limiting mechanic that is heartwarmingly motivated by multiple sclerosis, as mentioned in the credits.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game features a blend of modern, precise controls and retro-style challenges, which can lead to a mix of engaging and tedious level design as players progress.
“The level design shifts from clever to relatively tedious towards the end.”
“But it's not straight old school here; the feel is a great mix between more modern hyper-precise indie platformer controls and teeth-grinding Game Boy slop.”
