Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan
- September 11, 2019
- CollectorVision Games
Get on SteamSydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan is a nostalgic 2D action-adventure game set in the ancient Mayan civilization. As Sydney Hunter, players solve puzzles, explore temples, and battle mythical creatures to break the curse and save the village. With its classic pixel art style and engaging gameplay, Curse of the Mayan offers a thrilling adventure for both new and old school gamers.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Delivers a cozy old school satisfaction with engaging gameplay and nostalgic graphics.
- Features tight controls and a fun exploration experience reminiscent of classic platformers.
- Offers a decent challenge without being overly punishing, making it accessible for fans of retro games.
- Lacks adjustable difficulty settings, which can lead to frustration for some players.
- Keyboard controls are poorly designed with fixed bindings, making gameplay less enjoyable without a controller.
- Boss fights can feel unfair and poorly designed, leading to tedious and frustrating encounters.
- graphics11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, evoking nostalgia for classic 8-bit titles with vibrant colors and a charming retro aesthetic reminiscent of NES and MSX2 games. While many appreciate the attention to detail and smooth visuals, some critiques mention inconsistencies in pixel alignment and a lack of standout musical themes. Overall, the graphics successfully capture the essence of classic adventure games, enhancing the overall experience.
“The game's graphics and sound effects capture the look and feel of classic adventure games, while its mechanics are easy to learn.”
“Great platformer/adventure game with a smooth difficulty curve and adorable graphics.”
“It's clear that a lot of effort went into this with attention to detail sprinkled in the graphics and puzzle areas, topped off with a great C64 sounding soundtrack.”
“Graphically, it doesn't obey its own pixel grid, with some smaller-than-pixel-sized particles and weirdly scaled objects.”
“It's obvious that the game is designed to look and sound like an 8-bit console game, but for the graphics, I don't appreciate that half-hearted approach.”
“The graphics remind me of classic NES games like Chip 'n Dale or DuckTales.”
- music11 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its nostalgic and retro vibe, effectively complementing the gameplay and graphics. While some players find the chiptune tracks repetitive and annoying, many others appreciate the variety and quality of the soundtrack, noting that it enhances the overall experience. Overall, the music is seen as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its charm and appeal.
“Great game and great music.”
“The music is awesome, fitting the retro vibe really well.”
“The nes aesthetic is spot on, the music is amazing, and the controls are smooth and very responsive.”
“The music is some annoying repetitive chiptune that will get on your nerves fast.”
“This whole ending sequence of events is a very awful note to end on, but I did enjoy the levels, the hub, the explorations, the music, and the pacing (surprisingly).”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is designed to evoke nostalgia for classic adventure games, featuring easy-to-learn mechanics and well-designed levels that cater to fans of the 8/16-bit era. While players can acquire abilities throughout the game, they do not significantly alter gameplay dynamics. Overall, the experience is enjoyable, though some may find the controls occasionally unresponsive.
“The game's graphics and sound effects capture the look and feel of classic adventure games, while its mechanics are easy to learn.”
“I'll be quick: the game is almost perfect for those like me (almost 40 years old guys stuck in the 8/16 bit gaming era) who are looking for a classic arcade-platforming experience with a very essential plot and not too frustrating or punishing gameplay.”
“Overall though it is a fun game with some well-designed levels and interesting game mechanics.”
“You'll pick up some abilities throughout the game, but they're not true game changers like a double jump; you'll find things that seemingly annihilate mechanics altogether.”
“The gameplay is ok.”
“Gameplay is very tight, though it can be a little unresponsive at times, but very rarely.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story features a straightforward and engaging plot centered around the character Sydney Hunter's quest for treasure in Mayan ruins, appealing to fans of classic arcade-platforming experiences. However, while it offers nostalgic charm, many players find it lacking in depth and quality compared to similar titles, ultimately deeming it flawed and less enjoyable.
“The game has a simple but engaging plot where players take on the role of adventurer Sydney Hunter in search of treasure in the Mayan ruins.”
“I'll be quick: the game is almost perfect for those like me (almost 40 years old guys stuck in the 8/16 bit gaming era) who are looking for a classic arcade-platforming experience with a very essential plot and not too frustrating or punishing gameplay.”
“The game is almost perfect for those like me (almost 40 years old guys stuck in the 8/16 bit gaming era) who are looking for a classic arcade-platforming experience with a very essential plot and not too frustrating or punishing gameplay.”
“The story is predictable and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is minimal, leaving the plot feeling flat and uninteresting.”
- humor3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate its unique dialogue and tributes to other games, many criticize the writing as unfunny and forced, with specific examples of jokes that fall flat. This mixed reception highlights a divide between those who enjoy the quirky humor and those who find it detracts from the overall experience.
“The dialogues have a very particular humor and many special tributes to more famous games.”
“Funny thing is, I bought an iArcade because I wanted arcade controls to play this game.”
“The writing is unbelievably bad and unfunny, with participation trophy 'jokes' on achievements and a gluten-free 'joke' from the first NPC. It's hard to ignore the NPCs since some are necessary for progression.”
“The humor falls flat, relying on tired clichés and jokes that feel forced and out of place.”
“I found the attempts at humor to be cringeworthy, with punchlines that miss the mark and leave you wondering if anyone actually found them funny.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, particularly due to the difficulty spikes and the need to repeatedly defeat bosses while farming for resources. The experience is often tedious, involving long walks through empty areas and confusing hitboxes that detract from the overall enjoyment.
“Also be warned, the difficulty is frustrating at times, especially getting a boss down to half health and then getting hit by a one-shot kill attack. Why do I need to beat a boss again if I am farming a finished level for gems and such?”
“It requires you to tediously walk through many empty and boring rooms until you figure out the weird hitboxes on some obstacles, like those grass pits.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the game's mechanics, noting that even simple actions like touching water can lead to selecting an inappropriate weapon, which detracts from the emotional immersion and overall experience.
