The Black Heart
- October 20, 2021
- Andrés Borghi
Get on Steam"The Black Heart" is a horror fighting game, reminiscent of classics like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, now updated with modern visual and audio improvements. In a parallel dimension, six creatures seek a powerful black heart, ripped from a murdered king, for their own malicious purposes. With pixelated blood, fluid gameplay, tragic music, and a complex story, enjoy local multi-player versus mode or single-player in this 2D fighting game.
Reviews
- The game features solid controls and a fun combat system, making it easy to pick up and play while still offering depth for combo hunting.
- The horror-themed aesthetic is unique and well-executed, with interesting character designs and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The game includes unlockable characters and a story mode that adds depth, making it a charming and enjoyable fighting game for both horror and fighting game enthusiasts.
- The game lacks online multiplayer functionality, which limits its replayability and competitive potential.
- The character roster is relatively small, with only a few additional characters compared to the original MUGEN version, which may disappoint some players.
- Some players have reported issues with AI difficulty being inconsistent, making certain battles feel unfair or frustrating.
- story20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging and features a full overarching narrative with unlockable characters, each having their own backstories and motives, though it is not particularly deep. The horror aesthetic is charming and adds a unique flair, making the story mode enjoyable despite some critiques about the final boss and the ending. Overall, the presentation, art style, and music enhance the experience, making it a standout in its genre.
“The story mode was fun enough for me, more so than maybe any fighting game story mode I've played before. It had some genuinely pretty horrific artwork.”
“The story, while very simple in scope, was fun to follow and very rewarding to get through.”
“Much respect for this game, as even today the horror-inspired art style and story stand out among its contemporaries.”
“Only complaint regarding the story is the ending, but I won't spoil anything.”
“Overall, the story is enough to give each character their own backstory/motives but isn't the deepest.”
“The only real problem I had was the main boss of the story mode.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique horror aesthetic that blends cuteness with a chilling atmosphere, appealing to fans of both genres. While some reviewers noted the art style as "rough" or simplistic, many praised its ability to convey strong character personalities and immersive visuals that stand out among fighting games. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, enhancing the game's charm and thematic depth.
“Great fighting game with unique pixel graphics and aesthetic.”
“The style and tone set by the visuals is amazing and immersive; they're easily my favorite part of the game.”
“Much respect for this game, as even today the horror-inspired art style and story is a standout among its contemporaries.”
“The art style of this game is rough.”
“Additionally, while the art style is, as I've already stated, very rough, the general horror aesthetic appeals to me very much and helps in my being able to more or less overlook my issues with the art style.”
“Furthermore, his attacks stylistically are lacking a bit compared to the other characters in terms of the 'horror' aesthetic, as whilst all his attacks are plant-themed, I'd like to see one or two attacks modified a bit.”
- music15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with reviewers praising its quality, variety, and ability to enhance the overall experience. Many noted that the soundtrack is both engaging and fitting for the game's atmosphere, contributing to the fun and immersive gameplay. Overall, the remastered soundtrack and unique character themes have been highlighted as standout features that elevate the game's presentation.
“We get this truly amazing indie MK homage fighting game with a great soundtrack.”
“The story and presentation are top-notch, as is the music and sound design.”
“And the music is absolutely frigging awesome.”
“No songs are bad, and there's decent variety in execution, but not much stands out.”
“The music is solid, but it doesn't leave a lasting impression.”
“While the ambiance is good, the music feels repetitive and lacks creativity.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is well-crafted and focuses on solid mechanics, making it enjoyable for both horror and fighting game fans, despite some characters being underpowered. While not overly complex, it offers a nostalgic experience with fluid controls, imaginative characters, and a compelling horror atmosphere. Overall, it is a tight and engaging game that balances accessibility with a satisfying challenge.
“The actual gameplay is clearly where all of the focus went into during development.”
“If you're fine with the old-school horror-themed artistic vision, then you'll find a great experience backed with solid fundamental gameplay and some genuinely fun characters with just the right amount of narrative.”
“A beautiful little passion project, gameplay feels tight, decently easy to pick up and play.”
“Only 7 would be tournament legal, and one of those is an underpowered gag character. It has solid mechanics and some basic inputs for the special attacks, so this isn't for journalists that are allergic to sliding their thumbs for basic inputs.”
“On a deeper level, the mechanics aren't terribly complicated.”
“That is my biggest complaint when it comes to the core gameplay.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the comedic elements, particularly in character attacks. However, some feel that the humor could be enhanced by diversifying the attack styles to better match the overall aesthetic, as certain characters deliver a more cohesive comedic experience than others. Overall, the humor is rated positively, with a notable mention of "9/10 funny fatals."
“9/10 funny fatals”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its fantastic horror elements, which enhance the gameplay experience. Despite some bugs and the game not being fully polished, the compelling story and design contribute significantly to its immersive atmosphere.
“Absolutely fantastic for the horror atmosphere and a nice complement to the gameplay.”
“The game isn't fully ready yet and has some bugs, but it has an incredible story, atmosphere, and design.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players found the story mode engaging and enjoyable, particularly noting it as one of the better experiences in fighting games, despite some criticism of the final boss being tedious rather than challenging. The artwork was also highlighted as impressively horrific, adding to the overall experience.
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's simplistic visuals effectively convey distinct character designs, allowing for a strong sense of personality and individuality among the characters.
“The game's visuals are super simplistic, but they portray the character designs well enough to give a strong sense of personality to each.”
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character's unique story.”
“I love how the choices I make impact the characters' growth and relationships, making every decision feel meaningful.”
