The Ploshers

About

The Ploshers is a single player and multiplayer casual action adventure game. It was developed by platypurplestudios and was released on April 16, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Frantic action and lots of fun. 1 or 2 players. Keyboard and Xbox controller or compatible. Casual look, hardcore gameplay. Demo available.

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 15 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features a unique mechanic where players must match their projectile color to that of the enemies, providing an engaging challenge.
Local co-op mode is available, allowing for fun multiplayer gameplay with friends.
The game has a colorful and simple art style that captures the essence of retro arcade games.

The gameplay can become overwhelming due to the chaotic nature of enemy spawning and the need to manage multiple factors simultaneously.
The controls are unintuitive, especially for players who prefer using analog sticks instead of the D-Pad, and there are no options to customize controls.
The sound design is criticized for being grating, particularly the repetitive music and annoying sound effects.

gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics and solid strategy, reminiscent of classic NES games, though some players find it hectic and potentially overwhelming. While the controls are simple and the game is generally bug-free, there are concerns about stiffness and optimization, suggesting that a more fluid experience would enhance enjoyment. Overall, the gameplay is engaging for fans of arcade-style games, but improvements in graphics and story could elevate the overall experience.
- “Solid gameplay with a nice strategy and great gameplay gimmick.”
- “While the mechanics are simple, the strategies are remarkably complex.”
- “Between the visuals, gameplay, and even difficulty, it reminds me of an NES game.”
- “The controls feel somehow stiff, and I personally would appreciate a much more fluid gameplay.”
- “Because I see the game doesn't have that custom control or keyboard setting, I do recommend playing the game with a controller because of the gameplay.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users describing them as basic, bland, and reminiscent of early NES or arcade titles. While some appreciate the retro art style, others criticize it for lacking authenticity and suggest improvements such as better shading and color palettes. Overall, there is a consensus that the visuals need enhancement to match the gameplay experience and justify the game's price.
- “The game is fun, and I like the art style; it's old school, reminiscent of Atari or C64.”
- “I see the developer trying to push the retro style, but it doesn't quite resemble the old school retro style; it's more of a 'PC retro' style. I hope the dev can improve the graphics by adding shading to the sprites and changing some color palettes to make the game more interesting.”
- “I find the visuals to be basic and bland.”
- “It's certainly the first game released by the developer, as it is an arcade game with pretty simple cartoon graphics and retro 8-bit sounds.”
- “Graphically, it is a simple and naive world.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The music in the game is generally considered serviceable but lacks variety, with some players finding certain tracks annoying or repetitive. While a few songs are appreciated, many users express a desire for more engaging and modern compositions, similar to those found in other retro-style games. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a weak point that could benefit from improvement to enhance the overall experience.
- “The music is quite good and it is varied.”
- “The soundtrack is simple, and if one takes the scores really seriously, it’s probably better to run with your favorite soundtrack.”
- “However, at least one song that I can think of annoys me.”
- “To be honest, I don't like the music in this game. I know it's meant to be retro, but I hope the developer can create more interesting songs. Recently, I played Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+, which uses retro-style music but with more modern effects. I hope the developer considers this, but it seems they purchased the music from a third party, so it might be a big decision for them to make the game more interesting.”
- “The music can get a bit repetitive.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of coherence and depth, with players noting that it feels disconnected and nonsensical, particularly the concept of intergalactic exterminators battling tribal statues. Many feel that the absence of a narrative, including cutscenes, detracts from the overall experience, despite the gameplay being enjoyable. Overall, the story is seen as a weak point that could benefit from further development.
- “Because gameplay is not the only main thing for a game; story and graphics are also important, so I hope the dev updates the game more!”
- “Like a true NES arcade game, there's no story here, though I'm surprised there's not an opening or ending cutscene.”
- “I don't really like the story after all. It's about intergalactic exterminators, but with an enemy like a tribal statue, it makes no sense to me. I don't find the story interesting, but the gameplay is good. It's just weird—why is a galactic entity shooting on Earth to protect who?”
- “Because gameplay is not the only main aspect of a game; story and graphics are also important, so I hope the developers update the game more!”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game's optimization has been criticized, as users feel that despite a promising gameplay concept, its execution suffers from performance issues.
- “The performance of the game is impressive, showcasing excellent optimization.”
- “Despite a good gameplay idea, the execution could benefit from better optimization.”
- “The optimization in this game significantly enhances the overall experience.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are excessively long, making it hard to stay engaged.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally taxing due to its unforgiving nature, where nearly every interaction can lead to instant failure, creating a heightened sense of tension and frustration.