Time Bandit – Story Prologue | Game Brain

About

A Game That Takes Time *Wishlist on Steam* (Even if you plan on downloading the game through Itch.io, every wishlist on Steam helps to support development!) (I released a new Stealth Prologue chapter for Time Bandit, which jumps you further into the game and lets you experience the retro stealth gameplay for the first time!) Discover the unique real-time mechanics and anti-capitalist premise o…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique real-time gameplay mechanic that encourages players to think critically about their actions and time management.
It features a compelling anti-capitalist narrative and well-written dialogue that resonates with players, creating a thought-provoking experience.
The atmosphere and art style, while rough around the edges, contribute to the game's charm and enhance the overall experience.

The slow-paced gameplay and time-gated actions can be frustrating, making progress feel tedious and unfulfilling at times.
The dialogue can become overwhelming and lengthy, detracting from the gameplay experience and making it feel preachy.
Technical issues such as frame rate drops and optimization problems can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The gameplay is a unique blend of sokoban, idle mechanics, stealth, and bullet hell elements, offering a thoughtful and strategic experience that encourages players to plan several steps ahead. While the pacing may feel slow and the core loop lengthy, many players appreciate the game's respect for their time and the engaging mix of mechanics, despite some criticism regarding its repetitiveness and the narrative's preachiness. Overall, the game provides a captivating atmosphere and a compelling story, though its real-time mechanics may not appeal to everyone.
- “I wasn't sure about the slow Sokoban gameplay at first, but it's a nice change of pace to think about the puzzles 2-3 steps ahead because of the pace in which you solve them.”
- “Time Bandit is a clever game mixing idle, Sokoban, stealth, and even some bullet hell mechanics, all wrapped in a story about capitalism and the use of our time under it.”
- “Weird and atmospheric, it melds a bunch of disparate gameplay types into a very compelling game.”
- “The time it asks you to invest, however, does not seem worth the gameplay it offers.”
- “If you like the moment-to-moment gameplay and just like pushing the boxes around, then have fun, but it was always sort of a means to more plot or to unlock more places to do stuff for me; unfortunately, what you see is what you get, there's not much hidden beyond your character getting work shifts.”
- “As much as I'd love to talk to you about the whole experience and the story and stuff, as it stands I've played for 3-4 days and I've only just started chapter one, as the game is very true to its message of 'real-time gameplay.'”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The story of "Time Bandit" is a thought-provoking exploration of capitalism and the value of time, presented through a mix of gameplay mechanics. While it offers an intriguing premise and unique narrative framing, some players find the writing to be overly preachy and the plot progression lacking, with minimal foreshadowing and a sense of incompleteness as it is only the first part of an anticipated series. Overall, the narrative serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, which some players appreciate, while others feel it falls short of expectations.
- “Time Bandit is a clever game mixing idle, Sokoban, stealth, and even some bullet hell mechanics, all wrapped in a story about capitalism and the use of our time under it.”
- “Time Bandit - Part 1: Appendages of the Machine offers you a dark story that hides a dark secret.”
- “The writing sometimes comes off as preachy, but it does tell an interesting story with unique gameplay to frame it.”
- “Was not expecting it to end where it did or for the game to have as little story as it had when it had this big Metal Gear Solid vibe.”
- “Felt like there was either gonna be a boss fight or a big cutscene with some dialogue and the plot thickens or something, but nah, it's pretty nothing.”
- “As much as I'd love to talk to you about the whole experience and the story and stuff, as it stands I've played for 3-4 days and I've only just started chapter one, as the game is very true to its message of 'real time gameplay.'”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The music in the game is described as charming and catchy, with a cute vibe that enhances the gameplay experience, despite being somewhat rough and limited. The real-time format adds depth, featuring different soundtracks for various times of day, which some players find appealing. Overall, while the music may not be perfect, it contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The music grew on me.”
- “It's definitely rough around the edges with limited music and 'voice acting' that's just grunting, but I'm excited to see what comes next.”
- “The real-time format of the game doesn't sound very appealing to some gamers, but this game was built with this heavily in mind; there are different soundtracks for each time of the day, the sun moves according to the time of the day, all in real time.”
- “Or don't, and just move boxes at a chill pace while you bop along to the cute music.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's graphics feature a low-poly, PS1 aesthetic that some players find charming, despite its rough Unity-like appearance. While it supports 1440p, it is capped at 1080p, which is generally acceptable given the unique art style and overall design. The visuals complement the game's writing and themes, enhancing the experience.
- “I mean sneaking around as a protagonist with T-Rex arms and one facial expression, all with a low poly PS1 aesthetic?”
- “+ Suitable graphic style”
- “The kind of rough Unity-looking art style grew on me, too.”
- “1440p support is capped at 1080p, although it's not a huge issue considering the art style.”
- “I mean, sneaking around as a protagonist with T-Rex arms and one facial expression, all with a low poly PS1 aesthetic?”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is described as intriguing and unique, effectively blending various gameplay styles to create a compelling experience. Users appreciate its weirdness and the overall immersive quality that enhances the gameplay.
- “Neat game with a really interesting atmosphere.”
- “Weird and atmospheric, it melds a bunch of disparate gameplay types into a very compelling experience.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally considered unpolished, with users noting that while it isn't heavily buggy, it could benefit from additional refinement and testing.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's optimization has been criticized for rendering too much at once, leading to frequent frame drops, particularly in densely populated areas like towns or work sites.
- “The game isn't optimized very well; it often renders too much at once, like the entire town or a large portion of the worksite in a single shot, causing frame drops.”
- “Performance issues are rampant due to poor optimization, leading to significant frame rate drops during busy scenes.”
- “The lack of optimization is evident, as the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate when there are too many elements on screen.”