Tiny Thor
- June 5, 2023
- Gameforge
- 25h median play time
Our mighty prince Thor is now 8 years old and getting a battle hammer is enough of a reason to find himself in an adventure.
Get on SteamIn Tiny Thor, players control a tiny but mighty hero named Thorn, who wields a powerful hammer to save his kingdom from evil. Explore vast landscapes, battle enemies, and solve puzzles in a charming 2D pixel art world, combining the thrill of action-packed combat with the satisfaction of solving intricate puzzles. Your hammer is not only a weapon but also a tool, and you'll need to use it wisely to overcome obstacles and defeat foes in this charming, nostalgic adventure.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the nostalgic experience.
- The gameplay is engaging with clever mechanics, particularly the hammer-throwing mechanic that adds depth to puzzles and combat.
- The level design is creative and varied, providing a good challenge that keeps players invested throughout the game.
- The difficulty spikes significantly in the later levels, leading to frustration and a sense of unfairness for many players.
- Some mechanics, particularly the hammer controls and wall jumping, feel imprecise and can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- The lack of visual variety in environments and long level lengths can make the experience feel tedious and repetitive.
- music47 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the catchy and memorable soundtrack, particularly highlighting the contributions of composer Chris Hülsbeck. However, some players found the music repetitive and not well-suited to the gameplay, especially during longer levels, leading to a sense of fatigue. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its nostalgic charm and quality, it may not resonate with everyone, particularly in terms of fitting the game's action.
“Awesome old-school 2D platformer game with fabulous music from sound magician Chris Hülsbeck.”
“The game features beautiful pixel art, catchy music, and clever level design.”
“Tiny Thor started out as a promising retro platformer, with clever gameplay, fun boss battles, gorgeous visuals, and an incredible soundtrack.”
“This is especially true of the third region since, while it has about as many levels as the previous two regions, its levels tend to be much, much longer and by the end I was well and truly tired of listening to the same music alongside the same icy mountains and frozen temples.”
“The music isn't for me and seems repetitive—a significant difficulty spike near the end with maybe two or three frustrating parts.”
“Music is such a big part of a retro gaming experience for me, and Tiny Thor really let me down in that department.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Tiny Thor" is characterized by its clever hammer-throwing mechanic, which is both fun and integral to solving puzzles and defeating enemies. While the controls are generally solid and the level design is praised for its creativity, some players find the difficulty spikes and certain mechanics frustrating, leading to a mixed experience. Overall, the game offers a challenging platforming experience with beautiful pixel art and engaging boss fights, appealing to fans of the genre despite some gameplay quirks.
“I really loved the hammer throwing mechanic; it's super fun to play with and it's used to solve puzzles in many creative ways.”
“The mechanic of throwing the hammer is very clever, and I constantly had to think about the best way to defeat enemies, activate switches, and collect items.”
“Extremely well done pixel art graphics, tight controls, varied levels and bosses, fast-paced gameplay with challenging platforming passages - a clear thumbs up from me!”
“It's linear, focuses entirely on platforming mechanics and puzzles.”
“But soon the platforming starts getting quite hardcore and the gameplay issues make it a huge pain.”
“Gameplay soon becomes offensively difficult and I don't think I'm going to finish it.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful 16-bit pixel art, reminiscent of classic platformers from the 80s and 90s, with smooth animations and vibrant colors. While some reviewers noted a mismatch in art styles between the intro cutscene and the main game, the overall aesthetic is considered charming and well-executed, appealing to fans of retro gaming. The graphics, combined with engaging gameplay mechanics and a fitting soundtrack, contribute to a nostalgic yet fresh experience.
“The game also has beautiful 16-bit graphics that you don't see much these days.”
“Beautiful and super smooth graphics and very cool gameplay mechanics!”
“Extremely well done pixel art graphics - on the level of Dead Cells.”
“And the first time I played it, I thought it had colorful graphics, but nothing I hadn't seen before.”
“(The intro cutscene also has an art style that doesn't fit with the rest of the game's art.)”
“The graphics, sound, controls, etc. all feel like this could have been a long lost Genesis game.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story is described as simple and basic, yet engaging enough to complement the game's charming characters and beautiful art. While it features familiar themes and short segments that maintain gameplay flow, it lacks depth, earning mixed reviews from players who appreciate its lightheartedness but desire more complexity. Overall, it serves its purpose within the genre, reminiscent of other titles like Cuphead.
“The art is beautiful, characters are charming, the story is simple and the story segments are short, so they don't break the flow of the game.”
“The story is also cool; I like Hugin and Munin, the two ravens.”
“The story is nothing crazy deep, but it's interesting enough for this type of game.”
“He later runs off to play with his new toy, only to encounter a stranger who tricks him into doing something very bad, which immediately puts him on a quest to fix the mess he caused to get things right.”
“The story is pretty basic, but if you've played Cuphead and a few others of this genre, it is a familiar kind of fun.”
“Gives you plenty of time to adore the wonderful sprite work... then once the rest of the plot is revealed to you, it will just continue being more and more difficult.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be well-designed but ultimately tedious, particularly in the final 25% where trial and error without checkpoints leads to frustrating repetition and cheap deaths. While the initial portions of the game are enjoyable, the lack of balance in difficulty and the need for constant restarts detracts significantly from the overall experience.
“The last 30ish% is very tedious trial and error and just not for me.”
“I really enjoyed the first 75% of this game but the last 25% just ended up being incredibly tedious with far too many cheap deaths.”
“That last 25% just has far too many long stretches of trial and error without checkpoints, which makes it extremely tedious to replay over and over again.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the intense platforming mechanics that create a sense of urgency and pressure, particularly in later levels where players must skillfully navigate challenges. However, the lack of clear visual or auditory cues for jump and dash availability can lead to moments of confusion, detracting from the overall experience.
Critic Reviews
Tiny Thor Review
Despite its outward appearance as a cheerful and friendly-looking game, Tiny Thor harbours a formidable array of challenges that can prove to be surprisingly daunting. It provides an unrelenting challenge for even the most experienced players, and yet feels endearingly satisfying and rewarding. Tiny Thor unveils itself as a remarkably intense, gratifying - and also highly accessible - action platformer, standing as one of the most demanding and rewarding experiences within its genre.
80%Tiny Thor Review
Tiny Thor is a well-crafted retro platforming adventure that no fan of 16-bit gaming will want to miss. Though its controls can be a tad frustrating and its difficulty can be occasionally inconsistent, there’s no denying that this a thoroughly enjoyable experience from stem to stern, especially for those who enjoy a fittingly old-school challenge. We’d give this a strong recommendation to anyone looking for another solidly built neo-retro platformer to add to their collection, though we’ll caution anyone with slower reflexes to brace yourselves for a rough time. In all the best of ways, Tiny Thor feels like a lost Sega Genesis game, easily worth your time and money.
80%Tiny Thor (Nintendo Switch)
Tiny Thor is a cute, colorful 2D platformer with a fun, nostalgic style. But an over-reliance on genre tropes and under utilization of its mythological source material mean it doesn’t stand out from the wealth of similar games.
60%
