Trench Run
- April 7, 2016
- Transhuman Design
Get on Steam"Trench Run" is a 4-player local couch multiplayer game with optional bots and Steam Remote Play Together. Players can choose from 5 classes, each with special skills, and battle it out in semi-random destructible maps. The catch? There are no deaths, only knockouts, and tons of hilarious moments with quirky features like turning into a shrub or playing basketball. Enjoy the gypsy jazz soundtrack and see you at the bar!
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game can be fun with friends in local multiplayer, providing a silly and action-filled experience.
- The lobby system is entertaining, offering various activities like basketball and customization options.
- The gameplay is fast-paced and chaotic, with distinct classes that add some variety to the action.
- The online player base is virtually non-existent, making it difficult to find matches.
- The game lacks content and depth, with only a few maps and game modes leading to redundancy.
- Technical issues, such as bugs on Windows 11 and controller problems, hinder the overall experience.
- gameplay32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being overly simplistic and derivative, primarily revolving around basic shooting and melee mechanics with little depth or variety. Players quickly find the maps and overall experience repetitive and lacking in engaging elements, leading to a sense of boredom. Despite some initial fun with its silly action and class-based mechanics, the game ultimately fails to sustain interest, with many reviewers noting a lack of community and significant flaws that detract from the overall experience.
“The gameplay itself offers a nice silly and action-filled game with 4 different classes that have two different functions unique to them.”
“The gameplay is very simple: you control your characters using only 2 buttons and direction keys (you could play with a NES controller), the maps are small, there's no story, no base-building, no leveling system… you can immediately buy the game, join a server and blow stuff up.”
“[broforce]: a combination of epic pixel graphics, badass gameplay, and a sweet campaign that can also be multiplayer make broforce an awesome counterpart to trench run.”
“The gameplay itself is all just a rip of TDM from KAG, and run mode is the only new tech they probably even added to the game.”
“There is no other gameplay element at play other than 'shoot/stab/blow up the other 3 people and don't get blown up,' yet the developers say that this game can be played seriously?”
“Unfortunately, even accepting that the game's extremely limited player precision, weapons, effects, enemies, and level variety are somewhat inherent to the retro genre it portrays, I would not recommend this game even to diehard fans of retro/8-bit, as its gameplay is so utterly simplistic and inaccurate.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a nostalgic old-school pixel art style that effectively replicates the feel of classic NES games, featuring vibrant palettes and dynamic animations like explosions and ragdoll effects. While some players appreciate the charm and aesthetic, others note that the graphics are reminiscent of the King Arthur's Gold engine, leading to a lack of innovation in visual design. Overall, the visuals are seen as a blend of appealing retro elements and solid execution, though some feel they could have been enhanced with a more cohesive campaign structure.
“Broforce: a combination of epic pixel graphics, badass gameplay, and a sweet campaign that can also be multiplayer makes Broforce an awesome counterpart to Trench Run.”
“Its visuals have a charm that is appealing to me.”
“The engine itself is identical to KAG (King Arthur's Gold), the art style and movement also have no differences whatsoever (aside from the artsy palette).”
“The old school military graphics, explosions, and ragdolling/amputated crawling the characters do all look good, and overall the design/aesthetics replicate the feel of an old NES game well.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by chaotic and fast-paced action, with amusing sound effects and visual gags that initially entertain but can become repetitive. While the trailer effectively captures the game's comedic essence, players note that the humor may wear thin over time, leading to frustration amidst the mayhem. Overall, the experience is described as a blend of hilarity and chaos, though it risks becoming monotonous.
“The trailer was so terribly funny I just had to get the game.”
“The sound effects seem fitting to the events on screen with funny but brief character moans and screams amidst explosions and the like.”
“The game is very fast paced, with explosions all over the place, corpses flying across the map, buildings getting blown up, it's very hectic and hilarious to see.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the live band at the bar while others criticize the repetitive and out-of-place soundtrack, which features a lighthearted guitar that feels more suited for a main menu than for gameplay. Many feel that a more epic orchestral score could have enhanced immersion and better matched the game's tone. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as the weakest aspect of the game.
“There is a bar where you can pick your choice of beer or wine, listen to some legitimately good music that the band plays, or hang out in the VIP club which has various bonuses.”
“It reflects the light-heartedness of the game, but I wonder if the game had embodied more of a Medal of Honor / epic orchestral type soundtrack if it would have been a little more immersive and less in-your-face all the time.”
“The soundtrack is easily the worst part of the game for me with its incredibly repetitive, out-of-place plunky/lighthearted guitar and feels more like they're squeezing out a song made for the main menu across every single level.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized due to numerous glitches and buggy controllers, which hinder the overall experience and prevent the fun concept from fully realizing its potential. Early gameplay issues have contributed to a sense of desolation among players.
“Sadly, a fun concept that didn't really take off, coupled with areas for improvement and glitches in the gameplay early on, have led to this game becoming fairly desolate.”
“Controllers are buggy.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of games like Undertale highlights that success can stem from organic growth and a dedicated fanbase rather than traditional advertising methods. This suggests that strong community engagement and word-of-mouth can be more effective than conventional monetization strategies.
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks a narrative, with no story, base-building, or leveling system, focusing instead on straightforward gameplay that allows players to jump right into action.
“The gameplay is very simple: you control your characters using only 2 buttons and direction keys (you could play with a NES controller). The maps are small, there's no story, no base-building, no leveling system… you can immediately buy the game, join a server and blow stuff up.”
