Tres-Bashers

About

Tres-Bashers is a single-player platformer game with stellar mechanics and fantastic visuals. Explore a vast interconnected map, discover 40 cryptid monster types, and defeat 6 formidable bosses. Upgrade your moveset, collect bestiary profiles, and enjoy a catchy 60+ song chiptune soundtrack. With branching paths and various achievements, Tres-Bashers offers a challenging and engaging monster-bashing adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 286 reviews

music44 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Tres-Bashers offers a charming and nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic Game Boy Color games, with engaging gameplay and a variety of unique cryptid enemies.
The combat mechanics, including the flashlight and baseball bat system, provide a satisfying and strategic approach to defeating enemies, making exploration and monster bashing enjoyable.
The game features tight controls, a fantastic soundtrack, and a well-designed world that encourages exploration and replayability, making it a hidden gem in the metroidvania genre.

Some players find the controls to be slippery and difficult to master, leading to frustration during combat and platforming sections.
The map design lacks clarity, with some areas being difficult to navigate and important items easily missable, which can hinder the overall experience.
Certain enemy encounters can feel tedious, especially when requiring multiple hits to defeat, and some players have noted that the game can become repetitive over time.

music
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
22%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and well-composed chiptune tracks that enhance the overall atmosphere. Players noted the soundtrack's charm and variety, with distinct themes for different zones, making it memorable and engaging. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's nostalgic and polished feel.
- “The soundtrack is amazing!”
- “The game has lots of well-composed chiptune music, and the humor is cute and subtle enough where it never feels annoying or in-your-face.”
- “The music and atmosphere are pretty fantastic, there's a lot of tracks made for every environment, even for the ones you don't visit much at all.”
- “It has a lot of charm with the music and cinematography, but it controls poorly.”
- “~ I can't find the OST on YouTube anywhere!”
- “The spritework in the game is pretty fantastic, with enemies ranging from silly to very creepy, with music and environments to match.”
gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by tight controls, engaging mechanics, and a blend of exploration and combat reminiscent of classic metroidvanias. Players appreciate the strategic use of a flashlight to reveal enemies, though some find the randomness of later monster placements less enjoyable. Overall, the game offers a fun, fast-paced experience with a charming aesthetic and a rewarding gameplay loop that keeps players engaged.
- “Tight controls, good level design, and interesting-yet-simple mechanics.”
- “I enjoyed this monster hunt a lot, because the gameplay is fast-paced and never interrupted; you're always in control of Terry and moving around only gets more satisfying as you go.”
- “Every gameplay element feels well thought out and tight; everything comes together to create what feels like an excellent evolution of retro gameplay.”
- “If I had to nitpick one thing about gameplay, it's making weapons relatively scarce in the early game, and making certain other weapons accessible only in the later stages of the game.”
- “Level design's fine, a few of the later zones could use a little more work in my opinion, but nothing such as to actually impact gameplay negatively.”
- “The core gameplay loop is similar to Metroid where there's an emphasis on exploring and getting new abilities to explore further, but surprisingly this game is heavily combat focused.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
34%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, nostalgic pixel art style reminiscent of Game Boy Color titles, featuring whimsical designs and a variety of enemy types. While some players appreciate the cute and quirky aesthetic, others note that the graphics can feel elementary and may not appeal to everyone. Minor graphical bugs have been reported, but overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's unique atmosphere and gameplay experience.
- “The overall aesthetic of the game is unmatched.”
- “Graphics and characters are adorable.”
- “The game aesthetically is very nice, being reminiscent of Game Boy Color games, with a large amount of variety in enemy types, and options during exploration and combat, along with some very nice music.”
- “Despite the graphics looking like they could fit on a Game Boy Color, some of the creatures and bosses you encounter are pretty creepy and unsettling!”
- “An echo from the days of Mappy, Tres-Bashers's graphics are quite elementary.”
- “Areas are varied within the limits of the graphics, and there are a couple of places or pickups that will have you scratching your head.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized as cute and subtle, enhancing the overall experience without being overwhelming. Players appreciate the lighthearted premise and the amusing enemy designs, which range from funny to horrifying, contributing to a delightful action/platformer experience. The combination of humor and well-composed chiptune music creates an enjoyable atmosphere throughout the game.
- “The game has lots of well-composed chiptune music, and the humor is cute and subtle enough where it never feels annoying or in-your-face.”
- “The premise is hilarious.”
- “Wrap it all up with a simple plot, a lighthearted sense of humor and a delicious 2a03/nes style musical score and you've got yourself a wonderful little action/platformer outing that you'll enjoy from beginning to end!”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to certain enemies being difficult to reach and the repetitive nature of clearing rooms. This leads to a sense of monotony, especially in later sections where the challenge feels more like a chore than an engaging experience. Overall, the lack of effective strategies for dealing with groups of enemies contributes to the frustration.
- “There are a few sections near the end which become more tedious than hard.”
- “It just drags out clearing rooms and whittles away at my health in a way that feels tedious on top of the monotony.”
- “But still some kind of way to deal with groups would make them seem less tedious.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game offers significant replayability, primarily driven by its achievement goals and challenges, making it appealing for players seeking to enhance their experience. Additionally, the engaging original soundtrack contributes to the motivation for repeated playthroughs. Overall, it is designed to encourage multiple runs, providing a rewarding experience for those who enjoy challenges.
- “Then when I tried to go for one of the achievements, I realized the game was made to be very replayable.”
- “The game also has replay value with its achievement goals.”
- “Short and sweet with loads of replay value for anyone looking for a challenge.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story in "Tresbashers" is minimal but acceptable, centering on the character Terry Pinkerton's lighthearted quest to battle cryptids. While the narrative may not be deep, it includes a plot twist that adds some intrigue to the overall experience.
- “Not much of a story, but it's okay.”
- “Another gem from Ondydev, Tresbashers is a Metroidvania game featuring Terry Pinkerton on a quest to bash cryptids with giddy abandon.”
- “Not much of a story, but it's okay.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its fantastic music and coherent retro vibe, enhanced by a variety of tracks tailored to different environments. However, some users express a desire for a larger urban setting centered around the school to further amplify the haunted and creepy themes. Overall, the combination of chiptunes and environmental soundscapes effectively contributes to an engaging and immersive experience.
- “Just real nice chiptunes here, great bops creating a coherent retro atmosphere.”
- “The music and atmosphere are pretty fantastic, there's a lot of tracks made for every environment, even for the ones you don't visit much at all.”
- “I would have loved to have seen a larger urban setting focused around just the school with some side areas, just to keep with the theme of haunted school/building/creepy atmosphere.”
- “I would have loved to have seen a larger urban setting focused around just the school with some side areas, just to keep with the theme of a haunted school, building, and creepy atmosphere.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and charming character designs that blend cuteness with a hint of creepiness. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics and fast-paced gameplay, which enhance the overall experience, though specific character growth or narrative depth is not explicitly mentioned.
- “Loads of bashing, super fun flashlight mechanic, and unbelievably cute but creepy character designs.”
- “If you enjoy speedy movement, tight combat, platforming, exploration, and wonderful 8-bit character design and chiptunes, buy this.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of classic computer games and lesser-known titles that hold significant emotional value. This connection to the past enhances the overall emotional experience, making it feel deeply personal and impactful.
- “I feel like this game was made by someone with a deep familiarity with classic computer gaming, similar to how La-Mulana made me feel, evoking memories of even obscure but significant titles that have since been overshadowed by mainstream gaming.”