Troublemaker

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"Troublemaker is a single-player fighting game set in a high school in Indonesia, where you play as Budi and fight your way to the top of the social hierarchy through the annual student fighting tournament. With smooth and over-the-top combat, iconic moves, and plenty of humor, Troublemaker offers a unique and intriguing story and an exciting experience for players."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,412 reviews

story112 positive mentions

optimization8 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience of high school life in Indonesia, with relatable themes and humor.
The combat mechanics are enjoyable, allowing players to adapt quickly if they have experience with similar games like Yakuza or Sifu.
The art style, especially the 2D illustrations, is vibrant and engaging, enhancing the overall experience.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and unresponsive controls during combat.
Voice acting is inconsistent and often lacks emotional depth, making some dialogues feel forced and cringe-worthy.
The story can feel predictable and linear, with a lack of character development and depth in the plot.

story
408 mentions
27 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Troublemaker" is a comedic and nostalgic exploration of high school life, drawing inspiration from games like "Yakuza" and "Bully." While many players appreciate its themes of friendship and personal growth, some criticize the plot for being predictable and the pacing for being rushed, resulting in a short gameplay experience of around 4-6 hours. Overall, the narrative is seen as engaging but could benefit from deeper character development and a more polished execution.
- “So then the likes, the story is really good I loved its themes of friendship, trying to find your place in the world, expectations and regrets.”
- “The story while serious can also be Yakuza and Bully serious, what I mean is the story can be very ridiculous like the Yakuza games and the Bully game, actually you can tell that the creators took some inspiration from both game’s stories, the Bully part being a delinquent kid sent to a new school trying to start over, but gets roped into the weird shenanigans/power struggle and the Yakuza part being the over the top and the bombastic anime sense of craziness that is the characters and school.”
- “The story, the plot and character development is great too.”
- “The story is lacking.”
- “The story is too short for me.”
- “The story appears to be too straightforward, which could make the game predictable and unexciting.”
gameplay
254 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its smooth mechanics and engaging martial arts combat reminiscent of the Yakuza series, though it lacks depth and variety, leading to a somewhat repetitive experience. While the fighting mechanics are generally enjoyable, some players found them to be clunky and in need of polish, with balancing issues and bugs affecting the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the game is praised for its creative mini-games and humorous story, making it a worthwhile play for fans of high school drama and action games.
- “The gameplay is smooth and creative as I expected.”
- “The gameplay is good; it’s a bit like Yakuza with its martial arts as you kick, punch, parry, and even throw stuff at your enemies. Although it's not really as versatile as those games, you can also do crazy anime-styled moves which were quite fun, and if you know anime, even if it's just superficial, you'll get some of the references.”
- “Overall gameplay is really a good game coming from my country, so I am really proud of it.”
- “The story is good but the gameplay is too repetitive.”
- “This game had a lot of promising gameplay and story, but they also need to polish or delay this game for maybe like 6 months to address some bugs and finalize the game.”
- “In the end, I can say the gameplay mechanics are not properly made and seem unbalanced because you guys really put an effort on minigames instead of the combat system itself.”
graphics
110 mentions
22 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and attention to detail, particularly in the environment design. However, some players criticize the inconsistent blending of realistic and cartoonish styles, leading to an uncanny appearance, and note performance issues and bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are considered decent for an indie title, there is a consensus that optimization and a more cohesive art direction could enhance the visual appeal.
- “The graphics are good, definitely a great use of color, scenery, and designs. The school itself actually feels like a real place despite the goofiness of it; it makes you want to stare and look at all the detail and designs.”
- “Nice graphics, music, and gameplay; short but worth considering the price!”
- “The art style, presentation, music, and even the voice work is all really well done for what the devs had to work with.”
- “Why does this 2023 game need beefy specs with horrible graphics?”
- “It’s such a shame that despite having realistic graphics (also with 2D cartoon/anime that doesn't blend well), the story is just 70% meme and 30% talking about friendship and love in the most cringiest way possible.”
- “Mixed art style; it looks uncanny, especially Budi in 3D. While I can ignore those because I'm already used to poor graphics, not everyone is as tolerant as I am.”
music
44 mentions
45 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a generally positive reception, with many tracks being described as memorable and fitting well within the game's context, particularly the main and ending songs. However, some users noted that while the soundtrack is strong, certain tracks, especially the fighting music, lack uniqueness and character. Overall, the music is considered a highlight of the game, contributing significantly to the emotional impact and overall experience.
- “The music is really good; each track is quite memorable and fits the game so well. I think my favorite track is the ending song as it's really touching and it almost made me cry a bit.”
- “The main and ending music is great.”
- “Then, the soundtrack is good whether it's a menu soundtrack or ending soundtrack, perfect.”
- “The fighting music is just your typical 'rock/metal for beat em' up' music that is just not unique enough.”
- “The ambience music is okay.”
- “Music: 5/10”
optimization
30 mentions
20 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering cutscenes and low frame rates even on lower settings. While some users noted that a restart could temporarily alleviate problems, others experienced persistent bugs and memory leaks, leading to an overall impression of poor optimization. A few players did mention decent performance under certain conditions, but the consensus leans towards the need for substantial improvements in optimization.
- “Everything is good, just need more optimization for the game and fix the energy regen.”
- “+ well optimized (granted, it's not the prettiest game)”
- “(disclaimer: I played this on Steam Deck) Performance for the game I got 45 fps but can go 15-20 fps on real-time cutscenes but that doesn't stutter much.”
- “Performance: 1/10. I play this game on very low settings, and I don't understand why the 2D cutscenes are a heavier load on my computer (Ryzen 3 3200U) than the actual 3D gameplay. It actually blows my mind.”
- “But performance hasn't been optimized; I get around 30fps with medium graphics settings. I can run ultra settings, but I still get 30fps too.”
- “Performance is okay, but sometimes it gets laggy for no reason.”
humor
24 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying its comedic storytelling, funny voice acting, and entertaining mini-games that add a lighthearted touch to the gameplay. While some found certain jokes and references to be cringe-worthy or outdated, the overall comedic elements, including Easter eggs and humorous bugs, contribute to a fun and nostalgic high school experience. However, a few players expressed disappointment over the game's reliance on memes and the quality of its 3D models.
- “Pure comedy! I really recommend this game if you like high school life drama. The story brings you back to the high school era, and the additional content like Easter eggs is so damn funny. The fighting mechanic is quite good; if you've played a game like Sifu, you'll adapt quickly. Although the difficulty, even on hard, is not really hard in my opinion, well, it's not a soulslike game though. I really enjoy killing my time in this world.”
- “It sports a simplified Sleeping Dogs style combat, hilarious moves, the dumbest mini games (in a good way), and enough heart to make you smile.”
- “Overall, I enjoyed the game for the quick challenge of obtaining achievements, humorous and cringe-worthy dialogue, and the story outcome.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game manageable due to the inclusion of a card game that speeds up the process, making the relatively short playtime less tedious. However, combat can become frustratingly lengthy and tedious, especially on higher difficulties, due to high enemy health and low protagonist attack power. Overall, while grinding is necessary, it can feel excessive and unenjoyable at times.
- “Speaking of fights, it's not good; it's tedious and really lengthy if you try the hardest difficulty.”
- “The enemy health is too high, and the protagonist's attack power is too low, which makes the combat lengthy and tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's emotional depth, particularly praising the memorable and touching music that enhances the overall experience, with the ending song eliciting strong feelings. While the gameplay may be rough around the edges, the wholesome story effectively conveys emotional resonance, suggesting that the game successfully captures its emotional core despite some gameplay shortcomings.
- “The music is really good; each track is quite memorable and fits the game so well. I think my favorite track is the ending song as it's really touching and it almost made me cry a bit.”
- “How often they properly express the exact motions and beats to get this emotional core across.”
- “The gameplay is quite rough, but the story is wholesome.”
stability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized for being very buggy, with issues affecting controls, combat mechanics, and character models, which appear unpolished. Players report a clunky combat system that hampers gameplay, suggesting that a shift in art direction might improve the overall experience.
- “Control and combat are a bit buggy, character model looks unpolished. It could've been better; maybe changing the art direction from a semi-realistic model to a full cartoon (like the 2D model) could help.”
- “The combat system feels clunky and buggy, especially with the transition of starting fights, consumable items, stats, and ultimate moves upgradability.”
- “Very buggy and simple, but there are some good things.”
character development
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise it as great and integral to the story and plot, others criticize it for lacking depth and coherence, particularly in relation to romance and logical progression. Overall, opinions vary significantly, highlighting a divide between those who appreciate the character arcs and those who find them poorly executed.
- “The story, the plot, and character development are great too.”
- “Overall, it's great in terms of gameplay, story, and character development.”
- “No character development, no logic, bad romance; the dev didn't understand what 'dana bos' is and the school system in general.”
replayability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Replayability is generally considered low due to a lack of sufficient content and meaningful rewards, making side activities feel skippable and unengaging. Players express that there are no significant achievements to motivate repeated playthroughs.
- “Replayability is not that great as there is just not enough content and there are no achievements for it either.”
- “Side activities can be skipped easily because the rewards are not worth it and there is no replayability.”
- “Replayability is not that great as there is just not enough content and there are no achievements for it either.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with multiple users rating it a strong 9 out of 10, indicating a captivating and immersive experience that enhances gameplay.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world with stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged and on edge.”
- “The game's atmosphere is rich and layered, creating a sense of depth that enhances the overall experience.”