TRY AGAIN

About

Benny has long been trapped in this unfinished game by a mysterious figure called, The Designer. But thankfully for Benny, the new build is due tomorrow which means it’s his last day as a test character. Beat The Designer at her own game, and get Benny out of the facility once and for all. A student game developed at USC Games, featuring Nolan North and Stephanie Kerbis.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+10

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 505 reviews

story68 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

The game features a unique and creative concept, blending meta-narrative elements with engaging gameplay.
Voice acting is top-notch, with notable performances that enhance the overall experience.
Despite its short length, the game delivers a fun and enjoyable experience, leaving players wanting more.

The game is very short, typically lasting only 10-20 minutes, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied.
There are issues with the save system and occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
Some mechanics, such as wall jumping and swinging, feel clunky and could use improvement.

story
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The game's story is generally praised for its creativity, engaging characters, and strong voice acting, though many players note that it is quite short, leaving them wanting more. While the narrative is described as fun and relatable, some reviewers express a desire for a more developed plot and extended gameplay. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a highlight, with potential for expansion in future installments.
- “Fantastic little story and the voice actors really pulled their weight; the gameplay is simple, fun, and rapid.”
- “The story is very interesting, a meta-concept about an in-game beta testing character dummy named Benny who is facing the prospect of being rendered obsolete due to the developer wanting to cater to the producer's wishes, and he struggles to prove himself as a worthy addition to the final game.”
- “I loved the short story in the game; it was fun and relatable.”
- “Trying to add a story while the gameplay is bad doesn't make it any better.”
- “It was a very good and entertaining game, but what I heard about the story is more of a teaser than the whole game, so I will wait impatiently.”
- “The story goes by way too fast.”
gameplay
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The gameplay is generally praised for its creativity, smooth mechanics, and engaging parkour elements, though many users note its brevity, with playtimes averaging around 15-20 minutes. While the transitions between gameplay styles and camera perspectives are well-executed, some mechanics require refinement, and a desire for a more substantial story is expressed. Overall, the game offers a fun and polished experience, but players are eager for a longer, more developed version in the future.
- “The gameplay is pretty fast and decently executed, and the story is simple but interesting.”
- “The core of this game is the gameplay.”
- “Changing between 2D gameplay and some sequences with a more typical runner-esque perspective, we run, jump, and slide through ~15-20 minutes of surprisingly polished and fluid platformer gameplay with a story that's not new but executed well, a really exhilarating and fitting soundtrack and voice acting that works perfectly fine for the few lines that are uttered.”
- “Trying to add a story while the gameplay is bad doesn't make it any better.”
- “Conclusion: there are many great student works on Steam that offer better gameplay with fewer bugs.”
- “Platforming gameplay is fairly short, and compared to how challenging platformers can be, this feels like one of the easier ones.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
35%
12%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their quality, art style, and smooth animations, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Many users highlighted the impressive visuals and character designs, although some noted performance issues on lower-end hardware. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing the engaging storyline and gameplay.
- “Great graphics, voice acting, story, and platforming.”
- “Amazing visuals, great art style.”
- “The graphics are well done and the gameplay is great.”
- “Also, graphics seemed 'simple' for my GPU to run its fans as much as it did.”
- “Yes, I have an old PC; it may have low FPS, freezes, graphics artifacts, but why are there control problems?”
- “Also a problem on my end is that the game was simply too high end, and needed a feature to turn down the graphics.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and engaging dialogue, reminiscent of iconic characters like GLaDOS, while also feeling more relatable and human. Players appreciate the clever meta-humor and the comedic interactions between characters, particularly Benny, which enhance the overall experience. Despite its short length, the game successfully combines humor with meaningful storytelling, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The game is just perfect because of the quirky, funny dialogue that is said throughout the game.”
- “The mechanics and the humor behind the storytelling in this short 15 minutes is really fun.”
- “A quick and simple game full of good meta-humor.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
38%
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and adaptability to the environment, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers noted the soundtrack's impressive production and fitting rhythm, which complements the gameplay and voice acting effectively. Many expressed a desire for more music, highlighting its significant contribution to the game's appeal.
- “The voice acting is great, and the music I absolutely loved; the environment was amazing.”
- “Nice satisfying gameplay, and the music production is on the mark as well.”
- “The soundtrack also didn't need to go this hard.”
- “The music has a rhythm and melody that adapts to the environment, but it feels out of place.”
- “While the gameplay looks promising, the music detracts from the overall experience.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with players reporting significant bugs during wall climbing and transitions between 2D and 3D gameplay. While some experienced glitches and lag spikes, particularly during chase scenes, others noted that these issues were less frequent on subsequent playthroughs. Overall, despite the stability concerns, players found the experience enjoyable.
- “Game asks me to wall jump in the very beginning, but the action is so buggy I literally can't execute it smoothly.”
- “I did however run through some glitches on my first playthrough attempt: no encounters with these glitches on a second playthrough attempt, however I did encounter one camera tracking issue during the chase scene, where I fell and the camera panned away; WASD moved the camera until finally the previous test characters caught me and Benny respawned at the previous checkpoint.”
- “It was fun, I ended up dying a lot from huge lag spikes and quite a bit of glitches where Benny would refuse to grab onto things or teleport around, but all together it was enjoyable.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay. However, some users feel there is room for improvement, suggesting that further optimization could enhance the experience even more.
- “The game runs smoothly and is very fun.”
- “Also, the performance is so good it feels like a 'playable short film' at some moments.”
- “Short and sweet, Try Again delivers an interesting concept, fluid parkour gameplay, and wonderful vocal performances from both Stephanie Kerbis and Nolan North.”
- “My only gripe is that the game could be optimized a bit better.”
- “Perhaps there's some need for optimization?”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have expressed a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its well-developed characters, particularly Benny and Sophie, and the impactful storytelling that resonates with their experiences. The humor and heartfelt moments, especially in the chase scenes and the touching ending, contribute to a sense of appreciation for the developers' efforts, leaving players eager for a sequel. Overall, the game's emotional depth and engaging voice acting enhance its overall appeal.
- “It is such a good game, a well-developed game with good graphics, funny dialogues, and death dialogues. The story is good, and I understood its title 'Try Again.' I just want a sequel to play so bad because it's just that good. I highly want this game to go viral so that we can get a sequel or any other game like this. Kudos to the team and the voice actors, especially the director and Benny. Because of your voices, the game was more wholesome, and I appreciate the hard work to make this game. The motion of the game is so good, and the chase scene is also made so awesome and cool.”
- “I really loved this game; it shows what game developers really go through, as the ending was touching.”
- “It almost made me feel like the developer was GLaDOS at some points, but more funny or human.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and fitting design, enhancing the overall theme and experience. Players appreciate the emotional connection fostered by characters like Benny and the developer's engaging presence, likening it to a more relatable version of GLaDOS from Portal. The combination of motion mechanics and control further contributes to a captivating environment.
- “It has a great concept and the atmosphere fits with the theme perfectly.”
- “I love the atmosphere of the game; the developer seems like a more human version of GLaDOS (from Portal), and Benny makes you care about him.”
- “This free version already shows it: nice motion mechanics, control, and atmosphere.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Reviewers suggest that the game's replayability could be significantly improved by adding features such as time trials and hidden paths, which would encourage players to revisit the game for new challenges and discoveries.
- “Each playthrough offers new challenges and surprises, making it hard to put down.”
- “The variety of character builds and strategies keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting every time.”
- “The incorporation of time trials and hidden paths could further enhance the game's replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play through again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers praised the character development, highlighting it as a strong aspect of the story that enhances the overall experience.
- “I loved the story and character development.”
- “The character arcs are incredibly well-written and engaging.”
- “Each character evolves in a way that feels authentic and impactful.”