Unruly Heroes
- January 22, 2019
- Magic Design Studios
A solid platforming experience, Unruly Heroes biggest issue is less its mechanics, and more its overall presentation. Stylish to a point, even its cartoonish aesthetics can't help but see it struggle to stand out.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreUnruly Heroes is a charming side-scrolling action-adventure game inspired by the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West." Play as a team of four anti-heroes, each with unique abilities, battling enemies, solving puzzles, and navigating challenging levels in a beautifully hand-drawn world. Embark on an epic journey to restore balance in the world and uncover the truth behind a demonicancient force.
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Reviews
- The visuals and music are excellent, creating a beautiful and immersive experience.
- The game features a variety of gameplay mechanics and character abilities that keep it engaging.
- It's a fun co-op experience, especially for fans of platformers and the Journey to the West theme.
- The save system is frustrating, requiring players to replay long sequences after dying.
- Controls can feel sluggish and imprecise, making platforming and combat less enjoyable.
- The game suffers from pacing issues and lacks a compelling story, leading to a sense of aimlessness.
- gameplay107 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a diverse range of mechanics and unique character abilities that keep the experience fresh and engaging, particularly in local co-op mode. However, some players find the controls imprecise and the frequent introduction of new mechanics can lead to frustration, especially when transitioning between different gameplay styles. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable combat and puzzle elements, it struggles with consistency and can feel disjointed at times.
“The gameplay is solid; the player controls four different characters with unique abilities that need to be changed between them to solve some interesting puzzles.”
“The gameplay variety is top-notch, with new and often fun mechanics and gimmicks introduced in every level.”
“Gameplay is awesome; play this co-op with some friends or your kids as I did.”
“I was looking forward to this game - it's a platformer + battle game and I loved Ori 1 & 2 and Hollow Knight - and I wanted to like it... but the gameplay is too frustrating.”
“The 'hanging onto something' mechanic automatically makes you hold on to a vine/wire/etc. if your character collides with it instead of button-pressing, and you can't slide up/down to adjust length, meaning your attacks or movement may get cut off because you automatically latched onto something, or you might fall right through because the collision didn't register/just slightly missed the hitbox, or you might fall off because you pressed a button right as your character latched onto a thing.”
“In terms of gameplay though, the controls really let it down; everything feels imprecise, never being sure whether your character is in the right place to grab a ledge, double jump, or make a leap.”
- graphics75 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty and artistic quality, often compared to the acclaimed art style of Rayman Legends. Reviewers highlight the gorgeous hand-drawn animation, vibrant colors, and well-designed characters and bosses, making it a visual treat. However, some note that while the visuals are exceptional, they overshadow the gameplay, which can be less engaging.
“The art style is gorgeous to gaze at, one of the most beautiful 2D hand-drawn animation games ever made.”
“The graphics are absolutely amazing - you can definitely tell the devs previously worked on Rayman Origins/Legends because the art and graphics are on par with those games.”
“The greatness of the graphics, the mastery of color use, and the platform elements are truly superb.”
“The game's combat gameplay is weaker than the game's visuals.”
“Stylish to a point, even its cartoonish aesthetics can't help but see it struggle to stand out.”
“At first glance, I thought only the art style was inherited from Rayman.”
- story32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in the game is largely criticized for being underdeveloped and generic, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Many players express disappointment that it fails to capture the essence of "Journey to the West," with forgettable characters and minimal progression, leading to an aimless experience. Overall, while some appreciate the gameplay mechanics, the lack of a substantial story detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“I've always loved the story Journey to the West, so when they made a game for it, I had to have it. It has a few bugs but nothing big, and it plays very similarly to Ori and the Blind Forest.”
“Awesome graphics, great flow of the game/story.”
“The platforming is still entirely functional and mostly fun, with a good amount of valid challenge, and the story and voice acting work are just cheesy at worst, not bad.”
“The plot is basically non-existent and going through the game seems kind of aimless without a very clear motive and objective set in place.”
“The story is generic and the gameplay is... how can I say it... boring.”
“This game has basically no story.”
- music30 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its quality and ability to enhance the game's ambiance. However, some players note a lack of background music that can make the experience feel lifeless at times. Overall, while the music is often described as great and fitting, there are calls for more variety and presence throughout the gameplay.
“Gosh, the soundtrack is amazing as well.”
“The setting and art of this game is simply amazing with very good music to really set up the ambiance of the world.”
“The graphics in general are really impressive, the music and sound effects create a great ambiance.”
“The almost lack of music makes the game feel lifeless.”
“The soundtrack leaves something to be desired.”
“Lack of background music.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it amusing while others consider it lacking and overly verbose. Overall, it offers moments of fun, especially in multiplayer settings, but the comedic elements may not resonate with everyone.
“Funny game.”
“Funny game playing with my friends and supporting Steam Remote, but need a strong connection.”
“The graphics are stunning as well, and the game also has a small sense of humor.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers enjoyable replayability, allowing for single-player or multiplayer experiences with up to four players, featuring all four main protagonists from "Journey to the West." However, some users note a lack of depth in replayability, suggesting that while it is fun, it may not provide enough variety for extended play.
“Fun, replayable, single player or up to 4 players for monkey magic fun.”
“All of the four main protagonists from Journey to the West are playable in this game: Sun Wukong the Monkey King, Tripitaka, and others.”
“Lack of replayability, by the way.”
“Lack of replayability, by the way.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the graphics and artwork are praised for their quality and vibrant style, the character designs themselves are noted as lacking memorability and being overly complex in silhouette, which may detract from the overall character development experience.
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally considered limited, leading to mediocre performance that doesn't fully satisfy players. However, this is not seen as a major concern since the game does not demand significant system resources.
“- Limited optimization - not a big issue as the game is not much of a resource hog.”
“Limited optimization - not a big issue as the game is not much of a resource hog.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find that while challenging gameplay can be enjoyable, excessive grinding that feels tedious detracts from the overall experience. Balancing difficulty with engaging content is crucial to avoid making the game feel like a chore.
“A game being hard is fine, but a game being tedious is not fine.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the game's atmosphere and visuals, highlighting them as standout features that enhance the overall experience. The immersive environment contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“I think this is a good game, and I find its atmosphere and visual part perfect.”
