Unruly Heroes

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 154 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Unruly Heroes Game Cover
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.
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Unruly 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.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 154 reviews
gameplay18 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful art style, reminiscent of Rayman games.
  • Gameplay is engaging with a variety of mechanics and character abilities that keep it fresh and fun.
  • The local co-op mode is enjoyable, allowing for fun multiplayer experiences with friends or family.
  • The save system is frustrating, requiring players to replay long sequences after dying, which can lead to tedium.
  • Controls can feel sluggish and imprecise, making platforming and combat less enjoyable.
  • The game suffers from pacing issues and lacks a compelling story, leaving players feeling aimless.
  • gameplay53 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a diverse range of mechanics and level designs that keep it engaging, particularly in local co-op mode. While many players appreciate the introduction of new mechanics and the variety of character abilities, some express frustration with imprecise controls and the frequent shifts in gameplay style, which can disrupt the flow and lead to trial-and-error experiences. Overall, the game offers a mix of platforming, combat, and puzzles, though opinions vary on the execution and balance of these elements.

    • “The gameplay is solid, the player controls 4 different characters with unique abilities that in times of need have 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.”
    • “It has great art, good animations, is full of ideas with some surprising gameplay changes, and it has local co-op.”
    • “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 gameplay also starts to fall apart from being a combat game, to a platformer, to a puzzle game.”
    • “These sections turn into the worst kind of gameplay: trial and error, where if you don't play perfectly, you have to start that entire scenario all over again, multiple times.”
  • graphics37 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. While the visuals are celebrated, some players feel that the gameplay does not quite match the high standard set by the graphics.

    • “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.”
    • “At first glance, I thought only the art style was inherited from Rayman.”
    • “Unruly Heroes' art style is reminiscent of Muramasa: The Demon Blade.”
  • story16 mentions

    The story in the game is largely criticized for being underdeveloped and serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay, with many reviewers noting its lack of depth and coherence. While some appreciate the thematic elements inspired by "Journey to the West," they feel the narrative is generic and forgettable, with minimal character development and almost no significant plot progression. Overall, the consensus is that the story takes a backseat to gameplay, which, while functional, does not compensate for the narrative shortcomings.

    • “I've always loved the story of 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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Awesome graphics, great flow of the game/story.”
    • “Would have liked it if the story was a bit more fleshed out.”
    • “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.”
  • music15 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. While some players appreciate the memorable compositions and the integration of music with visuals, others feel that the lack of background music at times detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, though some users express a desire for more variety and presence throughout the gameplay.

    • “The setting and art of this game is simply amazing with very good music to really set up the ambiance of the world.”
    • “Gosh, the soundtrack is amazing as well.”
    • “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.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some finding it lacking or overly verbose, while others appreciate its comedic elements, especially in a multiplayer setting. Overall, it offers a lighthearted tone that complements its stunning graphics.

    • “Funny game.”
    • “Funny game playing with my friends and supporting Steam Remote, but needs a strong connection.”
    • “The graphics are stunning as well, and the game also has a small sense of humor.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    While the game offers fun and engaging multiplayer options with up to four players and features multiple playable characters, some users note a lack of replayability, suggesting that the experience may not sustain long-term interest.

    • “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, including Sun Wukong the Monkey King and Tripitaka.”
    • “Lack of replayability, by the way.”
    • “The game doesn't offer enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
    • “Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
  • character development2 mentions

    While the graphics and animation are praised for their quality and artistic style, the character designs lack memorability and complexity in their silhouettes, which may detract from the overall character development experience.

  • optimization2 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is considered limited, with performance described as mediocre. However, this is not seen as a significant issue since the game does not demand extensive resources.

    • “The optimization is limited, but it's not a big issue since the game isn't much of a resource hog.”
    • “The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
    • “Despite its potential, the optimization issues make it frustrating to play at times.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players generally find that while challenging gameplay can be enjoyable, excessive grinding that feels tedious detracts from the overall experience.

    • “A game being hard is fine, but a game being tedious is not fine.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
    • “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over just to progress, which is incredibly frustrating.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers consistently praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting its perfect visual design that enhances the overall experience.

    • “I think this is a good game, and I find its atmosphere and visual aspects perfect.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

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