- May 3, 2018
- Snikkabo AS
Venture Kid
It looks like Mega Man. It sounds like Mega Man. It’s not quite Mega Man.
Platforms
About
"Venture Kid" is a single-player platformer game with 8-bit retro style, featuring 9 action-packed levels, challenging bosses, and chiptune soundtrack by Matt Creamer. Collect 8 unique power-ups, explore secret areas, and test your skills with responsive controls and level design. Will you defeat Dr. Teklov and save the world?
- Venture Kid is a fun homage to the classic Mega Man series, featuring tight controls, a great soundtrack, and a nostalgic retro aesthetic.
- The game offers a decent challenge with progressively difficult levels and hidden collectibles that enhance replay value.
- It provides a straightforward platforming experience that is accessible for newcomers while still being enjoyable for veterans of the genre.
- The game suffers from hit detection issues, where the hitbox extends beyond the character sprite, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
- Boss fights can be simplistic and unchallenging, which may disappoint players looking for a more engaging experience.
- The level design lacks depth and creativity, making it feel derivative and less memorable compared to the original Mega Man titles.
music26 mentions Positive Neutral NegativeThe music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and nostalgic chiptune soundtrack that evokes classic retro vibes, particularly reminiscent of the Mega Man series. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the overall experience, describing it as phenomenal, great, and even "baller." Overall, the music is highlighted as one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“However, the soundtrack, on the other hand, is phenomenal.”
“Great old-school gameplay and a fantastic soundtrack.”
“The heavy, crunchy chiptunes are provided by the man behind the soundtrack for the popular Retro City Rampage, and just like with that soundtrack, this is a composer that obviously knows all about playing for the passion of retro.”
“The music is shin bolted frantically muttered, pinned incredulously, guiding humiliated in some degree.”
“The only things I can really say I enjoy about Venture Kid are the responsive controls and the catchy soundtrack, but that's unfortunately all that I felt this title offers.”
“Decent music and graphics.”
Venture Kid Review
Venture Kid is the sort of game that understands how blatantly it borrows from previous genre luminaries yet makes no effort at even attempting to surpass them; this is very much a ‘what you see is what you get’ sort of experience. Bearing that in mind, it’s inevitably the kind of game that you’ll spend a few hours on, think “Well, that was… fun”, then move on and never return to it. Still, it does what it sets out to do – copying the Mega Man formula – and, when viewed as the sum of its parts, it does a reasonable job. If you’ve played all the Mega Man games to death and simply must have more, you could do a lot worse than playing through Venture Kid. If you don’t fall in this camp but are still looking to scratch that retro action platformer itch, then we’d suggest you pick up one of the numerous Mega Man collections already available on the eShop instead. Why play the imitation when you can have the original?
50%Venture Kid Review
For short, nostalgic blasts of fun Venture Kid succeeds in almost every respect. While there's fun to be had here, it's painfully clear that, just like playing the game itself, everything is just going through the motions. The excellent soundtrack may even be enough to warrant a dabble, but with nothing new brought to the table, there's no reason to spend your hard earned cash, when the games that this owes so much to its design and creation can be purchased. There are a lot worse than this, sure, but be aware that once completed the first time, multiple revisits are unlikely. Fun? Certainly, but with little variation in gameplay or level design there is not enough for this to stay interesting in the long term. With a little more risk-taking in development, a craving of individuality, and a creative spark, Venture Kid could have gone far.
50%Venture Kid (Nintendo Switch)
Classic NES platforming fans, rejoice. Venture Kid succeeds where even Mega Man’s creator failed when trying to capture that classic Blue Bomber feel. Even with minor flaws, Venture Kid will scratch the itch for Mega Man, and if you’re lucky, scrub the memory of Might No. 9 from your brain.
80%
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