Viktor
- June 13, 2014
- Shorebound Studios
- 3h median play time
"Viktor" is a single-player action game with sensational graphics and music, offering an intense, side-scrolling, twin-stick adventure. The story, set in the world of Eos, follows Viktor's quest to restore balance between the Overworld and Netherworld after Mephistopheles attacks. Gameplay features 8 action-packed stages, challenging boss fights, adjustable difficulty levels, and a range of weapons to utilize.
Reviews
- The game features a nostalgic art style and engaging gameplay reminiscent of classic platformers like Mega Man and Castlevania.
- Boss fights are well-designed and provide a satisfying challenge, with unique attack patterns that require strategic thinking.
- The teleport/dash mechanic is a standout feature, allowing for fluid movement and creative gameplay options.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with clipping through walls and crashes, which can significantly hinder the experience.
- Level design is often repetitive and lacks variety, leading to a feeling of monotony as players progress through similar environments and enemy types.
- The upgrade system is poorly balanced, with limited incentive to engage with most enemies, making combat feel less rewarding.
- gameplay57 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Viktor is characterized by its engaging mechanics, particularly the phasing dash that allows players to navigate through obstacles and dodge attacks, creating a fluid and energetic experience. While the game features interesting boss designs and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers, it suffers from issues such as excessive screen shake, bullet sponge enemies, and a reliance on double jumps and dashes that can become burdensome. Overall, despite some glitches and a short playtime, the gameplay is enjoyable and offers a unique blend of platforming and twin-stick shooting elements.
“Overall a nice platformer that stands out because of the smooth gameplay.”
“When it comes to being a twin stick shooter, it's excellent; the dash to dodge mechanic is well executed and the shooting is enjoyable.”
“You have a dash mechanic for platforming and dodging which makes the motion very fluid and energetic.”
“A surprisingly large number of easy-to-perform game-breaking bugs that you'd expect in an alpha and not a full release, which I will go into more detail in the gameplay section of this review.”
“Very short gameplay and average plot, but an awesome music.”
“The main mechanic, your dodge/warp move, has an unpredictable movement distance.”
- music52 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising the soundtrack as "great" or "amazing," particularly noting its fitting and energetic qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users find the music tiresome or average, suggesting that while it has its highlights, it may not be universally appealing. Overall, the soundtrack is a notable aspect of the game, contributing positively to its atmosphere despite some criticisms.
“The music is great and there are several hidden weapons to find.”
“Fun mega man/castlevania type game with some excellent SOTN type music!”
“The soundtrack is amazing.”
“The soundtrack is tiresome.”
“The presentation is average, visuals are nothing special and the soundtrack is pretty basic metal-ish fare.”
“I didn't care for the soundtrack and the story.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the cool art style and nostalgic flash-era visuals, while others note a lack of effort and average presentation. Overall, the visuals are described as decent and pleasant, with well-illustrated character sprites, though some levels appear dull and generic. While not groundbreaking, the graphics contribute positively to the game's aesthetic experience.
“Nostalgic sharp, smooth flash-era graphics that remind you of the good old days on Kongregate.”
“As I said in my previous review, the graphics are awesome, the soundtrack is very nice as well, and the concept of the game is not bad at all aside from the cliché plot.”
“Graphically, it's a very nice looking game.”
“Not a huge amount of effort has been put into the graphics.”
“- presentation is average, visuals are nothing special and soundtrack is pretty basic metal-ish fare”
“I would rave about the overall aesthetics if it wasn't for some of the earlier levels looking very dull and generic, but other than that, the character sprites are well illustrated and animated, and some of the later levels make up for the duller beginnings.”
- story31 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it dull and unremarkable, often describing it as a typical tale of betrayal and revenge. While some appreciate the decent characters and moral themes, others feel the narrative lacks depth and engagement, overshadowed by gameplay elements. Overall, the story is considered serviceable but not a standout feature of the game.
“Decent storyline and characters.”
“Fun characters and interesting story.”
“The story, artwork, and soundtrack aren't exceptional, but still decent.”
“The story, if it can even be called one, is rather dull and uninteresting.”
“I did not care one bit for the little bit of dialogue or story that was trying to be told.”
“Very short gameplay and average plot but an awesome music.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, as it forces them to replay levels excessively to gather gold for weapon upgrades. This repetitive gameplay detracts from the overall fun, particularly in a platformer where engaging mechanics are expected, and many boss fights are criticized for being uninspired and drawn out.
“Grinding is not something a platformer should make you do.”
“It requires a lot of grinding for gold to upgrade weapons, so you have to play levels over and over until they're not fun anymore.”
“This makes this game very tedious.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed among users; while some find it enjoyable enough for multiple playthroughs, others criticize the similarity of levels and grind, leading to a lack of long-term engagement. Fans of the genre may appreciate the experience, but those seeking more variety might prefer the sequel, which offers a more polished and content-rich alternative. Overall, the consensus suggests that while it can be fun initially, its replay value is limited.
“Huge fan, lots of replay value.”
“There is a decent amount of replayability in this one. If you like what you see, then go get it. I have played the sequel, or rather prequel, 'Loyalty and Blood: Viktor Origins.' That one is a more refined version of this, but they feel different. If you want a similar experience but with more polish and overall more content, go for the second one.”
“This game offers a lot of fun during the first playthrough, and while the levels are fairly similar in style, it still has its charm.”
“Taking into account the grind, price tag, frustration with dashing the wrong direction because you had the cursor in front of you to shoot, the monotony leading to a lack of replayability, I'm giving it a thumbs down.”
“I don't think this game has much replay value due to all the levels being fairly similar in style, but it was a lot of fun the first time through.”
“The is a decent amount of replayability in this one, if you like what you see, then go get it, but I have played the sequel, or rather prequel, Loyalty and Blood: Viktor Origins. That one is a more defined version of this, but they feel different, so if you want a similar experience but with more polish and overall more content, go for the second one.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes and crashes that can affect the entire PC. While some players report game-breaking glitches, others have not encountered them; however, the overall experience is marred by numerous bugs and control problems that detract from gameplay. Despite its potential, the game's current state is plagued by instability and frustrating mechanics.
“The worst part is it freezes on a regular basis and crashes my whole damn PC.”
“When the game is at its best, it's pretty damn good, but it is plagued by too many bugs, glitches, and control problems in its current form.”
“Outside of bugs, it has some flaws including a damage recoil far too great for its slippery controls to justify and needless use of a lives system (made especially frustrating due to the wall glitches eating up extra lives like candy) and a low item spawn rate that feels horribly imbalanced.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily derived from amusing moments that players capture in screenshots, rather than from gameplay mechanics or character interactions. While the bosses present a fun challenge, the humor does not reach the levels of classic platformers like Contra or Mega Man, as the gameplay focuses more on avoiding attacks than on delivering comedic experiences.
“Mostly just funny things you take screenshots of.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Viktor is praised for its dark and immersive quality, reminiscent of classic titles like Contra and Castlevania. Players appreciate the engaging environment and the satisfaction of exploring the game's stages, enhanced by the presence of memorable bosses.
“Viktor is a mix of Contra and Castlevania series to me; it may be a simple game, but it has cool bosses, it has the atmosphere, and it feels good to walk through the stages.”
“The dark atmosphere adds a unique depth to the game.”
“The dark atmosphere enhances the overall experience, making each stage feel immersive.”
“The dark atmosphere is overwhelming and oppressive.”
“The dark atmosphere fails to create any sense of immersion.”
“The dark atmosphere feels more tedious than engaging.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While many negative reviews highlight performance and crash issues, some players report a smooth experience, suggesting that significant optimization problems may have been addressed in recent updates. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary among users, with some experiencing no major issues.
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with some users finding Viktor's design to be the least impressive among the characters. This suggests that while other characters may have more engaging or well-developed traits, Viktor falls short in comparison.