Volgarr the Viking
- September 12, 2013
- Crazy Viking Studios
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Volgarr the Viking" is a challenging side-scrolling action game with retro graphics. Play as the legendary Viking Volgarr, battling through treacherous levels filled with traps, enemies, and bosses. With no level saves or continue points, it requires skill, strategy, and perseverance to complete.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
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Dreamcast
Linux
PlayStation
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Wii
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Reviews
- Volgarr the Viking is a challenging and rewarding old-school platformer that captures the essence of classic games like Ghosts 'n' Goblins and Rastan.
- The game features tight controls and well-designed levels that encourage players to learn enemy patterns and improve their skills.
- The graphics and soundtrack are excellent, providing a nostalgic experience that appeals to fans of retro gaming.
- The lack of frequent checkpoints and save options can lead to frustration, as players must restart entire levels after dying.
- The jumping mechanics can feel clunky, as players cannot change direction mid-air, which can result in cheap deaths.
- The game's difficulty may be off-putting for casual gamers, as it requires significant memorization and practice to progress.
- gameplay148 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Volgarr the Viking" is characterized by its challenging mechanics and retro-inspired design, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden. While many players appreciate the tight controls and rewarding mastery of enemy patterns, others criticize the game's punishing difficulty and clunky jumping mechanics, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game offers a mix of satisfying combat and platforming, but its steep learning curve and lack of checkpoints may deter some players.
“Level design and mechanics really work – the game rewards figuring out the 'puzzle' of how to approach enemies and careful execution.”
“The gameplay is awesome, with a mix of platforming and slashemup action.”
“The tight rhythmic gameplay is very satisfying and addictive.”
“The controls are extremely clunky, and the mechanics feel dated.”
“I badly wanted to like this game because of how good it feels to play, but when the game punishes you for going both fast or slow with bad stage design for the mechanics they provide then it makes it a miserable experience instead.”
“Most of the difficulty comes from the very mechanical mechanics; there are locked jump arcs, 1 checkpoint per level, passive shields with incomplete coverage, and insta-death pits are plentiful.”
- graphics98 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, retro-inspired art style that evokes the charm of 16-bit classics, reminiscent of the SNES and Genesis eras. Players appreciate the smooth animations and detailed visuals, which enhance the overall experience, although some critiques mention inconsistencies and a lack of depth in background graphics. Overall, the game's aesthetic successfully captures the nostalgic feel of arcade games while providing a visually appealing experience.
“All you've seen in the reviews and screenshots doesn't do this game justice, as you'll only enjoy the pixel graphics it has to provide once you're actually playing!”
“The graphics are very nice and pleasing, kind of like an updated NES game from back in the day; gameplay reminds me of the original Castlevania game on Nintendo.”
“This game nails the retro vibe perfectly in terms of graphics and gameplay.”
“The graphics don't look like real pixel art; they look like regular cartoon drawings that were passed through some kind of pixel art filter.”
“So despite the moderately updated retro graphics, a decent soundtrack, and controls that feature some depth, the game fails to be something I'd recommend in general.”
“The graphics are a little odd - they look kind of like a SNES game with the 'filtering' turned on to make the pixels look smoothed, but I actually do like them.”
- music64 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its epic and fitting orchestral soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, while others find it lacking or boring compared to classic titles. Some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and quality of the music, noting it complements the vibrant pixel art, while a few critics argue it fails to drive the action effectively. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“The music fits the game perfectly, enhancing the overall experience.”
“I just wanted to add that Volgarr has very good soundtracks - orchestral music fits gameplay perfectly, and that makes it even more epic.”
“This game has a great soundtrack that keeps you tense and feeling like the Viking you are.”
“The gameplay mechanics and controls are very well done, but the music and level design are lacking and it's overly difficult.”
“And the music is pretty ambient and boring sounding; it just doesn't drive the action at all.”
“My only complaint is that I wish that the game had better music.”
- story34 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimalistic, primarily revolving around the player's role as Volgarr the Viking on a quest to defeat various enemies, with little narrative depth or character development. While some players appreciate the focus on gameplay over storytelling, many criticize the lack of a compelling plot, with some noting that the only narrative elements are brief and simplistic. Overall, the consensus is that the game functions well without a strong story, but a richer narrative could have enhanced the experience.
“I experienced a range of emotions, from trepidation, anger, fear, and elation, something that few modern games can achieve, even with their grandiose storytelling and advanced visual presentation.”
“Not only does it tell a cool little story, it also gives 3 unique endings and hours of gameplay.”
“However, even though this game doesn't need a story to be played, I would have been happy to hear something more than 'rise warrior!' spoken by Odin.”
“There's no story, really, no roguelite-style 'do x number of runs to unlock y,' it's just tight controls and solid level design.”
“No storytelling at all, this game is minimalistic on this aspect.”
“The only downside is the lack of any form of storytelling, and the lack of saving which can make the challenge all the greater when you realize you'll need to beat it in one sitting.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game can quickly become tedious, with many players expressing frustration over repetitive gameplay and the need to restart levels after dying. While some appreciate the challenge and nostalgia, others find the experience shifts from enjoyable to annoying due to excessive memorization and trial-and-error mechanics. Overall, the grinding is seen as a double-edged sword, offering a hardcore experience that may not be satisfying enough to justify the repetitive effort.
“While repetition is by no means an inherently tedious pursuit, this game makes it so.”
“At the end of my time with this game, it became tedious whenever I died and went back to the start of the level, and I realized I wasn't enjoying the game anymore.”
“This game is fun and challenging, but having to start over at the beginning of the game every time just to try to learn the next level becomes tedious too quickly.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through features like speed-running with global rankings, multiple pathways, and secret levels, appealing to both casual players and those seeking challenges. While some players may find replay value limited without a focus on time trials, the overall design encourages repeated play for perfect runs and mastery. Overall, it is regarded as a rewarding experience with high replay potential.
“Once you're done with the walkthrough, it has incredible speed-running replayability with global rankings built into the game, separated by overall and by each level.”
“The checkpoint restart system and unique moveset give this game an irresistible 'one more go' replay value.”
“Replay value: 6/10”
“That and multiple pathways that more experienced players can find make the game replayable.”
- humor12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of dark and frustrating, with some players finding it amusing despite the challenging gameplay. While there are moments of humor, particularly with quirky characters and references to retro games, many reviewers feel that the difficulty detracts from the overall comedic experience, leading to a frustrating rather than funny gameplay. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, with some appreciating the comedic elements while others find them overshadowed by the game's challenges.
“Very funny and challenging.”
“To top it all off, there's cool little humor thrown in.”
“From the first level it's a pain in the ass but funny at the same time!”
“But I was wrong, it's not funny.”
“Frustrating and unfunny.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, highlighting moments of exhilaration and heartbreak, particularly during challenging encounters. The game's difficulty evokes feelings of nostalgia and accomplishment, making players feel empowered despite the frustrations of inconsistent mechanics. Overall, it elicits a deep emotional investment, leading to both tears and triumph.
“I cried myself to sleep last night.”
“Finally getting to the boss of the first world is exhilarating--also heartbreaking, in my case, since I died against him almost immediately--because this game refuses to pull its punches.”
“Volgarr challenged me, it made me feel young again, and it gave me a sense of accomplishment.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Volgarr the Viking is praised for its retro charm and immersive quality, effectively complementing its challenging gameplay. Reviewers note that the game's tight controls and old-school mechanics contribute to a unique experience that evokes both nostalgia and frustration, enhancing the overall intensity and engagement.
“Volgarr the Viking is a classic with tight controls, masterful atmosphere, and balls-to-the-wall difficulty.”
“Also, the old school mechanics create a very unique atmosphere that one cannot experience in many titles these days.”
“Solid controls, solid mechanics and gameplay, no BS, and a great atmosphere will scratch that itch for a good challenge-reward experience.”
“Collecting items adds to your hit meter much like Ghosts 'n Goblins; Volgarr creates an atmosphere for rage quitting.”
“My philosophy on this is that there are some instances in which a game may not necessarily have that much in the way of gameplay (take Amnesia for example), but the story, atmosphere, or whatever it may be is reason enough to pick it up.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers smooth action performance, though players recommend using a controller for the best experience. Additionally, the game's optimization allows for three different endings that are influenced by player performance.
“Smooth action performance, but a controller is a must.”
“Three different endings based on performance.”
