WaveLand

About

WaveLand is a single player racing game. It was developed by rologfos and was released on April 18, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

"WaveLand is a single-player platformer game, offering around 4 hours of playtime with the option to create and share custom levels using the user-friendly level editor. The game emphasizes speed and style, incorporating the community-created wavedash mechanic to dash through levels and collect memory shard fragments. With fast-paced gameplay, WaveLand features various movement options and supports keyboard and XInput controller inputs."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 71 reviews

music5 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

The game features excellent movement mechanics that are satisfying to master, especially for fans of speedrunning and platforming.
It offers a unique and engaging experience that combines elements from Super Smash Bros. Melee, making it appealing to fans of that franchise.
The level design is well-crafted, providing a good learning curve and plenty of replayability with various paths and challenges.

The lack of control customization options can hinder the experience, making it difficult for some players to get invested in the game.
Many players report experiencing hand cramps due to the demanding control scheme, which can detract from the enjoyment.
The game can feel clunky and unintuitive at times, especially for those unfamiliar with its mechanics, leading to frustration.

gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay is characterized by engaging mechanics and impressive pixel graphics, offering significant replayability through custom levels. While the core movement mechanic, particularly wave dashing, is praised for its innovative integration and challenge, some players find it awkward and uncomfortable. Overall, the game appeals to fans of speedrunning and melee mechanics, despite minor issues with control precision.
- “The mechanics are fun, the amount of content allows for lots of replayability (custom levels too), and the graphics are some very nice pixel work.”
- “Gameplay: within minutes I approved of the game's physics and movement.”
- “A fantastic way of integrating melee's mechanics, and how they can be used to make for some great platforming.”
- “I love the idea of a platformer focused on speedrunning, but the main movement mechanic is so uncomfortable and awkward.”
- “That small mechanic of the game inputting your control stick slide as a completely different direction completely ruins this game for me.”
- “Most game elements function as above average placeholders and take a backseat to the core mechanics.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics of the game feature a simplistic yet stylish tile-based pixel art aesthetic that some players find appealing, while others consider it boring compared to other titles like Celeste. Overall, the visuals are clean and clear, showcasing nice pixel work that complements the game's mechanics and replayability, though opinions on the art style vary significantly among players.
- “The mechanics are fun, the amount of content allows for lots of replayability (custom levels too), and the graphics are some very nice pixel work.”
- “The aesthetic is simplistic in a very stylish manner.”
- “Other than that, what you see is what you get - clean and clear visuals with a signature flair alongside a powerful soundtrack.”
- “The art style is very boring, and I just couldn't get into it because I played Celeste first.”
- “Visuals: I'd lay money that Waveland was created in GameMaker, which typically means the visual quality is largely tied to the skill of the pixel artist/animator.”
- “Other than that, what you see is what you get - clean and clear visuals with a signature flair alongside a powerful OST.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
12%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the overall experience, featuring a hypnotic and psychedelic soundtrack that ranges from calming to intense. Reviewers note that it effectively complements the game's aesthetic, serving as both engaging background music and atmospheric elements in hub worlds, contributing to a satisfying and immersive gameplay experience.
- “In my view, it is a relaxing and fun form of challenge, and the hypnotic soundtrack only helps to augment this feeling.”
- “Waveland's soundtrack is mixed nicely with the feel of the game.”
- “The music gives off a sort of psychedelic vibe, managing to range from calming to intense.”
- “It functions mainly as slightly hype background music, but there are some inquisitive and atmospheric touches in the hub worlds.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game offers significant replayability due to its engaging mechanics, extensive content, and the ability to create custom levels. Players appreciate the depth and variety of strategies available, particularly for speedrunning enthusiasts, while casual replayability is enhanced by secrets, lore, and customization options. Overall, the combination of these elements fosters a vibrant community that continually explores new ways to enjoy the game.
- “The mechanics are fun, and the amount of content allows for lots of replayability, including custom levels. The graphics feature some very nice pixel work.”
- “There is a lot of depth and replay value to this game, and the community continues to find faster and more exciting strategies to tackle levels.”
- “If you like speedrunning, there's lots of replayability.”
- “A decent amount of casual replayability in the main game, customizability, secrets, and lore, that kind of thing.”
- “The game lacks significant replayability, as once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return.”
- “After finishing the game, I found that there wasn't much left to explore or experience, making it hard to justify a second playthrough.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by a unique and inviting level design, complemented by a calm, earthy ambiance that contrasts with the fast-paced gameplay. While the background music serves as a subtle enhancement, the hub worlds feature intriguing atmospheric elements that enrich the overall experience.
- “The level design is fun and unique, with the hub world just as nice as each level included in it. The atmosphere, while very cryptic, is interesting and inviting.”
- “Calm, earthy atmosphere makes a good contrast to how absurdly fast you're trying to go, accompanied with a fantastic score.”
- “It functions mainly as slightly hype background music, but there are some inquisitive and atmospheric touches in the hub worlds.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's story is conveyed through scattered messages that hint at an overarching plot, but it remains sparse and somewhat cryptic, indicating that narrative is not the primary focus of the experience.
- “Messages are scattered throughout the world, alluding to the overarching plot of the game.”
- “The story is sparse and slightly cryptic, and is certainly not the focus of Waveland.”
- “Story: messages are scattered throughout the world alluding to the overarching plot of the game.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express that the emotional experience can be negatively impacted by unclear animations, particularly in challenging moments where they feel frustrated by perceived inaccuracies, such as hitting walls. This lack of clarity can lead to irritation and diminish the overall enjoyment of the game.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that Waveland offers significant potential for optimization and speed, making the gameplay experience both engaging and addictive.
- “The potential for optimization and speed in Waveland is massive and addicting.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the character design received some criticism, it is considered a minor issue that does not significantly detract from the overall character development experience.