WaveLand

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

music5 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

The game features a unique and enjoyable movement system that is satisfying to master, especially for fans of speedrunning.
The level design is fun and engaging, with a good balance of challenge and accessibility, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players.
The aesthetic and soundtrack are well-crafted, enhancing the overall experience and immersion in the game.

The lack of control customization options can make the game uncomfortable to play, leading to hand cramps and frustration.
The mechanics can feel clunky and unintuitive, especially for players unfamiliar with the wavedashing system, which may hinder enjoyment.
Progression can be overly reliant on memorization and speedrunning mechanics, which may alienate casual players looking for a more relaxed experience.

gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the physics and core mechanics, particularly for speedrunning, while others find the movement scheme clunky and frustrating. Although the game offers a solid experience for a few hours, it may not appeal to everyone due to its awkward controls and reliance on specific mechanics like wavedashing. Overall, the gameplay can be enjoyable for those who embrace its unique mechanics, but it may deter players who struggle with the movement system.
- “The mechanics are definitely consistent, and if you watch a speedrun of the game, it looks smooth as hell.”
- “Gameplay: within minutes, I approved of the game's physics and movement.”
- “While the roots are strongly in melee, the mechanics come into their own with a few intelligent tweaks.”
- “The game is decent, but the movement scheme and mechanics can feel incredibly clunky.”
- “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.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding the art style simplistic and unengaging, especially when compared to other titles like Celeste. However, others appreciate the stylish aesthetic and clean visuals, noting that the game's design complements its satisfying gameplay and soundtrack. Overall, while the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they are considered effective and enjoyable within the game's context.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The art style is very boring, and I just couldn't get into it because I played Celeste first.”
- “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
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
The music in the game is widely praised for its hypnotic and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a satisfying blend of background tracks that complement the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as both engaging and relaxing, contributing to the game's aesthetic and immersive feel.
- “In my view, it is a relaxing and fun form of challenge, and the hypnotic soundtrack only helps to augment this feeling.”
- “Great game with very satisfying and addicting movement, a nice aesthetic and a great soundtrack.”
- “Waveland's soundtrack is mixed nicely with the feel of the game.”
- “The music functions mainly as slightly hype background music, but there are some inquisitive and atmospheric touches in the hub worlds.”
- “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
- “While the music has potential, it often feels out of place and fails to enhance the overall experience.”
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 Waveland.
- “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.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by unique and engaging level design, complemented by an inviting yet cryptic ambiance. While the background music primarily serves to enhance the experience, there are notable atmospheric elements present in the hub worlds that contribute to the overall intrigue.
- “The level design is fun and unique, with the hub world just as nice as each level included in it, and the atmosphere, while very cryptic, is interesting and inviting.”
- “It functions mainly as slightly hype background music, but there are some inquisitive and atmospheric touches in the hub worlds.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's significant depth and replayability, noting that the community consistently discovers new strategies to enhance their gameplay experience.
- “There is a lot of depth and replay value to this game, and the community (myself included) continues to find faster and more exciting strategies to tackle levels.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel that the emotional experience of the game is hindered by unclear mechanics, such as the lack of animation when hitting walls, which can lead to frustration and irritation during challenging moments. This suggests that clearer feedback could enhance the overall emotional engagement with the game.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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.”
- “The game's optimization features allow for a seamless experience, making every session enjoyable.”
- “I love how the optimization mechanics encourage strategic thinking and enhance gameplay.”