Wirewalk
- September 23, 2021
- debugChicken
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Wirewalk" is a single-player Role Playing Game set in a futuristic world where a powerful computer virus is wreaking havoc. As Rada, a programmer with a refreshingly normal persona, players will use The Wirewalker software to combat the virus in 2D 3-Color Top-Down Action-RPG gameplay. Featuring hand-crafted dungeons, puzzle-solving, and various weapons, "Wirewalk" also offers optional side quests, color palettes, and speedrunning opportunities with original modern chiptune music. The game tackles two unspecified elements, adding further intrigue.
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Reviews
- Captures the nostalgic feel of classic Gameboy Zelda games with charming graphics and engaging gameplay.
- Creative item mechanics and puzzles that allow for varied approaches to challenges, enhancing the overall experience.
- Short but enjoyable, making it a perfect pick for casual gaming sessions without overstaying its welcome.
- Movement in the town can be cumbersome, particularly when moving diagonally, which detracts from the overall fluidity of gameplay.
- The game is quite short, with only three dungeons and limited overworld exploration, leaving some players wanting more content.
- Some elements, like the final boss fight and the overall story resolution, feel anticlimactic and could benefit from additional depth.
- gameplay54 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its satisfying mechanics and engaging puzzles, with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers like "The Legend of Zelda." While the variety of mechanics is appreciated, some players noted issues with backtracking and a lack of a final dungeon, suggesting that the game could benefit from additional content. Overall, the experience is described as fun and polished, though some feel the length may not justify the price for all players.
“The puzzles and mechanics are fun!”
“Now, for the part where the game really shines: gameplay!”
“Every nook and cranny was hand-crafted with a clear purpose, whether it is to teach the player a new concept or see if they mastered a mechanic.”
“There's no ending dungeon; you just transition into a final boss that didn't have any puzzle-like mechanics to give it some flair.”
“The first and third dungeons succeed very well at this, while the second, in my opinion, involves too much backtracking and puzzle solving, the core minecart mechanic of the area being the biggest weakness of the game altogether.”
“The game could also do with one more dungeon, as the roller blade and rope-swing are strong enough mechanics that they could've had a level each, rather than challenges related to both crammed into the same dungeon.”
- music26 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many praising its nostalgic chiptune style that evokes memories of classic Game Boy and SNES titles. Reviewers highlight the catchy and memorable tracks, noting that they significantly enhance the overall gaming experience and often get stuck in players' heads. Overall, the soundtrack is considered top-notch and a standout feature of the game.
“And while the gameplay is wonderful, the music really helps elevate the experience, making it a title well worth every penny.”
“Meanwhile, the music is extremely catchy and fits perfectly with the theme and style of the game (I have the overworld theme playing in my head right now while typing this).”
“And don't even get me started on the outstanding music; it's one of the best I've ever heard in this style.”
“Ps: be warned, the soundtrack will (and this isn't a matter of choice) get stuck in your head.”
“Coinciding with the Game Boy Color aspect, the music is made up of chiptunes.”
“As an old school SNES RPG player, I was really pleased to play this game; the gameplay feels like playing Zelda - A Link to the Past, with a Mega Man-like soundtrack!”
- story24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story revolves around Rada, a girl in a technologically dependent town struck by a mysterious virus, but it leaves many questions unanswered, particularly regarding the virus's origin and motivations. While the narrative is engaging and features clever societal critiques, it ends abruptly, suggesting potential for future expansion in a sequel. Overall, the charming dialogue and enjoyable gameplay complement the intriguing setting, though the plot's lack of resolution may leave some players unsatisfied.
“The setting and plot were fascinating, and the gameplay manages to be fresh and enjoyable while staying true to the genre.”
“The story shows a not-so-distant future where people are even more dependent on technology, serving as a clear criticism of our current society. The clever jokes about this society made me laugh more than once.”
“First, the story: it is rather straightforward - you're a girl named Rada who lives in a town suddenly plagued by a mysterious computer virus that renders technology inoperable.”
“Since the story doesn't provide any answers as to who was behind the virus attack, or even what their motivation might have been, it's hard to feel very satisfied.”
“The story of the game is weird; you kind of get a vibe of a technological dystopia, and then the ending kind of comes out of nowhere, leaving you wondering where the next level is.”
“I hope the developer takes this feedback and uses it to create a larger game since the groundwork is already there and can hopefully be expanded on easily. However, the story does seem to end abruptly, suggesting the developer didn't have a full idea of what they wanted to do with it after the final boss.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming pixel art and nostalgic Game Boy aesthetic, featuring lovely sprites and multiple color palettes that enhance the visual experience. However, some players noted that certain elements can be difficult to read due to pixel size. Overall, the visuals are considered a delightful throwback to earlier handheld games, complementing the enjoyable gameplay.
“The game has lovely sprites and wonderful color palettes (yes, there's multiple palettes and you can choose which one you want and find more in the world!).”
“As for art style, the game looks great and the majority of items in the game, while simplified, do look like what they are supposed to.”
“Earlier handheld games were severely limited with their visuals, to the extent that they had to work with restricted color palettes.”
“Wirewalk is a typical Game Boy dungeon crawler adventure game in the mold of the first Zelda titles with a top-down gameplay and retro graphics.”
“The Game Boy-like graphics are very pretty and the animations are well done.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance while others report issues such as frame rate drops and stuttering. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for its balanced challenge, noting that it remains engaging without becoming tedious or repetitive.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by clever jokes that critique society's increasing dependence on technology, effectively eliciting laughter from players. The comedic elements are well-integrated into the narrative, enhancing the overall experience without revealing spoilers.
“The story presents a not-so-distant future where people are even more dependent on technology, offering a clear criticism of our current society. I won't give any spoilers, but the jokes about this society are clever and made me laugh more than once.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game "Wirewalk" demonstrates impressive stability, with players reporting no gameplay or visual bugs during their playthroughs, aligning well with its theme of fixing glitches.
