Wizorb
- March 14, 2012
- Tribute Games
- 2h median play time
A great modernization of a classic concept, Wizorb is whole heartedly recommended.
Get on Steam"Wizorb is a single-player fantasy arcade game with a good plot, game mechanics, graphics, and soundtrack. As wizard Cyrus, use your wand to bounce the orb and cast spells across 60 levels in five different worlds, with multiple endings. Earn gold to help rebuild homes and fight epic bosses."
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
PlayStation
Playstation 3
PSP
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- Wizorb features charming retro pixel art and a nostalgic soundtrack that evoke the feel of classic 16-bit games.
- The game combines classic brick-breaking mechanics with RPG elements, offering a unique twist on the genre.
- The gameplay is easy to learn but hard to master, providing a satisfying challenge for players.
- The level design can be frustrating, with many blocks hidden behind unbreakable objects, leading to tedious gameplay.
- The magic system is underwhelming, as players often find themselves with limited mana and unable to effectively use spells.
- Progression can feel punishing, as players must complete multiple levels in a row without saving, making it easy to lose progress.
- gameplay207 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Wizorb" is a blend of classic breakout mechanics with RPG elements, offering a nostalgic experience enhanced by charming visuals and music. While many players appreciate the engaging core gameplay and the addition of spells and town-building mechanics, others criticize the game for its repetitive nature, poorly tuned mechanics, and frustrating level design that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, it presents a unique take on the genre, but opinions vary on its execution and depth.
“Mastering the game’s mechanics to achieve all the achievements was both challenging and immensely rewarding.”
“Its retro aesthetic, coupled with engaging gameplay and a charmingly minimal story, provides a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
“The block breaking gameplay was fun and challenging thanks to the difficulty settings, and the spells to control the ball or shoot fireballs were nice for fishing out those last hard to reach blocks in later levels.”
“The magic mechanics are almost useless with how hard they are to use effectively.”
“So almost all of the damn bricks are unbreakable from below, which - coupled with the lack of random power-ups in the stages - makes for some pretty slow, conservative, and predictable gameplay.”
“While the graphics are gorgeous and the idea kind of cute, this breakout/arkanoid clone doesn't do enough to deviate from its roots, leading to gameplay almost always slowing to a sudden, grinding halt.”
- graphics173 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Wizorb" are widely praised for their vibrant and meticulously crafted retro pixel art style, reminiscent of classic 16-bit games, which effectively evokes nostalgia. The charming visuals are complemented by a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall immersive experience, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's aesthetic successfully captures the essence of old-school gaming while providing a visually appealing experience.
“The retro pixel art style is vibrant and meticulously crafted, evoking the charm of classic 16-bit games.”
“Visually, 'Wizorb' embraces its retro roots with charming pixel art graphics and nostalgic sound effects that evoke the golden age of arcade gaming.”
“The graphics have a charming old school 8-bit look, and are well-animated.”
“The game is not pretty and the graphics options don’t help it at all, but that’s forgivable.”
“I found the art style detracted from the gameplay, lending it a sense of imprecision that isn't justified by the fairly solid mechanics underpinning it.”
“Unfortunately, the slow pace, unbreakable blocks dominating half the stages, and painfully sluggish movement of your bar all drown out what little joy the colorful graphics and nostalgia brought.”
- music118 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy, nostalgic tunes that complement the visuals, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking standout tracks. Many players appreciate the retro style, likening it to classic 8-bit games, but some find it grating or forgettable, suggesting it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the game's charm for some, it fails to impress others, leading to a divided reception.
“The soundtrack complements the visuals perfectly, with catchy tunes that enhance the nostalgic feel while adding to the overall immersion.”
“Beautiful pixel-art style graphics, some light RPG elements, and a soundtrack that elicits real feelings of nostalgia as if they were already classics.”
“The graphics, presentation, and music of the game fit perfectly with the story and type of game it is.”
“The soundtrack is boring and extremely repetitive.”
“It's not worth the frustration and suffering through its horrifically bad soundtrack that makes the adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle on the NES sound like Link to the Past.”
“The only downsides to the game are the uninspired music and the small number of levels.”
- story108 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in Wizorb is minimal and straightforward, revolving around a mage's quest to save the kingdom of Gorudo from an evil curse. While it serves as a charming backdrop to the gameplay, many reviewers find it simplistic and not particularly compelling, often describing it as a mere enhancement to the core brick-breaking mechanics rather than a driving force of the game. Overall, the narrative adds a touch of novelty to the genre but lacks depth and significance.
“While Wizorb’s story is minimal, it’s enjoyable and serves as a perfect backdrop to the gameplay.”
“The quest to save the kingdom of Gorudo from an evil curse is straightforward but engaging.”
“Brick breaker games are always a ton of fun, but this one takes it a step further with a neat little story, great music, fun pixel art, and extra gameplay mechanics I haven't seen elsewhere.”
“The 'story' is quite mundane.”
“The story is close to nonexistent - the starting city does not need to be rebuilt.”
“It's touted as having an RPG-style story, but there really isn't one to be found.”
- grinding54 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in later levels where gameplay often slows to a frustrating halt. While some appreciate the retro graphics and magic abilities, they feel these elements do little to alleviate the grind, making progress feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience. Overall, the game is seen as overly reliant on grinding mechanics, leading to a lack of engagement and fun.
“The later levels really highlight what an intolerable grindy slog the game becomes where power-ups prevent you from using your better spells, the invisible walls on soft edges drive you mad, and it's more advantageous to commit suicide and reset your ball than watch it bounce around for 10+ minutes before it actually touches a brick.”
“Boring, unnecessarily grindy, too hard from the very beginning.”
“Unfortunately, this makes it even easier to get tired of the slow-paced, tedious level design.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a surprising amount of replayability for its affordable price, with many players noting its charm and style despite its short length. While some find it repetitive and lacking in replay value after initial playthroughs, others appreciate the achievements and content that encourage multiple runs.
“A surprising amount of content and replayability for a game so affordably priced.”
“Wizorb is short, but replayable and absolutely bursting with style and charm.”
“Well considering I finished in about 3 hours with little replay value, it's... hard to say.”
“Like all games of its genre, it gets repetitive and may lack replay value.”
“It's a short game but it has replay value.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization for mouse controls, making interactions like shopping and using the amulet cumbersome. However, it runs smoothly on older hardware, such as a 2009 ThinkPad, with no frame rate issues reported during extended play sessions.
“The game isn't optimized for mouse controls; buying in shops is annoying, and the way to use the amulet is just weird.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide any insights into the emotional aspect of the game, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics and level design. There is no mention of emotional engagement or impact in the provided texts.
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Wizorb is praised for its beautiful visuals and nostalgic old-school atmosphere, though some players find the music detracts from the overall experience, leading to a somewhat dull ambiance. Additionally, the game's challenging nature may test players' patience.
“The music in this game sets the atmosphere to boring.”
“Wizorb looks beautiful and delivers on its promise of old school atmosphere, but it will likely pose a difficult test of your fortitude and patience.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised as very funny and addictive, contributing to a satisfying experience for players. The enjoyment is so high that users express a desire to share animated representations of the humor, such as a laughing wizard gif.
“Very funny, very addictive, very satisfying.”
“All I want to do is include in this text field an animated gif of the wizard laughing, but I can't.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its vibrant environments and charming character designs, which contribute to a whimsical and immersive experience for players. The distinct personalities of the characters enhance the overall appeal and engagement within the game world.
“The game's colorful environments and character designs are filled with personality and charm, creating a whimsical and immersive world for players to explore.”
