if katana zero and cowboy bebop were having sex while inspector gadget was filming it

I was originally going to give this game a 4/5 after finishing the story, but that changed to a 3/5 once I started Rogue Agent Mode.

The game promises a cheesy 80s/90s arcade style beat'em up/platformer, and for the most part, it delivers. The pixel art graphics aren't anything groundbreaking, but they fit the game's aesthetic perfectly, and the character portraits add a nice touch to the atmosphere.

The soundtrack and sound effects are excellent and fit the retro synthwave vibe the game is going for. The story is intentionally cheesy, packed with dad jokes, and feels like a fun conversation between friends. If you're familiar with Enis' style, you'll know exactly what to expect. It kept me entertained throughout Story Mode.

The gameplay loop consists of platforming and combat across different levels. Movement feels a bit rough but still has a certain flow to it, and that often makes combat more chaotic. It's easy to die while trying to parry, dodge, or pull off combos because enemies can keep attacking through your actions, making encounters feel messy rather than challenging. Encounters often devolve into button mashing and hoping for the best. In Story Mode this isn't a huge issue, but it becomes much more noticeable in Rogue Agent Mode.

Platforming is also fairly monotonous and doesn't blend particularly well with the environments. Many obstacles feel less like natural parts of the world and more like sections placed there simply because the game needs a platforming segment, which makes those sequences feel somewhat disconnected from the level design.

The game features a skill tree that mostly consists of small stat upgrades such as extra ammo or increased critical hit chance. In Story Mode, this isn't a major issue because progression is relatively smooth, and many of these upgrades could have simply been tied to story progression without significantly changing the experience.

Rogue Agent Mode (the roguelite mode) is where my opinion of the game dropped. You start with no upgrades, no combos, and not even your side weapon. While you're stuck with a very limited moveset, the game continues throwing groups of enemies at you with different attack patterns. This often results in situations where you're trying to focus down one enemy while several others interrupt your attacks or hit you from outside your view, making combat feel more frustrating than rewarding.

During a run, some upgrade choices can be pulled either from the skill tree or from progression rewards already unlocked in Story Mode. As a result, you can end up choosing between a small numerical increase and upgrades that actually expand your moveset, such as new combos or unlocking your bat. In a roguelite mode where powerful run-defining upgrades are expected, spending upgrade opportunities on basic stat increases or abilities that feel like they should already be available makes progression feel less rewarding than it should. Because of this, the mode can be frustrating at the start, but eventually becomes much easier once you've stacked enough permanent upgrades which are given at specific levels. Still, this mode seems designed more as an extra layer of challenge for players who want more than Story Mode, so it is understandable that its progression is more limited.

Overall, it's a fun game with a charming story, great music, and a reasonable price tag. However, the combat becomes repetitive, the platforming and puzzles are mediocre, and Rogue Agent Mode exposes many of the game's weaknesses. I hope the developers have learned from its shortcomings and improved since then. I will definitely be looking forward to their future games.

Yapımcı ekibin ellerine sağlık. Gerçekten temiz ve sağlam bir iş ortaya konmuş.
Dövüş hem eğlenceli hem de ilerleyen aşamalarda dallanıyor. Sopamızla verdiğimiz hasar ve çevreyi kullanma gerçekten çok hoş.
İşin sanat kısmı da gayet güzel. Karakter tasarımları, mekanlar. Oyunla alakalı tek eksi, mekanların ve az da olsa düşmanların tekrar etmesi. Ama oynanyış süresi düşünüldüğünde göze batmıyor.
Bana kalırsa hikayesi ve mizah ögeleri çok hoş olmuş. Boş yere adam dövme hissini alması açısından iyi ve takip etmesi eğlenceli.

Ufak bir not: Kapüşonlu adam boss'unu kim tasarladıysa ellerinden öpüyorum :)