88 Heroes Review
88 Heroes Review
2017
~$30 New
Available on:
Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4
~$16 Used
88 Heroes is a unique platformer that forces you to use different characters every level. It's a very silly game, but a lot of fun! It's really easy to pick up and enjoy yourself.
Presentation
5
88 Heroes has a pixel-art aesthetic that is really colorful and makes all of the platforming elements really easy to see. The simplicity of the graphics makes it very easy to get used to your character and understand the limitations of each ability. The fact that the developers managed to make so many playable characters of wildly varying sizes and shapes is impressive.
At the same time, however, the graphics feel more cheap than an artistic choice. Making pixel art graphics without any of the color limitations of old consoles simply makes the graphics seem low-effort, as you see all of these colors but not much shading and texturing. I also don't really like how the gameplay is featured on a big TV in-game. it's a neat idea, but gets in the way for the most part.
The game's music also emulates retro games, but also feels somewhat low-quality instead of a design choice. The music isn't particularly complex and sounds like a generic arcade game jingle. Each character also has their own voice lines, which I really like and add a ton of character, but again feel low quality. It sounds like they were recorded with very low-end devices.
Pros:
Simple and clear graphics
Voice lines and silly atmosphere
Character animations/hitboxes
Cons:
Retro aesthetic feels low-quality
Bizarre 'screen within a screen' presentation
Controls
10
Having 88 unique characters, controls are the most important aspect for getting this game right. The developers were clever and limited the platforming arsenal to only a couple buttons, meaning that you can swap between characters without missing a beat.
Some characters have awkward or difficult controls on purpose, but otherwise, everything is very responsive and easy to get used to. Despite having relatively simple move sets, every character has their own unique movement styles, so it's very impressive that this was all done well.
88 Heroes also does a great job of introducing every hero's abilities to ensure that you can use them well. Although it is a lot to get used to, that's where the main fun of the game comes from. All of the characters are very creative and fun, interacting with the levels in very unique ways.
Pros:
Tight and responsive
Simplistic button mapping
Unique abilities
Cons:
Perfect!
Content
6
88 Heroes is a relatively short game, with just 88 short levels that you have to get through to finish the main mode. However, once again, the amount of characters is the main plus of the game. Every time you die, your character gets rerolled, so you have to find a new path through the level with your new character. This is really fun, since the levels are well designed so that each character has their own way to get through the stage.
The main story can be completed in a few hours, but every time you play a level is different according to the character you're using. This means that every path through the game is different. The game is also decently challenging, meaning that you can't plow your way through the game and need to actually learn each character.
Aside from the main mode, there is also Magnificent 8 and Solo, which allow you to replay levels with your own chosen characters.
88 Heroes isn't extremely long but has a decent enough challenge and variety thanks to its character roster.
Pros:
Decent challenge
Unique paths for each character
Extra modes
Cons:
Short campaign
Fun Factor
8
88 Heroes is a really silly game with a very fun design scheme. It's a simple platformer, so this aesthetic fits in well. The game's idea is really great and the different characters' abilities help make the game a very wacky experience. They are very creative and make the game a ton of fun.
The short levels and replay value mean that these abilities have the opportunity to stand out, and you can have some quick fun with each character. The other side modes are neat as well, but the main draw of the game is obviously the 88 heroes.
This game isn't a huge adventure, but it's a fun, simple and wacky time. If you want a quick platformer this is great. Unfortunately, the quality of the graphics and sound often make this game feel like something you could find on a website and not a console game. If you can get past this, it's perfect fun.
Pros:
High replay value
Great aesthetic
Fun characters
Cons:
Feels cheaply made
Overall:
29/40
Presentation:
Controls:
Content:
Fun:
5/10
10/10
6/10
8/10
Worth the Money?
Worth the Time?
88 Heroes isn't a hugely expensive game, so I think it's worth the money if you're a platformer fan.
This game is short enough, and it's just silly fun. I would simply play until you're bored.
Screenshots from 88 Heroes on Steam © [Rising Star Games, Bitmap Bureau, Valve], used for review purposes.