198X

 PC
Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. GamingTrend
    Apr 14, 2020
    85
    198X does a fantastic job of breathing some life into genres of old, paying homage in a respectable, loving way while achieving an identity all of its own. For me there was no weak link in the gameplay and the storytelling moments kept me engaged and looking forward to the next bit of exposition. Hi-Bit Studios’ 198X is a short experience but one I’m glad I’ve had. Here’s hoping for future instalments to build upon this solid foundation.
  2. GameGrin
    Aug 19, 2019
    85
    198X feels like it was made specifically for me and my nostalgia. Despite it being very short, I love everything 198X is trying to do and I think it succeeds with excellent results. I can’t wait to see what kind of games they will bring in part two.
  3. DarkStation
    Jul 1, 2019
    80
    For younger players, 198X may not open up in the same way as to us old farts. However, it’s like a museum of a bygone era when the budding digital entertainment was honest and ripe, rendered in a beautiful pixel art and channeled through a marvelous soundscape. Oh, and the ending pays a nice homage to Golden Axe – without the chasing part.
  5. Game Informer
    Jun 28, 2019
    70
    198X reminds players that even simple arcade experiences (or their recreations) can provide an interesting escape.
  6. BaziCenter
    Jun 24, 2019
    70
    198X is a good mixture of clones of older games, and the fact that it focuses on a teenager's life and how identity crisis can affect that life really pays off in the end, as this whole concept makes it a unique experience. The developers though seem to lack experience to put the final touches in the right place, and that's the only reason 198X is not as good as other top indie titles of 2019.
  7. IGN Italia
    Jun 23, 2019
    68
    It is indeed a great history lesson on the golden age of the arcades, but a short one, with low replayability.
  8. Meristation
    Aug 9, 2019
    65
    A good story and an excellent way to present it, but lacking in duration and gameplay.
  9. AusGamers
    Jul 9, 2019
    64
    The simplicity of 198X is endearing, and how it presents a compilation of sorts of an era is something that leaves a positive if not lasting impression. The story, although simple in its presentation does leave room for growth. We’re keen to check out the second part of the tale, and if the team Hi-Bit Studios can connect both the narrative and the individual games in a more meaningful way - then it has every chance to live up to its premise.
  10. SpazioGames
    Jul 3, 2019
    64
    The first episode of 198X is an homage to the best and most iconic arcade games of the 80s, but tells a really trivial and generic story.
  11. Edge Magazine
    Jul 20, 2019
    50
    There's an involving, and sinister story to pursue on that front, but as with the City the Kid yearns for, 198X never gets there. [Issue#335, p.120]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. GameSpot
    Jul 11, 2019
    50
    198X is a great idea with middling execution. While its games offer some brief enjoyment, there's not enough here for the game to feel like a proper ode to '80s arcades, nor does the Kid's plight, and his longing to escape his current life, totally connect. There's definitely a spark of something here--and Shadowplay, in particular, is a lot of fun--but 198X feels more like a proof of concept than a final product.
  13. M3
    Jul 10, 2019
    50
    With interpretations of five classic titles, 198X is a loving tribute to the gaming world in the 80s and 90s. The graphics and sound of each game excel, but a weak story and a total playtime of less than two hours, makes the experience abrupt and incoherent. Hopefully, part two will solve the problems that exist, because the foundation is promising.
  14. The Indie Game Website
    Jun 21, 2019
    50
    198X is aesthetically pleasing. Its bright, accomplished pixel-art and synth-fueled music capture its desired tone perfectly. But if that’s all that 198X is, I’m not sure it’s worth anyone’s time. Even if you are interested in a pretty but empty 80s nostalgia drip, I’d suggest looking elsewhere; there are plenty of options.
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  1. The Verge
    Jul 21, 2019
    There are many video games that have taken storytelling techniques from other mediums, especially film, so I found it surprising as I made my way through 198X that it’s more of a movie than a game. 198X finds a way to add interactivity to a linear narrative, interactivity that not only helps the audience better understand the story and characters, but also creates a meaningful difference in the experience between someone playing it versus watching it. That’s not something you can say for a lot of storytelling in video games.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 26
  3. Negative: 9 out of 26
  1. Zer0TheHer0
    Aug 5, 2019
    2
    unskippable opening credits,non-rebindable controls,no subtitles

    too bad,seemed interesting but it's killed by such amateur mistakes
  2. Destinylver
    Aug 29, 2019
    4
    Yes its another Kickstarter scam. The devs raised over 600k of free money based on their lofty promises and excellent video but what we getYes its another Kickstarter scam. The devs raised over 600k of free money based on their lofty promises and excellent video but what we get is so much less. I wanted to say more but there is virtually nothing here at this time.
    I’m a ready player one fan and had hoped this game would take a well written story and integrate it into video game. I loved a night in the woods and hoped that the story elements would be like that. Or life is strange or monkey island. But what we get is some boring but pretty cutscenes representing a poorly written generic character.

    The lazily titled the kid (robert redford fan?) Is moody and has some family issues...maybe or something equally vauge and high school is tough and blah. Its really pathetic that they couldn’t come up with more or ask an adult of the 80s what it was like or at worse watch stranger things haha Moody kid finds an arcade and wow he can escape into 80 genre games...the end.

    At this point the weak story could be saved but instead we get 4-5 (1 is a clone) fun but like the story and character, simple short games with little depth and little replay (but you cant replay so meh). One or two levels and none of the games finish.
    And then the game an hour to two hours later....is over. That’s all you get. And you pay for this short game which costs the devs nothing to make. And they got to make their dream. But their dream is short and simple and pathetically childish and naive (though beautiful).

    The latter be fine if it was made by a child but its made by adults who are meant to take their experience and fuze it with childhood memories and adult research to get a professional product. They havent done that at this time.

    At this time because they forgot to tell everyone that the game is episodic which means this is intentionally a small part of a larger game. But those who paid for a full game will have to keep paying. It might have well been an epic store pc exclusive to really kill it’s chances.

    If we imagine that this tiny simple game cost 600k then the other 3 or 4 parts to give it a decent run time , will bring the total budget of free money to 2.5 million for what will still be a short simple indie game. I cant imagine this will happen so instead we'll get 1 or 2 rushed short chapters which flesh out the games but add little to the barebones story.

    It’s a scam as the devs choose to be sneaky and dishonest and greedy. If they has explained the episodic nature or made all additional chapters free etc then players be happy. Better still finish the game first and then make sequels.

    I’m not a game dev but it doesn’t cost 600k over a few years for a few people to make a 2 hour game with 1 hour of gameplay. I feel they made the full game and gutted it for cash. Or worse this is what we get because they all took huge salaries. I’ve seen their social media posts and they’re snarky and unapologetic and will fully ignorant with few specifics and yet more promises..if you give them more money. Real poke in the eye for backers. This type of bs hurts Kickstarter too.
    It’s a really bad first impression and a bad business model with the history of episodic being in the gutter now.

    To fix this mess they need to release 4 more chapters with 45 mins of game play and 15 mins of cutscenes with a story with direction and actual relatable characters. The real world needs to seep into the games much more and each game needs to represent another part of the kids journey. The cutscenes need to be a point and click adventure or have some interaction and choices as the series progresses like late 80s games.

    These chapters need to be free for purchase one and or 5 each etc. And there needs to be a guarantee they willbe made or refund. This is how you make a hit game and a beloved studio and get money for sequels.

    What’s good about the game? Most of it actually but that’s irrelevant if it’s mis sold and too short and too expensive. Graphics art 8bit retro but beautifully drawn. The animation is basic but effective. The sound and music is spot on for 80s and really immersive. The game play is simple but fun. The lasting time ...virtually nothing..an hour of gameplay. And it's not quality over quantity as its only average.

    Value...just a mess due to the way it was funded and mis sold etc.

    Should you buy it? Yes if you have money as I’d like to see what the devs do with this. Should you be mad if you funded it? 100% as the devs have not delivered a full game. Should you avoid the game if I’m broke? Yes because it has little in it original or stand out that you need to play. Wait until the entire game is out ..If it ever comes out.
    Overall a 4 for the 4 games (1 was a clone).    … Full Review »
  3. Slash2x
    Jul 8, 2019
    4
    I really wanted to like this game, but it would not reciprocate my feelings. The story is laughably short, you only play each "game" once, andI really wanted to like this game, but it would not reciprocate my feelings. The story is laughably short, you only play each "game" once, and one is just a reskin of an earlier game. There are two shoot em ups, one Final Fight clone, a racer, and a "maze" game. The "maze" has one path to each boss and one tiny loop. It takes longer because you have to die and grind to level up so you can fight [strike] your virtual dad [/strike] errr the boss.

    The actual gameplay is less than 30 minutes but they make you listen to the Kid exposition for another 30ish minutes to extend the playtime.

    The story that has no real link to anything you are playing other than "I was sad about family thing so I went to the arcade." That is it. The whole story. I would say I saved you from 30 minutes of exposition, but the cut-scenes are unskippable. Oh but do not worry the game ends on a cliffhanger so you can buy the next episode of this game. The only positive of the story is the voice actress does a great job with the lines they gave her.

    In Summary: Save your money unless this game drops sub $2 usd. There are plenty of games on Steam that give you more content for less money in each genre this game covers. Oh did I forget to mention this is the price they charged after a KICKSTARTER for this game paid for development? Pass on this nostalgia grab and get something else.    … Full Review »
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