198X

 PC
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

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  1. FYM
    Sep 16, 2019
    10
    It's perfectly possible to finish 198X in under 2 hours. This is not a particularly long game, but the same could be said about Journey, Portal, Superhot, The Stanley Parable, Dear Esther, Gone Home and countless other short, modern classics. When it comes down to it, it's not the lenght that counts but the experience itself and I can honestly say that this one will stay with me til theIt's perfectly possible to finish 198X in under 2 hours. This is not a particularly long game, but the same could be said about Journey, Portal, Superhot, The Stanley Parable, Dear Esther, Gone Home and countless other short, modern classics. When it comes down to it, it's not the lenght that counts but the experience itself and I can honestly say that this one will stay with me til the day I die. The sprite work is amazing, the soundtrack is absolutely perfect and the melancholic 80s atmosphere is takes me back to my own youth. Do yourself a favour and buy 198X. It's not expensive. It's not lengthy. But it's a ride like none other.… Expand
  2. HarrisonKHall
    Apr 6, 2020
    8
    I walked away from 198X feeling the same sort of euphoric rush I felt when I finished Journey and The Beginner's Guide, Unlike those two titles, 198x didn't feel complete; it's not that it feels lacking, it just feels like a short story that was intended to be a novel. The story it tells doesn't fill in the space the presentation made for it.

    Also unlike Journey and TBG, it has    I walked away from 198X feeling the same sort of euphoric rush I felt when I finished Journey and The Beginner's Guide, Unlike those two titles, 198x didn't feel complete; it's not that it feels lacking, it just feels like a short story that was intended to be a novel. The story it tells doesn't fill in the space the presentation made for it.

    Also unlike Journey and TBG, it has substantive game play that is narrative and metaphorically linked. All the ":mini-games" invoke the spirit of their respective genres without the frustrations or barriers to entry. Sometimes the metaphors are heavy handed, but it all works together beautifully. It has some of the greatest pixel art I've ever seen. The music and sound are equal in quality.

    I can't rate this in the "yellow" because the artistry, passion, and drive on display is breath taking; this is one of those places where "an A for effort" feels deserved. The story feels stunted and undeveloped, however. Everything feels shorter than it seems it should, and it leaves a disconnected feeling. If that kills the experience for you, I don't blame.

    However, this is a work of art all the same. Incomplete perhaps, but a gloriously beautiful passion project that deserves to be seen.    … Expand
  3. MahaA
    Feb 6, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A Fun game with great art style.What attracted me the most to support this game is the Art, the 16-bit art style is my favorite. I love arcade games and 198x has a plot revolving around arcades which is attractive to me. Then i heard Yuzo Koshiro will make music for the game i got super excited , but i was very disappointed with the ninja levels that have Koshiro’s music in them, the music is great but the gameplay on those levels is very disappointing. It is like a mobile run game. It didn’t give arcade experience like expected. The kid in the game is talking about his arcade experience but he is playing a mobile game. I wish part 2 of the game will give a true arcade adventure experience.… Expand
  4. Oregondanne
    Apr 12, 2020
    9
    This game hits home on so many levels, probably with more power the stronger your connection to the 80s is. If, like me, that's when you lost your video game virginity you're in for a real sweet journey. "Kid" will be your chaperone for the ride, guiding you from one classic 80s genre to the next. All interwoven in a beautifully narrated and illustrated coming of age tale. A bit genericThis game hits home on so many levels, probably with more power the stronger your connection to the 80s is. If, like me, that's when you lost your video game virginity you're in for a real sweet journey. "Kid" will be your chaperone for the ride, guiding you from one classic 80s genre to the next. All interwoven in a beautifully narrated and illustrated coming of age tale. A bit generic perhaps, but my guess is that the developers want you to substitute Kid's story with your own. Just as you made the games from the 80s, often lacking in terms of plot, your own adventures.

    The first part of 198X ends way too soon, but not before leaving impressions that last for a lifetime. The graphics and music simply blew me away, adding infinite replay value. 8 Bit Studios have truly worked wonders with the 60K at their disposal (not 600K as falsely stated in a review below; the total pledged on Kickstarter is in Swedish currency). I do hope though that in the second part we'll be able to play more of each mini game, as they end as soon as you've gotten a feel for them. Perhaps Kid will eventually be able to roam freely around the arcade and we can set our own high scores.

    But for the first part, pour yourself a glass of wine, wait until the twilight hours and let Kid lead you through a night that blurs the lines between dream, game and reality.    … Expand
  5. furinkan
    Feb 7, 2020
    9
    I really enjoyed 198X, or at least the first instalment of it so far. Make no mistake, it's relatively short and not everyone's cup of tea. It's a nostalgia trip, and if you don't share that childhood then you'll probably either love it for the art, or hate it because it's pointless to you.

    I grabbed a bottle of coke from the fridge, turned off the lights, sank into my comfy chair, and    I really enjoyed 198X, or at least the first instalment of it so far. Make no mistake, it's relatively short and not everyone's cup of tea. It's a nostalgia trip, and if you don't share that childhood then you'll probably either love it for the art, or hate it because it's pointless to you.

    I grabbed a bottle of coke from the fridge, turned off the lights, sank into my comfy chair, and got into the experience. Because that's what 198X ultimately is, it's modern love for retro arcade games, with a little bit of a story wrapped around it.

    Difficulty: I thought that it was just right, but I can acknowledge that some people will find it too easy or too hard - there's no difficulty settings. If it's too hard for you then you need to keep trying and git gud. That's what I did and it was satisfying, albeit frustrating for a while. If you find it too easy then the game will be very short.

    The game's interface is minimal, that's deliberate. It's just like dropping a coin into the machine and getting on the controls.

    So, the graphics are excellent, as is the music. The retro aesthetic is beautiful and spot-on for the developers' creative vision. The gameplay is tight and the controls feel perfect. If that sounds like your kinda jam, you will probably really enjoy 198X.    … Expand
  6. Za_Uvek
    Dec 7, 2021
    8
    This is a hard one to class as there it is a nice tribute to arcade games of old. A few short and sharp experiences that have been taped together with a cool cinematic story.

    The slightly pixelated cartoony visuals really lend itself nicely to the overall game play here. You get a small shot at a beat em up, horizontal shooter, an 'outrun like' racer, side scrolling hack n slash and a    This is a hard one to class as there it is a nice tribute to arcade games of old. A few short and sharp experiences that have been taped together with a cool cinematic story.

    The slightly pixelated cartoony visuals really lend itself nicely to the overall game play here. You get a small shot at a beat em up, horizontal shooter, an 'outrun like' racer, side scrolling hack n slash and a mini RPG. All of which really do capture the feel of popular 80's arcade games in a satisfying way. What is really impressive is how they are all blended into the story of a teenager getting lost within the 'arcade world'. That, coupled with the amazing soundtrack really captured to imagination of the fictional character's love of gaming. However, the big let down is how short the whole experience is. As mentioned above, there are only 5 games in total and they are nothing more than a couple of levels each.

    You'll probably be left a little disappointed as this game can breeze by in one sitting. But once you factor in the price of around $15AUD and the great cinematic presentation, it's still worth it. Hopefully 198X acts as a bench mark for what these developers will build on in the future.    … Expand
  7. 3ls0ul
    Mar 7, 2023
    8
    Este juego aún no lo eh jugado o completado, así que pondré una reseña y nota diferentes cuando lo haga.
  8. 99Cyborg
    Feb 12, 2023
    9
    90/100. (Recomendado / Recommended)

    Diferentes géneros en un solo juego, rememorando la edad de oro de las recreativas junto a una narrativa, aunque no especialmente novedosa, realista y contemporánea. Un pixel-art genialmente trabajado y animaciones fluidas. Different genres in a single game, recalling the golden age of arcade games along with a realistic and contemporary narrative,    90/100. (Recomendado / Recommended)

    Diferentes géneros en un solo juego, rememorando la edad de oro de las recreativas junto a una narrativa, aunque no especialmente novedosa, realista y contemporánea. Un pixel-art genialmente trabajado y animaciones fluidas.

    Different genres in a single game, recalling the golden age of arcade games along with a realistic and contemporary narrative, although not particularly new. A brilliantly worked pixel-art and fluid animations.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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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.
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  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.
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  3. Meristation
    Aug 9, 2019
    65
    A good story and an excellent way to present it, but lacking in duration and gameplay.
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