BattleBlock Theater

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 308 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 213 out of 308
  2. Mixed: 70 out of 308
  3. Negative: 25 out of 308

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  1. augh18
    May 16, 2014
    7
    One of the best platformers since "Super Meat Boy" (Super Meat Boy is far better, though). Single player is a lot of fun, co-op is an entirely different experience (you don't just go through the single-player missions with a second player, you're given all-new challenges that require cooperation). The online Arena modes feel like a throwaway feature, which is how I felt about the non-storyOne of the best platformers since "Super Meat Boy" (Super Meat Boy is far better, though). Single player is a lot of fun, co-op is an entirely different experience (you don't just go through the single-player missions with a second player, you're given all-new challenges that require cooperation). The online Arena modes feel like a throwaway feature, which is how I felt about the non-story modes in "Castle Crashers", but opinions will vary here.

    Music is superb. The taunting narrator is a fun twist, but he does run out of things to say and quickly starts repeating himself. You can, however, disable the frequency of his comments, or turn him off entirely, through the "Options" menu.

    Controls fine on keyboard, but I've always felt these games are best with a gamepad.

    I wish these guys could release a game every couple of years (it's now been six years since the original release of "Castle Crashers" in 2008), but maybe the reason they don't is because they'd rather make inspired games than simply churn out something to keep their name in the industry.

    Two major drawbacks are the musical selection (there aren't that many tracks in the game, and they start repeating themselves very quickly), and the time it takes from confirming "Retry" to a mission resetting takes far too long for this kind of game. It also would've been a huge plus if they got the narrator voice actor to record even just 20 additional lines, as he starts repeating himself way too quickly as well.

    I got this game for $10 during the launch sale, and I highly recommend it at that price. It's no "Super Meat Boy", but I don't think we'll see a game that steals the throne for a long, long time.    … Expand
  2. dyspeptic
    Sep 5, 2014
    5
    Last Played: Sep 2014 (XBox Controller)

    PROS: + Narrator is really funny + Interesting puzzles + Beating the crap out of other prisoners in multiplayer is fun CONS: - Slippery platforming means you don't always go where you want – Some segments are really frustrating – Game doesn’t feel like it goes anywhere REVIEW: So I watched the intro and thought to myself: “hey that narrator    Last Played: Sep 2014 (XBox Controller)

    PROS: + Narrator is really funny + Interesting puzzles + Beating the crap out of other prisoners in multiplayer is fun

    CONS: - Slippery platforming means you don't always go where you want – Some segments are really frustrating – Game doesn’t feel like it goes anywhere

    REVIEW: So I watched the intro and thought to myself: “hey that narrator sounds really funny, that might be a fun game!” I was both right and wrong: the narrator is funny until you’ve heard everything he has to say many times, and the game is fun in some modes. There are some really interesting puzzles which actually quite stretch your brain, too. It isn’t until the end where timing has to be precise, which is a good thing, because your character feels like a slow, earthbound sucker (double jump notwithstanding). This means that you can breeze through most of the game relatively quickly—if it holds your interest for long enough, anyway. I know that I got bored and didn’t come back for a few months. Still, the multiplayer modes seem fun enough when there are actually people playing them (I got the fireball weapon, and it was way too much fun burning the poor other players).

    There are significant drawbacks, too. This game doesn’t really compare favorably to any AAA platformer I’ve ever owned in terms of mechanics. I don’t know, maybe you are supposed to get a charge out of being slow and hopping tiny jumps, but anybody can do that in real life… Speaking of, there are some intensely frustrating moments after the difficulty ramps up and timing suddenly becomes critical. There are generally enough checkpoints to make this feel less annoying, but that won’t keep you from running out of time on the last finale levels. Also, aside from the difficulty going up, the game doesn’t feel like it is going anywhere. Sure the cutscenes are funny, but they lead you to believe that there will be some kind of coherent ending—which turns out not to be the case. To summarize the game in the words of the narrator: “that was… adequate!”    … Expand
  3. StardustNuke
    Feb 19, 2015
    6
    It is funny at the start, especially if you can play with a friend. However the gameplay was a little bit too repetitive for me, and eventually it became outright boring. The game is pretty much doing the same thing over an over again. All the levels are very similiar.
  4. ahmedxg
    Aug 25, 2015
    7
    battleblock theater that game is nice
    in battleblock theater you can make a levels and play levels and play co_op or vs with friends or strangers
    its 2D game and its funny game but if you have other great games don't buy that game.
    its awesome game i recommend it
    [yes]
  5. SpookyBoneMane
    Nov 2, 2020
    5
    BattleBlock Theater is a solid platforming game. I would recommend it to any platforming fan out there had it not been for the MASSIVE difficulty-spike towards the last 2 chapters.

    Those 2 chapters have super low room of error when it comes to timing, to the point that it felt like I passed some segments out of pure luck. This takes away from the sense of accomplishment gained when    BattleBlock Theater is a solid platforming game. I would recommend it to any platforming fan out there had it not been for the MASSIVE difficulty-spike towards the last 2 chapters.

    Those 2 chapters have super low room of error when it comes to timing, to the point that it felt like I passed some segments out of pure luck. This takes away from the sense of accomplishment gained when beating a game.

    Multiplayer is really good, this is a great game to play with/against your friends.

    I am happy to say that I have completed it but I will never want to touch it again. It is not bittersweet.    … Expand
  6. SauceBox6
    Nov 26, 2022
    7
    10 - Masterpiece
    9 - Amazing
    8 - Great
    7 - Good
    6 - Okay
    5 - Mediocre
    4 - Bad
    3 - Awful
    2 - Painful
    1 - Unbearable
  7. klaaz
    Jan 26, 2023
    7
    Fun if played in company. The game ends up becoming repetitive on the final stretch, would have appreciated a little more variety in the scenarios.
  8. beastickjoe
    Mar 15, 2023
    5
    Battle Block theater is nostalgic in a way for me. I remember going over to my neighbors house to play this game and Skylanders on her 360. I recently saw the game had a sale on steam so I bought it. The game is fun, don't get me wrong but it doesn't do much different compared to other platformers. The standard Behemoth humor helped me complete the semi-boring gameplay. I'm also not a HUGEBattle Block theater is nostalgic in a way for me. I remember going over to my neighbors house to play this game and Skylanders on her 360. I recently saw the game had a sale on steam so I bought it. The game is fun, don't get me wrong but it doesn't do much different compared to other platformers. The standard Behemoth humor helped me complete the semi-boring gameplay. I'm also not a HUGE platform so that might have something to say about it. Overall I would only recommend purchasing if you are a diehard Behemoth/platformer fan or when it is on sale for 5 bucks.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best PC Game of 2014
93
#93 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Riot Pixels
    Aug 4, 2014
    80
    BattleBlock Theater is not original and it’s not ashamed of that. It’s everyone else that should be ashamed and green with envy that they couldn’t make such a fun game.
    Read full review
  2. Games Master UK
    Jun 29, 2014
    90
    An exceedingly charming package. [Aug 2014, p.79]
  3. PC Gamer
    Jun 23, 2014
    86
    Charming, clever and funny, this is one of the best new platformers on the PC at the moment. Recommended.
    Read full review
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