Guacamelee!

 PlayStation Vita
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 243 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 202 out of 243
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 243
  3. Negative: 18 out of 243

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  1. kolarz3
    May 19, 2023
    9
    Very good game for the PS vita console! I was playing on the vita3k emulator. A nice combat model which encouraged me to finish that game. Nice final battle
  2. Team_Bob
    Jul 2, 2020
    10
    Beautiful metroidvania style beat em up. Can be challenging at times to find the right path, but once you do you'll be in for a treat. Combat is excellent. One of the best on the Vita.
  3. onurcan
    Jan 26, 2020
    10
    Great colorful art style. Whole game was a joy to watch the illustrations. Great music. Very humorous story and fun references. One of the best games to play on PS Vita.
  4. HTGamer
    Sep 28, 2018
    8
    Guacamelee! is a Metroidvania game, starring a luchador fighter who wants to save his kidnapped girl from the evil Calaca. Gameplay-wise it's nothing extraordinary, innovative or even challenging (only in the final few stages is there any real sense of challenge) but it's still very fun to play. The Mexican themes, lore, music and colorful art style make Guacamelee! stand out from otherGuacamelee! is a Metroidvania game, starring a luchador fighter who wants to save his kidnapped girl from the evil Calaca. Gameplay-wise it's nothing extraordinary, innovative or even challenging (only in the final few stages is there any real sense of challenge) but it's still very fun to play. The Mexican themes, lore, music and colorful art style make Guacamelee! stand out from other games in the genre. It's a little short (roughly 5 hours to complete the main story with no collectible hunting), but Guacamelee! doesn't overstay its welcome. It's one of the best indie games ever released on the PS Vita.… Expand
  5. NihiRagnarK
    Oct 8, 2017
    8
    Great platform-er! Reminds me of Mega man series, although this is beat-them-up rather than shoot-them-up. Hard mode on first play-through, but still feel this is a little bit easier than expected. The good thing is there is no stressful on you way to platinum and 100%
  6. EmirKhorasani
    Mar 4, 2017
    8
    An awesome puzzler, incredibly fun combat, and secrets and exploration propel this game to the top of my list of Vita games. This game is a triumph on vita. I hated some of the extraneous stuff that was considered side quests, but I wanted to complete the game 100%, so these impossible seeming platforming levels and combo mashing sequences detracted from the experience overall. But theAn awesome puzzler, incredibly fun combat, and secrets and exploration propel this game to the top of my list of Vita games. This game is a triumph on vita. I hated some of the extraneous stuff that was considered side quests, but I wanted to complete the game 100%, so these impossible seeming platforming levels and combo mashing sequences detracted from the experience overall. But the main story is incredible and makes this game a must play.… Expand
  7. johansst
    Sep 7, 2015
    5
    I realized what I liked about the Metroid games when playing this--the adventurous sci-fi world and its atmosphere, and you being alone in it to explore--two element which Guacamelee! lacks altogether.
  8. Thiagosapo
    Aug 18, 2015
    1
    For a game that few players can complete ? Guacamelee is a stressful game where you get stuck in various locations of the game. Not recommend the game for people with little time who want to have fun.
  9. Namelessuser
    Jan 30, 2015
    10
    Fresh off coming off my 2 playthroughs (1 on normal, 1 on hard going fast as I could) of Guacamelee! on my PlayStation Vita, I believe I'm come over the thumb numbing action that Guacamelee! provided me while staring at its beautiful scenery. The story of Guacamelee! puts you in the shoes of an agave farmer named Juan that is in love with El Presidente's daughter but alas they have notFresh off coming off my 2 playthroughs (1 on normal, 1 on hard going fast as I could) of Guacamelee! on my PlayStation Vita, I believe I'm come over the thumb numbing action that Guacamelee! provided me while staring at its beautiful scenery. The story of Guacamelee! puts you in the shoes of an agave farmer named Juan that is in love with El Presidente's daughter but alas they have not come to their senses and realized it yet. Therefore when your chance to start showing your love for her, a skeleton named Calaca decides to kidnap her and foil the fiesta! Juan then gets transported to the land of the dead where you find a mask that turns him into a macho lucha libre! With Juan's newborn combo moves and skills it is your responsibility to rescue El Presidente's daughter and stop Calaca's plan to take over the world!

    The combat and action of Guacamelee! is just right: arenas full of enemies will keep you on your toes but there's plenty of save spots and breather spots around for you to rest your thumbs if need be (something Mega Man never did for me!). Normal mode of Guacamelee! isn't hard unless you are bad at timing attacks/dodges in which case you will probably not beat Hard Mode / get the Platinum trophy. Hard mode is infuriating to say the least (you will swear at the bosses/one or two arenas) and a couple of places you need to complete to get the platinum trophy are Mega Man levels of annoyance (I'm talking disappearing platforms and jumping from switching wall to wall stuff). While I did get the Platinum Trophy for the game and played it twice, I would gladly replay the game again since it's real beauty lies in it's characters and backgrounds. There are also tons of funny meme jokes like ME GUSTA and Gentlemen Spy etcetera. There are references here and there like the poster of Grim Fandango that says Missing!. Well Grim Fandango, you're missing no more and like you Grim Fandango, I hope we never forget Guacamelee!    … Expand
  10. Kaprawiec
    Oct 23, 2014
    9
    I dont like mexican music. I dont like the idea of luchadores. I really hate Castlevania SOTN. BUT I really had to check whats the fuss is about GUACAMELEE! especially when You can get it on VITA almost for free on sale.
    So what did I get?
    + combat system + platforming + excellent pace (i like fast games) + cool A/V + great atmosphere + funny moments - story - lack of    I dont like mexican music. I dont like the idea of luchadores. I really hate Castlevania SOTN. BUT I really had to check whats the fuss is about GUACAMELEE! especially when You can get it on VITA almost for free on sale.
    So what did I get?
    + combat system
    + platforming
    + excellent pace (i like fast games)
    + cool A/V
    + great atmosphere
    + funny moments

    - story
    - lack of replayability - I just dont see the point to finish the game faster (idk how but on leaderbord there is a dude who completed the game within less than 5 minutes on hard - plain IMPOSSIBLE!)

    Verdict: I must admit, now I love mexicanstyle soundtrack of this game. Luchador was awesome! And although i still hate Castlevania:SOTN i just had a real blast with guacamelee! Great game. I think indie games gives us that something thats missing from AAA titles nowadays. Lets call it soul. Guacamelee! definitely has it!    … Expand
  11. TheWhiteWhale
    Sep 9, 2014
    9
    The classic 2D action platformer is a genre that is often sorely overlooked. Having grown up on classics such as Catlevania and Metroid, I'm always surprised at the neglect this genre continues to experience. Dubbed "MetroidVania" platformers, these types of games combine hardcore platforming gameplay with skill based fighting mechanics and puts them in a vast open world environment. InThe classic 2D action platformer is a genre that is often sorely overlooked. Having grown up on classics such as Catlevania and Metroid, I'm always surprised at the neglect this genre continues to experience. Dubbed "MetroidVania" platformers, these types of games combine hardcore platforming gameplay with skill based fighting mechanics and puts them in a vast open world environment. In many ways, these types of games paved the way for open world masterpieces such as the GTA and Assassin's Creed series. They are filled with secrets and unlockables and take place on world maps that are vast and expansive.

    So imagine my pleasure when I decided to purchase and play through this gem of platforming. Guacamelee is the perfect homage to the classic action platformers of yore. Everything from the level design to the skills players can aquire, to the level of difficulty oozes old-school charm. This is in many ways a masterpiece of modern game design. Everything from the art direction to the music to the level design is a true work of art. Progression through the main storyline is mostly linear, though there is enough secrets and inaccessible areas on all levels that players will be encouraged to return to once they have the tools necessary to get to those secret goodies. Even then, there are secrets which require the player to really think and explore in order to access.

    Combat is fast paced and fun and has an almost fighter-game feel to it. Combos can be chained seamlessly and players are encouraged to keep their combo meters rising and consistent as rewards increase the better a player fights. Boss battles are decidedly old-school, requiring trial and error, pattern recognition, and lighting-quick reflexes to master. The difficulty factor is certainly taken up a notch, which is a fresh change of pace in the modern day atmosphere of making players feel invincible. Even after the main storyline is complete there is content to explore.

    About the only downside to the game is that some of the features are blocked by a pay-wall. I've heard that the gold edition provides all DLC in one package but as I only purchased the standard version, I will have to pay for any subsequent DLC.

    This is one of the great surprises I've had while gaming over the past five years or so. Cross-buy makes the deal that much sweeter.

    PROS: Fantastic level design, strong combat system, crisp graphics, colorful art direction, solid music, quirky and funny dialogue.

    CONS: Some content locked behind a pay wall, difficulty may be too high for some, conventional plot.    … Expand
  12. madrat986
    Jun 6, 2014
    10
    It's fast, it's fun! The color pallet is awesome on vita. Easy buy. It has a little bit weird setting, which comes to life pretty fast through the story. I recommend this to anyone who wants a good metroid style game on vita.
  13. drlowdon
    May 31, 2014
    8
    At the start of the game the star, Mexican wrestler turned hero Juan, is murdered but is soon revived thanks to a luchadore mask that grants him special powers. As the game progresses more and more powers, including the ability to transform into a chicken and switch between the living and dead world, are unlocked making for a 2D platformer that is very much structured in the MetroidvaniaAt the start of the game the star, Mexican wrestler turned hero Juan, is murdered but is soon revived thanks to a luchadore mask that grants him special powers. As the game progresses more and more powers, including the ability to transform into a chicken and switch between the living and dead world, are unlocked making for a 2D platformer that is very much structured in the Metroidvania mould. Guacamelee is far more than just a quick copy and paste job however.

    The 2D graphics are fantastic to look at and everything is animated incredibly smoothly. This is complemented by a deep combat system that contains a good variety of different moves and allows for chains of attacks to be landed against a variety of foes. After about the midway point in the game selected enemy types can only be defeated using the correct moves meaning the player must get a good grip of the move set available as button bashing will only get you so far. The platforming itself requires a great deal of dexterity and provides a good level of challenge (If you’re not a fairly skilled gamer this could become frustrating) and side rooms that contain boxes granting the player items, such as extra life, even have a puzzle solving element to them.

    Guacamelee is not a long game, around six hours on the first play through, but since it is available at a budget price it is hard to complain too much about even this. A must buy for PS Vita owners.    … Expand
  14. Ateam043
    Mar 21, 2014
    9
    The very best indie game I have ever played to date. This lovable game will take you back to the good times of Mario/Castlevania where you are fully engaged. My only knock is that it feels a bit short (without DLC's)
  15. chrisse989
    Mar 18, 2014
    9
    A game I can recommend to anyone who owns a Vita.
    Pretty graphics, very fun and varied combat and fun and challenging but (mainly) manageable platforming.
    Only negative point, there are 2 or 3 sequences where the platforming is really requiring you to make nearly impossible combinations on the main path, but otherwise a very enjoyable experience.
  16. mosessaur
    Feb 13, 2014
    9
    I'm still in the middle of the game. Playing it on both PS3 and Vita with cross save :). Guacamelee is awesome. Fantastic platformer game. Wonderful puzzles with platforms, dimensions and mazes.
    Enjoyable to play and sometimes the story scripts are really funny. No glitches so far. The game is both challenging and fun. I started this after playing the intense experience of BioShock    I'm still in the middle of the game. Playing it on both PS3 and Vita with cross save :). Guacamelee is awesome. Fantastic platformer game. Wonderful puzzles with platforms, dimensions and mazes.
    Enjoyable to play and sometimes the story scripts are really funny. No glitches so far. The game is both challenging and fun. I started this after playing the intense experience of BioShock Infinite. And so it is relaxing me and amusing me.
    I'm playing this as it came part of PS Plus subscription. But if you are a platform based games fan then this is a must game for you. It's amusing.
    If you got PS3 and Vita then you are gonna double enjoy this. On my way to work I play on vita. Then upload my progress to cloud. When back home, I download my progress continue then save and upload it again to continue the journey in the morning using vita :)
    This is a well deserved 9 out of 10.    … Expand
  17. TheGrimOfDeath
    Jan 8, 2014
    9
    Guacamelee! is an amazing platformer with that feel of old school platforming. It has a feel of countless of classics like Super Metroid mixed with Castlevania and other great games.

    The only bad thing about this game is that I feel that the story is too short and can be finished relatively quickly, but other than that I urge people to buy this game and enjoy it to your heart's content.
  18. JackSakamoto
    Dec 26, 2013
    9
    This game really surprised me. I'm a big fan of beat'em-all games and,honestly,this game is pure fun. There's a lot of funny cameos. Cross-save feature is also very helpful. Though,I guess it still needs some stability sometimes,FPS number was acting crazy. A very nice game.
  19. justagamer123
    Dec 21, 2013
    10
    this game is the platforming game for vita. i love this game the best part is you only have to buy it once for ps3 and ps vita. the game looks great just as good as the ps3 verison your not losing anything here
  20. MoryIsHere
    Oct 5, 2013
    10
    All I can say is that it is the best Vita game out there at the moment. Its beautiful graphics, multiple possibilities and uniqueness make Guacamelee! a nearly perfect game. I was blown away when I first played the game. Never had I seen such beautiful environments as in this game. Want an amazing game for your Vita? Buy Guacamelee! The price is low and the quality is high. What more do you want?
  21. plebc
    Sep 11, 2013
    9
    Loads of fun, although the final boss is killing me!!@!#@!@$!#@$@#$!@#!@ A couple of times I had to switch to the ps3 version to get a bit more control, so I appreciated the cross-buy, cross-save, cross-stuffy. Great value.
  22. a_bad_one
    Sep 10, 2013
    7
    I can´t say i understand why this game has gotten so much positive publicity. Sure it´s a funny little platform´er, but that is really all it is! Guacamelee! is an example of a platform game done right, but here is no originality to make it stand out, like in other games like Braid or Limbo. My verdict is that Guacamelee! is a funny little platform game nothing more nothing less..
  23. cajuncrusher
    Aug 23, 2013
    5
    This game is super fun at first but the platforming gets harder. In other words, I do not recommend this game for young children or people like myself with the reflexes of young children. It got to a point where I just had to stop playing because it requires you to have quick reflexes to advance at a certain point.
  24. igorgavi
    Aug 17, 2013
    9
    First of all, Guacamelee is a great game. There are many side quests and easter eggs available on the game and, most important, it is fun as hell. But it's main history is a little short, I expected a longer one.
  25. sparriskrigaren
    Jul 28, 2013
    8
    It's fun, it's great.. however a little shallow. I wish they would've focused more on the game itself than making references to other games/pop culture. It's a great game on its, so all of that just makes it more of a game about games than a game itself. Great controls, great music, great challenge though.
  26. ferrers405
    Jun 28, 2013
    10
    Gorgeous game, if you like platform is a must buy, fun, addictive and excellent gameplay and hilarious game story make this one of the best PSN games.
  27. Filipes
    Jun 10, 2013
    10
    In Guacamelee! you will find a beautiful open world drawn with style accompanied by stylish music that will move you forward through entertaining fights to unfold the hilarious story until the end.
    And than you will come back.
  28. Monkey_Kibbles
    Jun 6, 2013
    10
    Convincing characters, great art style, deep combat, zero glitches or bugs in my experience, and amazing Easter eggs, are just a few reasons why Guacamelee is one of the games of the year in my opinion.
  29. nekabe21
    May 18, 2013
    9
    An excellent mixture between Metroid and Castlevania SOTN, hard plataformer sections, a depurated system combat, and the graphic and musical experience are really stunnig. Although, some bugs and a short campaign get worse the global valoration.
  30. alexandredds
    May 15, 2013
    9
    Congratulations for a Drinkbox. This game have a fun and creativity as nintendo games. Mutant Blobs from space is a distant cousin from Guacameele! In fact dont make any comparisions. Guacameele! have other propose and all you need is a many hours free for enjoy this titlle.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PS Vita Game of 2013
6
#6 Most Discussed PS Vita Game of 2013
16
#16 Most Shared PS Vita Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Hyper Magazine
    Jun 10, 2013
    80
    A vibrant, compact and ruthlessly difficult Metroidvania let down only slightly by its own (occasionally) insufferable self-awareness. [July 2013, p.81]
  2. Gamers\' Temple
    May 21, 2013
    95
    It plays like a dream, it's nice to look at, it can be funny as all get out and it just feels like the real deal, a complete experience just shy of masterpiece status.
    Read full review
  3. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    May 21, 2013
    90
    Easily one of the best downloadable titles on the Vita. Grab it pronto. [June 2013, p80]
See all critic reviews »