198X

 Switch
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 6 out of 22

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  1. BusinessCat
    Feb 6, 2020
    2
    Completed the game in 1-2 hours. It left me wanting more, but not in a good way. Looking at the high reviews by critics thinking that they are suckers that got hit by nostalgia up front and gave high ratings, but normal user experience will be to buy this game and sit down and be disappointed.

    First, the “story” was too short. I have story in quotes because there was a vague little story    Completed the game in 1-2 hours. It left me wanting more, but not in a good way. Looking at the high reviews by critics thinking that they are suckers that got hit by nostalgia up front and gave high ratings, but normal user experience will be to buy this game and sit down and be disappointed.

    First, the “story” was too short. I have story in quotes because there was a vague little story about a high school kid talking very vaguely about how his normal dull life, but nothing happened. At one point there was even a “new girl at school” character, but that didn’t go anywhere. Overall a very weak non-existent story with character spouting out vague things that we can probably all relate to at some point on our lives. Second, the characters voice was weak and kind of low, and this is a big chunk of the game. Wish it were louder/clearer. The “mini games” were cool but I thought they were supposed to have a significant twist (according to kickstarter description) while playing them, but that wasn’t there. I call them mini games because some felt like you just played one level of a main 1980s nostalgia game, then it was over. It was cool to play the mini games but they were too short and although I had nostalgia for those old gams I played in the past, I wondered if newer generation would appreciate this and wondered if older generation like me would feel suckered for how quick it was over.

    Finally, this isn’t a spoiler but at the very end of the game instead of some indicator that the game is over you get a “to be continued” screen. At first I thought it was a joke, like the game was going to pull a fast one like “to be continued.....starting now” but nope, it actually ended. Turned out it was a huge joke after all because what are we continuing? There was absolutely no problem introduced in the first game to continue. All that being said and zero replayability leaves me not recommending this game to anyone. I paid close to 20 dollars for this at kickstarter, which I don’t mind overpaying to help make someone kickstarter project come through, but at the current price tag of 10 dollars I urge you to pass. Maybe if the game is on sale for 2-3 dollars. Even that might be a bit much since in the end this felt like playing a demo for a fuller game and you don’t pay 10 dollars for a game that feels like a demo with no story and no real challenge. Sorry, but nostalgia doesn’t carry a game and I urge all to pass or be let down in the end.    … Expand
  2. Sargepepper
    Feb 3, 2020
    2
    This was barely an hour of gameplay. You play one level of several different games as you listen to the main character narrate their lives and how bad it is after dear old Dad died. Or left. It's vague. The whole game is vague. You get introduced to people, concepts, plots, all that lead into nothing. A big ol' "To Be Continued" after only an hour of gameplay that was literally just 5This was barely an hour of gameplay. You play one level of several different games as you listen to the main character narrate their lives and how bad it is after dear old Dad died. Or left. It's vague. The whole game is vague. You get introduced to people, concepts, plots, all that lead into nothing. A big ol' "To Be Continued" after only an hour of gameplay that was literally just 5 different games strung into one. There's no satisfaction to this game in the slightest as it feels like you just got started and warmed up to the concept, looking forward to an interesting game that somehow is going to twist up the play styles of the games, and you're excited for this neat indy game and how it started.

    Then credits roll.

    Save yourself some money and buy the terribad book Player One instead, It's got all of the references and nostalgia and it's just as disappointing, just cheaper.    … Expand
  3. BoolKidd
    Feb 5, 2020
    4
    I backed this game on Kickstarter. I've been waiting for this to release for about 2 years. It has even been pushed back once. All that being said I was under the impression that it would be a much longer and more intense package due to the backer updates I received. However, all we got was roughly an hour and a half of gameplay. You play as "Kid", as she plays one level of some arcadeI backed this game on Kickstarter. I've been waiting for this to release for about 2 years. It has even been pushed back once. All that being said I was under the impression that it would be a much longer and more intense package due to the backer updates I received. However, all we got was roughly an hour and a half of gameplay. You play as "Kid", as she plays one level of some arcade games as she narrates her life. There are so many questions that aren't answered, Like why her family split, where are her friends, what happens to this girl she mentions in school, and so much more. Yet after about an hour, all we get is a "To Be Continued...". Suffice to say... I'm highly disappointed. It Game could have been great. Maybe in the Top indie game of the year discussion but I guess not. Please don't buy...… Expand
  4. mal957
    Jul 3, 2020
    8
    Is VERY short (1-2h), so don't buy it unless it has a heavy discount. I really like the visuals and the music, each small game takes you back to a different type of arcade game.

    The story seems to be put there just to add a bit of content, to be honest I'd love to see a continuation or maybe an expansion.. each of the arcade games could have been complete games if they lasted more than    Is VERY short (1-2h), so don't buy it unless it has a heavy discount. I really like the visuals and the music, each small game takes you back to a different type of arcade game.

    The story seems to be put there just to add a bit of content, to be honest I'd love to see a continuation or maybe an expansion.. each of the arcade games could have been complete games if they lasted more than 4 minutes    … Expand
  5. FYM
    Feb 6, 2020
    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 favor and buy 198X. It's not expensive. It's not lengthy. But it's a ride like none other.… Expand
  6. Lucifer182
    Mar 12, 2020
    9
    A nice and well-made trip to the 80s. A breath taking stylish game with an astonishing soundtrack. I was really pleased by this game even if I must say that it has some minor flaws. The Shirt and vague Story is not for every one, but it met my taste.
  7. Kiibxaiim
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    Este videojuego está hecho con mucho amor, pasión y dedicación, deberían darle otra oportunidad para puntuarlo, creo que muchos ni lo han jugado para poder puntuar.. no es justo.
    Pd : es un pequeño gran videojuego
  8. Kokomadida
    Feb 16, 2020
    8
    An enjoyable trip through games of the 80s. Told against the backdrop of teenage angst and some gorgeous pixel art. The story has some really impactful moments, following "The Kid" and their dreams of escaping suburbia, small town life and finding excitement and themselves.

    The game is split down into levels consisting of nods back to games of the 80s. Each beautifully realised and well    An enjoyable trip through games of the 80s. Told against the backdrop of teenage angst and some gorgeous pixel art. The story has some really impactful moments, following "The Kid" and their dreams of escaping suburbia, small town life and finding excitement and themselves.

    The game is split down into levels consisting of nods back to games of the 80s. Each beautifully realised and well designed. Each level is a allegory to The Kid's ongoing story and fits the theme really well.

    As mentioned by others,.the game is short and the story has more to explore. But as a concept that's fun to play, I can't fault it.

    I'd recommend exploring it's delights. Especially if you're a fan of games of this era.    … Expand
  9. BADWOLF28
    Jun 1, 2020
    10
    A poignant coming of age game that uses an impactful storyline accompanied by an incredible 80s synth score to tell a meta story of how games (arcade games) can shape a persons perception and provide meaning for the grim life of a teenager. The music through this was enough to make it a masterpiece!
  10. Lessjake333
    Jun 19, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a great game! Or set of games? 198x plays like a cinematic visual novel at some points and like an arcade classic (several actually) at others. They really hit you in the feels a few times. What starts out a a simple Double Dragon clone soon pans up to the city and story beyond and leaves plenty of mysteries for the next installment (really hoping it gets made). Pacing can be a bit slow at times, but it all seems intentional and pays off in fuller immersion.… Expand
  11. Lord_AdGnalDiv
    Jun 20, 2020
    2
    This game is so disappointingly bad it makes me angry. The visual presentation and soundtrack may be good, amazing even - hence the 2/10 rather than a 0/10 rating - but this "game" and its "story" falls entirely short of its own ambitions.
    Frustratingly, this game managed to do the precise opposite of "Show, don't tell" by only telling you the "story" without showing you anything of note.    This game is so disappointingly bad it makes me angry. The visual presentation and soundtrack may be good, amazing even - hence the 2/10 rather than a 0/10 rating - but this "game" and its "story" falls entirely short of its own ambitions.
    Frustratingly, this game managed to do the precise opposite of "Show, don't tell" by only telling you the "story" without showing you anything of note. Nothing interesting ever happens to the main character, it's all just told to you.
    The gameplay and story are entirely disconnected and none of the gameplay sections are polished enough to be fun on their own. At best, this game can be considered a visual novel with bare-bones gameplay sections. At worst, this is a lazy excuse for an artsy indie game that has nothing to say, nothing to show and nothing to offer.    … Expand
  12. Cyborg_TDRK
    Jul 18, 2023
    2
    Que jogo horrível cara, misericórdia não consigo descrever o que eu presenciei.

    Os minigames não são ruins, é só uma coleção genérica de jogos de arcade pra dar "nostalgia". Agora me diz, que ser humano sente nostalgia de um jogo que nunca jogou? se você sente falta dos jogos dos anos 80 que você amava joga eles então pomba! Como eu odeio a narração e a história desse jogo, a voz do    Que jogo horrível cara, misericórdia não consigo descrever o que eu presenciei.

    Os minigames não são ruins, é só uma coleção genérica de jogos de arcade pra dar "nostalgia". Agora me diz, que ser humano sente nostalgia de um jogo que nunca jogou? se você sente falta dos jogos dos anos 80 que você amava joga eles então pomba!

    Como eu odeio a narração e a história desse jogo, a voz do garoto e o jeito que ele narra me irrita muito, além do final completamente b**** do minigame de RPG.

    "Ah mas a escrita de tudo nos anos 80 era nesse estilo" e a gente tem que sofrer em pleno 202X com isso?

    Sinceramente que jogo vagabundo, só não dou nota um porque pelo menos os minigames foram bem feitinhos.    … Expand
  13. Ernest_
    Dec 7, 2022
    8
    A short but capturing experience that uses the arcade games genres, visuals and gameplays to tell a story of a young troubled gamer kid growing up. Impeccable art and gameplay, amazing idea and realization, just a bit too short. Vote 8 to award all the really good meticulous work even if it's short, because it's a piece of art and needs to be awarded, congrats to the developers, can't waitA short but capturing experience that uses the arcade games genres, visuals and gameplays to tell a story of a young troubled gamer kid growing up. Impeccable art and gameplay, amazing idea and realization, just a bit too short. Vote 8 to award all the really good meticulous work even if it's short, because it's a piece of art and needs to be awarded, congrats to the developers, can't wait to see more from you… Expand
  14. JJtheTexan
    May 1, 2023
    7
    What I liked:
    - Short and sweet
    - Good variety - Nice pixel art - The mini-games are reasonably fun What I didn't like: - The story about an angsty teen, growing up in the 1980s and complaining about how miserable they are while using all the cliches from a YA novel - The seemingly unresolved ending I had high hopes for this one, because it sounded like something I would really    What I liked:
    - Short and sweet
    - Good variety
    - Nice pixel art
    - The mini-games are reasonably fun

    What I didn't like:
    - The story about an angsty teen, growing up in the 1980s and complaining about how miserable they are while using all the cliches from a YA novel
    - The seemingly unresolved ending

    I had high hopes for this one, because it sounded like something I would really enjoy. I came away slightly disappointed. Hard to recommend, but worth a shot if you can pick it up on sale.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Gaming Age
    Mar 24, 2020
    58
    As I said, if you have an emotional connection to the era, 198X may be exactly what you need in your life. But if you don’t pine for the ‘80s and arcades as a stand-in for your lost youth, then 198X probably isn’t something you need to play.
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  2. Gameblog.fr
    Jan 29, 2020
    50
    198X is a true love letter to the old arcade genre : through a retro trip of five different mini games, Hi-Bit's celebration only manages to copy and paste tiny bits of classic ones. Thanks to a cliché narration, 198X does nothing but tell how good the past used to be, and how much the present suck. If you still possess the original, there is not much need to play this wanabee experience.
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  3. Vooks
    Jan 28, 2020
    60
    Ultimately, I did enjoy my time with 198X. Much like my own youthful trips to the arcade, it dazzled me briefly but cuts itself short before delivering a substantial experience. What it does succeed at, though, is decorating itself in a pastiche of ‘80s arcade hits, with a brilliant aesthetic and authentic retro remakes. The $15 price isn’t outrageous, but the short runtime might be enough to convince you to wait for a sale before pumping those hard-earned coins.
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