Bad North

 Switch
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Eurogamer
    Aug 23, 2018
    A streamlined real-time defence game with a wonderful knack for dread. [Recommended]

Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 46
  3. Negative: 9 out of 46
  1. TheSeahorse
    Aug 23, 2018
    5
    Why this game had to be a rougelite I will never understand. It would work perfectly fine as a game you play with levels that you can redo andWhy this game had to be a rougelite I will never understand. It would work perfectly fine as a game you play with levels that you can redo and then a hardmode with permadeath but no, they had to make both difficulties permadeath.

    It adds nothing to the game, just frustration. You don’t get any rewards per run or anything like it. It’s the worst kind of rougelite.

    It’s so frustrating when you’ve played for three hours (easy three hours too) and then a new enemy you’ve never seen before comes in and whoops your ass since you didn’t know his attacks. Now you gotta do it all over again.

    It sucks because the game is super good and fun.

    Make it possible to retry levels on normal and it’s a 8/10, but now... it gets the boot.    … Full Review »
  2. EnduroDoug
    Aug 28, 2018
    6
    I really like the visuals, the controls, and the music and sound effects. I don't even mind the scaled down gameplay. But what really irks meI really like the visuals, the controls, and the music and sound effects. I don't even mind the scaled down gameplay. But what really irks me is how difficult the game gets all of a sudden toward the late stages and, to be honest, after three runs of 2+ hours, I don't know if I care enough to try again. I really want to complete the game, but another 2-3 hours of play, just so I can suddenly get wiped out with nothing to show for it doesn't really interest me. If I could have even resurrected one Commander for the following play-through, it would have made it much more enjoyable. And MUCH more replayable.… Full Review »
  3. SSCheetah
    Sep 6, 2018
    6
    Kinda cool but unfortunately not quite worth the money.

    The visuals are good (aside from the character art, ugh) but I dislike the    Kinda cool but unfortunately not quite worth the money.

    The visuals are good (aside from the character art, ugh) but I dislike the inconsistency between beautiful 3D maps and cheap-looking sprites for soldiers.

    Sounds are pretty good, a bit clunky at times but simple and very fitting for the game.

    Gameplay-wise the core concept is amazing. Aside from slightly awkward camera controls the gameplay is brilliant: you control four units with three types to select from each with their own uses and tactically defend your island. It's a lovely idea and the the way you control your troops is quite fluid, not perfect but pretty good.

    Where this game falls apart is the insane difficulty level toward the end. As other users have said already there is no sense of reward when you put hours into a long and difficult campaign to just lose in the third last island, and then that's it. Game over, start again; no rewards or unlockables to make your next playthrough different. A "tactical rogue-lite" is how it's advertised so maybe I should've known better because I struggle with the idea behind rogue-likes... But the permadeath simply makes no sense in a game like this and after one play through with nearly unbeatable odds at the end you really don't feel like trying again. This game might be great for people who are happy to practise over and over again to do a no deaths speedrun in Celeste, or who love rogue-likes. But for the average gamer who wants to retry a level after losing, it's really frustrating and off-putting. I guess putting yourself in the mindset of an arcade game or an endless runner, where you are just lasting as long as you can until you fail, might help a little bit, but it's weird because there actually is a final island and a game could last a couple hours (you can save and continue though). Basically IMO it'd be so much more fun if the permadeath was optional or the difficulty was toned down even just on the final 3 or 4 levels. Definitely worth a go though if you are content with the mindset that it's like Tetris or something and you're just seeing how far you get, not actually thinking about "winning."

    On the plus side, there were a few game-breaking bugs that the developer promptly patched. The game is still being worked on by its developers and that's really encouraging to see.    … Full Review »
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