- Publisher: Onion Games
- Release Date: Oct 18, 2018
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 4
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Nov 27, 2018Black Bird is stunning. It’s rare to see a project so finely tuned, so perfectly balanced, confidently paced and smartly constructed, let alone from a team whose previous work was an iOS puzzler. This is fantastic stuff. So, like I said earlier… I think I need to go download Million Onion Hotel now.
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Oct 23, 2018Black Bird is one of the most interesting games I've played in a long time with loads of surprises all over the place.
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Oct 23, 2018Black Bird’s strong visual and sound direction are a callback to developer Onion Games’ previous incarnation as LOVEdeLIC, but the game itself is a hardcore shoot-'em-up. Its great design demands the player learn patterns in order to chase high scores, an approach that is enjoyable for both seasoned players and those new to the genre.
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Oct 23, 2018"Onion Games has done it again.” For fans of the developer, that’s pretty much all I'd have to say to convince them it’s worth it.
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Nintendo Force MagazineFeb 26, 2019Black Bird is small, but if the worst thing you can say about a game is that you want more of it, then that's quite the compliment. [Issue #37 – January/February 2019, p. 25]
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Dec 3, 2018Black Bird's content is a bit on the slim side for its price, but like all quality shoot-em-ups, there's significant depth and replay value, meaning you'll be chasing that high score for hours.
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Oct 23, 2018Black Bird is difficult, weird, and an utterly brilliant shmup you need to check out right now.
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Edge MagazineDec 6, 2018This may be Onion Games' most conventional release to date, but still Kimura finds a way to bend the rules. [Jan 2019, p.122]
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Nov 6, 2018Black Bird is a wonderful, sad, strange, funny, cute and bizarre shooter that can’t quite make its gameplay match the quality of everything else.
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Oct 29, 2018Black Bird is a unique little shooter that only gets better as you play it more and uncover its secrets. Its vintage-style art direction is charmingly melancholy, and its strange soundtrack only adds an extra layer of quirkiness to proceedings. It’s very much a score challenge game, though, meaning players expecting a wealth of things to see and do may be left feeling underwhelmed by its meagre four stages - especially when you consider the rather high price tag. This is very much a case of quality over quantity, and as long as you’re up for repeat playthroughs, you’re in for a wonderfully bizarre treat.
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Oct 18, 2018What I’ve played of Black Bird I’ve enjoyed; it’s just somewhat disappointing and primarily a high score chase with some hard-to-obtain bonuses. I wish there was more to it, or at the very least that it was a little more forgiving. The style of Black Bird is masterful as the mixture of the peculiar soundtrack, dour pixel art, and elegantly simple gameplay makes for a fun yet fleeting experience. It’s just over too soon for everyone except shoot-’em-up savants.
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Dec 22, 2018Onion Games has developed a weird game. It is quite strange because it manages to create addiction, since it offers a different approach. The rest of its sections do not stand out in the eShop.
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Oct 30, 2018Aside from its distinct graphics and hilarious music, Black Bird is basically a copy of Sega's classic shooter Fantasy Zone. I wish Onion Games went further to make it a more original experience.
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Oct 30, 2018It's a shame Black Bird is so shallow, because the core action is so appealing. The lighthearted atmosphere and sharp controls make it a joy to wreak havoc on the unprepared people and the difficulty hits a nice sweet spot where it provides a good challenge without ever being frustrating. I would have gladly spent more time in this sepia-toned world if there were more stages and more strategy, but with such meager offerings, I'd fly right by Black Bird.