forma.8

 Switch
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Nintendo Life
    Aug 24, 2017
    90
    Forma.8 takes the foreboding and desolate landscape and gear-gating of obvious inspiration Metroid and adds its own unique spin to it. From the floaty and endearing orb you play as to the design and structure that makes players feel like they are finding new things organically, it takes a genre formula and makes it its own. If you’re looking for an adventure that is filled with inventive discovery, a sense of lonesomeness and a gorgeous world to behold, forma.8 is not to be missed.
  2. Destructoid
    Aug 24, 2017
    75
    Forma.8 is hardly a flawless game, but it’s a damn fine addition to the Nintendo Switch’s library. The last third is almost perfectly executed and the finale genuinely surprised and left me craving more. It took a while to get there, but its closing moments left one hell of an impression.
  3. NintendoWorldReport
    Aug 24, 2017
    75
    All in all, forma.8 is a game that presents a lot of very fresh concepts that absolutely deserve to be explored further. My issues with its combat system didn’t become a real problem until late in the game, and even then it was generally relegated to short encounters that I’d have to retry a couple times. On the other hand exploration, while at times confusing, was never short on awe inspiring moments. Emerging from a challenging series of encounters in tight hallways and finding yourself in a huge room with five options of which door to go through next is what makes this type of game so fun, and forma.8 sure has a lot of those moments.
  5. Switch Player
    Sep 4, 2017
    74
    forma.8 is Mixed Bag Games’ take on the Metroidvania genre. It combines puzzling and combat with the awe-inspiring exploration of an atmospheric alien world. Not diminished by any of its slips, it’s a compelling adventure of a little charming probe.
  6. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Oct 30, 2017
    70
    If you're looking for a slow enigma of a game, forma.8 is worth it [Issue #30 – November/December 2017, p. 25]
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  7. Cubed3
    Sep 12, 2017
    70
    It is very difficult to complain about such an affordable and aesthetically-rich package. For its price point, Forma.8 is a surprisingly long and thoughtful Metroidvania-style experience. While the overall balance is a little off, largely due to the lack of precision handling and awkward combat, this is more than made up for through the game's rich atmosphere, depth of progression, and the attention to detail paid to elements of gameplay and aesthetic contrast. The Nintendo Switch also seems an ideal home for this indie adventure, with no discernible issues with this version, granting it another opportunity to shine. While it hardly reinvents the genre, it's certainly worth adding to the library, considering the price, particularly for fans of Metroidvanias. In addition, with the tablet and mobile version suffering from touch screen controls, this version undoubtedly reigns supreme as the penultimate portable version, too.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 20
  3. Negative: 3 out of 20
  1. Klev_
    Sep 28, 2017
    5
    "I don't know. I simply don't know how the critics can be such positive about this game."
    This what I was thinking at first. But after a    "I don't know. I simply don't know how the critics can be such positive about this game."
    This what I was thinking at first. But after a while I understood.

    To begin, this is absolutely _not_ a bad game. There is a lot of qualities that other reviewers pointed out. But for me, as a huge fan of 2D Metroid games who buy this because it is sold as a "metroidvania" and after reading all the reviews here, there is some drastic problems I must emphasize.

    There is the two solids points of my frustration:
    This game it's not so difficult if you remove the delay of the inputs. Sometimes you have to retry things because of one collision and this is awful for me. Maybe it's fine for some people but personally I hate this. Why ? Because the maneuverability of the cute little robot of this game is hell compared to Samus perfect controls. At first I find the delays cute realistic and appropriate with the artistic design, but as time passed… it begin to be frustrating for me.

    Thus, this game gives me an impression of boringness just because of the slowness of this robot. Some of the others reviewers see there a quality because it fits the artistic design. This is not my case.

    This game have some positive aspects, such as a capacity to create exploration enjoyment in me like Metroid games. But the two points I've said before kill this euphoria for me.

    Anyway. I leave this review for advertising people like me. In this game you can find some beautiful things. But be warned. This is not the Samus you're looking for.
    This game is not that bad and deserve good critics too. I respect other people thoughts, and the developer(s) made a huge amount of work for this piece of art. But I want people like me to be warned and see that there is some possibility of being non satisfied by this game despite his qualities.    … Full Review »
  2. AllySky
    Oct 13, 2018
    1
    To me this game feels like I am trying to fight off an army of expert soldiers with a giant hammer, it's not so much as being underpowered butTo me this game feels like I am trying to fight off an army of expert soldiers with a giant hammer, it's not so much as being underpowered but being unable to respond effectively with the wonky and sloppy controls. With enemies that attack at speeds that requires you to react just as fast, the momentum of your character is already on a trajectory of "you done ****ed up". and it's repetitively annoying. The game looks nice at times but I couldn't recommend it.… Full Review »
  3. jsh710
    Mar 25, 2023
    3
    boring. it's not about slow motion. never need to think. If you have a little interested this game, I strongly recommend Pixel Junk Shooter.
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