Gunbrella

A finely crafted game in almost every respect, Gunbrella mixes engaging puzzles with exciting action, well-rounded characters, and a dark, intriguing mystery that infects the entire dystopian world.

Gunbrella is a superb neo-noir thriller that will have you floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.

Gunbrella takes a ridiculous idea and creates an incredible adventure around it. The gun/umbrella combination allows you to quickly traverse and blast enemies with ease. Surprisingly, the narrative includes an emotional punch and is brimming with charm. Although some of the side missions are not as strong as the main objectives, the game is a delight from beginning to end and a must-play for fans of Metroidvanias.

Each game has been distinct in nearly every way, and Gunbrella is once again a standout among its peers. I came away with some disappointments, but those hours I spent going through the game twice melted away unnoticed. If that’s not a sign of quality, what is?

Gunbrella is one of those indies that presents such a clever combo of fun gameplay elements that it's an easy title to recommend.

This is a very fun action-platformer with excellent mechanics and some interesting twists that will at times have you laughing and other times have you reeling in shock. It has some bugs that the developer will probably fix, and you can feel some unrealized potential in various aspects as the game runs its course. But if you come to it because of the idea of a game built around an umbrella that is also a gun, I can promise you won’t likely be disappointed with what you get.

Gunbrella is a cinematically fulfilling 2D action platformer whilst showcasing one of the best game mechanics of the year with its titular weapon. The shorter run time and less is more approach to the gameplay may not be for everyone, but the streamlined and frenetic run and gunning met with an intoxicating world is an astounding quality in any game.

Gunbrella is an easy recommendation to any gamer looking for a brief but memorable experience.

Basically, it feels like Doinksoft really went as far as possible to ensure it makes Gunbrella feel like it is taking part in a cohesive, connected world filled with ambiance, rather than some loose arrangement of levels. It made me feel like paying attention to different characters and exploring every possible house and area mattered. Especially since it often rewarded me for doing so. It’s a novel game that seems well-supported.

Gunbrella is the ultimate cocktail for folks seeking an epic story, a mix of gameplay styles, and just an all-around good time. It's chock-full of surprises from beginning to end, making it a no-brainer recommendation for anyone who loves platformers and action games.

Gunbrella is a very satisfying platformer that we enjoyed. Its mystery story is interesting and the pleasure of mastering the game's signature weapon has left us hooked. With a good sense of humor and interesting boss battles, we think it's a title worth your time, even with its minor flaws.

Gunbrella delivers on tight and responsive bouts of action. Although it’s a challenging platformer, you can enjoy it from beginning to end across an evening as you hone your Gunbrella skills and get your revenge. What’s more enticing is the story and characters who bring up interesting topics that make you question certain aspects of your adventure. The price is definitely right for this game, and I’ll gladly jump back in because it is so damn fun.

While Gunbrella has its issues, it’s still a really fun, gorgeous-looking experience that’s definitely worth a play for any fans of the genre. You shouldn’t expect anything groundbreaking in terms of story, but can look forward to a few laughs and endearing characters. Even just messing around with the mechanics made possible by a gun that is also an umbrella should bring anyone hours of enjoyment.

Gunbrella is a captivating mix between action, platform and noir storytelling. The game is enjoyable and well crafted, but its level design and the platform phases could have shine way more.

Having played both Gato Roboto and Gunbrella, I’d say that the former is the stronger overall experience, edging out the latter because of its progress-halting bugs (which may be mostly hammered out during the game's launch). The atmosphere and movement abilities of Gunbrella are excellent, but the lack of enemies and opportunities to use the titular weapon are a bit disappointing. If you prefer more of an adventure-game bent to your action-platformer, then Gunbrella is definitely worth a look, even if its rain-shielding, double-barreled frame could use a little more polish and a lot more target practice.

The only real complaint I had with Gunbrella was the map system, I always felt like I was lost as I wandered around cities, sewers and more, but due in large part to the fun of traversal with the Gunbrella I never really was too angry at being lost. A large part of Gunbrella’s charm for me is its atmosphere, as I said I love the noir genre; so much so that I am writing a neo-noir novel, so I thoroughly relished my time with Gunbrella. From its beautiful pixel graphics, its fantastically smart writing, and its amazing soundtrack, Gunbrella is yet another great game in the sea of great games that is otherwise known as 2023.

Fun, with good ideas and ambition, but not as good as other similar titles. At least, it’s a breath of fresh air in the indie scene.

By the final reckoning, we're invested in how it all shakes out; perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that the titular weapon is not, in fact, Gunbrella's most powerful asset. [Issue#390, p.132]