Volgarr the Viking

 Xbox One
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 46
  3. Negative: 12 out of 46

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  1. John718
    Nov 4, 2015
    2
    I respected the developers' vision they set out to accomplish by making a game "Challenging" but challenging doesn't have to be frustrating, unfair, limited to one difficulty mode, and plain and simple not encouraging at all to see the end because of its brutal setbacks every time your character dies. I understand this game was designed for a market of gamers that prefers this type ofI respected the developers' vision they set out to accomplish by making a game "Challenging" but challenging doesn't have to be frustrating, unfair, limited to one difficulty mode, and plain and simple not encouraging at all to see the end because of its brutal setbacks every time your character dies. I understand this game was designed for a market of gamers that prefers this type of difficulty, but why not provide additional easier modes for those that just want to enjoy the title the developer worked so hard to complete that could have been incorporated let's say by dying 12x in a row or other intuitive ways....why alienate sales from the very same people that could have helped them fund sequels. One thing for sure is....when you limit your sales, you are limiting your income.… Expand
  2. gdutton
    Jan 28, 2015
    2
    Just terrible!!! Why do 'they' think we would pay money for tired old games like this?? I don't really see any redeeming features at all! You would be better off dragging out your old 16 bit game system!
  3. dustfurfaro
    Nov 13, 2014
    0
    I remember when the limit was something amounted to this.
    Its not retro, it's lazy...
    The 80s had excuses for games like this, simple gameplay that was easy to code (patching game bugs is a long way off), simple mechanics that the hardware could handle, and in the case of arcades a way to get us reprobates off the streets and wasting out pocket money. 30 Years later, I demand a game    I remember when the limit was something amounted to this.
    Its not retro, it's lazy...
    The 80s had excuses for games like this, simple gameplay that was easy to code (patching game bugs is a long way off), simple mechanics that the hardware could handle, and in the case of arcades a way to get us reprobates off the streets and wasting out pocket money.
    30 Years later, I demand a game that stimulates me like a good book, or a good film. There are some wonderful puzzle games and platform games as well, please don't get me wrong. But just taking something like the early parallax scrolling games and just adding extra colour to them.
    Personally I find it insulting, and if you're a kid, you're never going to get that experience in this day and age, if you want to experience retro gaming, pick up an old arcade ROM, BBC micro, or Atari 2600, as this does not do it any justice.
    Its just lazy, and not worth the price I paid; I feel ripped off and I got it as part of the Games for Gold.
    Not a worthwhile outing for a next gen, state of the art(!), games dedicated(!) console.    … Expand
  4. DrMalito
    Nov 3, 2014
    3
    Really ? 8 Bit in a new Generation Console... mmmm if you really want to rule the video game market, don't insult our intelligence.
    Is it worth it, does it bring something new or at least is as good as any SNES game ?
  5. Slowbots
    Nov 1, 2014
    1
    Yet another 8bit jumpy platformer that is susposed to bring back memories of the good old days when games were difficult, but this drivel does that by providing horrible controls, overly long animation for everything the hero does and one hit kills.

    It´s free so it gets plus two points and ends with one point.

    Avoid like the plague.
  6. Gman2142
    Nov 17, 2014
    0
    I really don't want to give this a 1 out of 10, but really this game is sad. I know that ghosts and goblins was a really great game, but this is on the xbox one, and compared to other games, this is extremely sad.
  7. Nova_shino
    May 15, 2015
    0
    where shovel night represents everything good with classic NES platformers, volgarr represents everything Bad with classic NES platformers.

    Besides the story being only explained after the entire game is over, and only explained in detail if you rack up a good score, volgarr stars everything that made gamers cry in rage during the NES era. a stiff and uncontrollable jump with    where shovel night represents everything good with classic NES platformers, volgarr represents everything Bad with classic NES platformers.

    Besides the story being only explained after the entire game is over, and only explained in detail if you rack up a good score, volgarr stars everything that made gamers cry in rage during the NES era. a stiff and uncontrollable jump with platforming requiring precision impossible with the controls, fast enemies and a protagonist that would make simon belmont look like the usain bolt, delays to attacks where one second can be the difference between you keeping an important item and being killed, and praised for just pulling **** that other games have tried and getting away with every unbearable second of it, volgarr the viking is not a game for hardcore players, its a game for idiot players who want a pass into the hardcore club where all they do is sit around complaining about how everything is easy and how casuals are ruining everything.    … Expand
  8. Twistedretro
    Jun 21, 2018
    4
    Plenty of games have successfully emulated the presentation and gameplay of a sidescrolling classic. Shovel Knight, Bloodstained, Cave Story, Shantae, and the fantastic remake of Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap are all fine examples. Volgarr the Viking, however, ultimately falls short and it's not something I can easily recommend.

    To be fair, it is as advertised (upon reading the store    Plenty of games have successfully emulated the presentation and gameplay of a sidescrolling classic. Shovel Knight, Bloodstained, Cave Story, Shantae, and the fantastic remake of Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap are all fine examples. Volgarr the Viking, however, ultimately falls short and it's not something I can easily recommend.

    To be fair, it is as advertised (upon reading the store description, you can see that this is a game that jerks itself off on how difficult it is, much like Super Meat Boy). That's not the problem, nor is the control. Most of the reviews I've read or skimmed often bring up that the controls are terrible, but I'm willing to bet these people haven't played Ghouls n Ghosts or Castlevania. Both games had "stiff" jumping mechanics, meaning you could only jump straight up or in a fixed arc left or right. This meant you couldn't change direction once the jump was initiated. Volgarr handles much the same, which is perfectly fine. As long as you've played either of the games I've mentioned, you'll feel right at home.

    Where Crazy Viking Studio really screwed up in my opinion is the checkpoint placement. Either these guys haven't heard of them, or they're just sadistic because there are NO checkpoints whatsoever between sections of each world. If the level design wasn't so heavily based on trial and error and the concept of seeing just a bit more of what's ahead after every death, this wouldn't have been so bad. Having to go through a five to ten minute board swarming with enemies, death traps that require pixel perfect precision to get through and THEN fight a boss all on one life (maximum of three hits if you're lucky and can keep your armor) is ridiculous. Even some of the games Volgarr is trying to emulate were more reasonable- there would either be a checkpoint midway through the stage or one relatively close to the boss should you die fighting it.

    It's like the developers wanted to set out and make a challenging game, but didn't really study what the classics did well (and tweak what didn't). The end result is a game that just feels like a cheap cash-in on the nostalgia craze.

    In 2018, there are just so many better choices for around the same price range if you want a challenging retro-inspired romp. I'd advise checking out Cursed Castilla in particular if you're looking for something along the lines of Ghouls n Ghosts, as there's a hell of a lot more production value for around the same price, and it injects some modern sensibilities into its source materials' formula while still being super difficult.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

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. Brash Games
    Sep 19, 2016
    70
    It’s a very solid game that will challenge you but it’s not cheap or unfair.
    Read full review
  2. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Feb 15, 2015
    60
    Hard is cool these days, but Volgarr simply isn't all that much fun. [Issue#119, p.73]
  3. GameCritics
    Dec 1, 2014
    95
    Volgarr the Viking is an amazing accomplishment. Its developers have taken the skeleton of a classic title and transformed it into the greatest game the 80s never produced.
    Read full review
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