Info about Super Time Force Ultra:

Official game description:
**Super Time Force Ultra** is an action-packed platformer with a time-travelling twist! You’re in control of time itself, bending and stretching it to your advantage on the battlefield. Rewind time and choose when to jump back into the action, teaming-up with your past selves in a unique single-player co-op experience! Take control of up to 19 unique characters, and battle across 6 different time periods, from the long-ago past to the far-away future.

Release date: Aug 25, 2014

Categories: 2D Platformer, Run 'n' Gun, Time Manipulation, Pixel Art Style, Side-scrolling Shooter, Single-player, Action Platformer, Boss Rush


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $13.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews directly compare price points: $15 is rejected as not worth it, while $13 is described as acceptable. Multiple comments emphasize waiting for a sale or discount before buying, which suggests the community sees the full base price as reasonable only at a modest level. The fair base-game range is therefore estimated around $10 to $13, with $13 as the highest clearly tolerated price and lower prices preferred.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 5.0h
  - Story completion: 5.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: 20.0h
  - Reasoning: The first and second quotes support main campaign/story completion at roughly 3-6 hours, with one report specifically citing about 4 hours, so gameCompletion and storyCompletion are set to about 5 hours as a midpoint. The fourth quote gives a completed 1-hour session, while other reports mention short sessions of just over half an hour, supporting a sessionLength of about 1 hour. The third quote directly supports endgame and completionist play at 20+ hours for 100%, with other reports citing 12-16 hours for all achievements, so endgame is set to 20 hours for full completion.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: STFU has an early hurdle in its overwhelming time-rewind mechanic, but players who get past it often find a deep, addictive loop; others find the repetition and controls frustrating and never click.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Getting over the overwhelming time-rewind mechanic introduced early in the tutorial
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Overwhelming time-rewind mechanic introduced early in the tutorial; Slight learning curve; Keyboard controls feel wonky and tedious compared with a controller; Repetitive gameplay and frustration for some players; Cheap deaths, lag, and a crowded screen
  - Unlock drivers: Getting over the overwhelming time-rewind mechanic, which reveals surprising depth; Using a controller, which makes the game accessible to anyone who picks it up; The 60-second level timer keeps rewinding and replaying from becoming sluggish
  - Conditions: After the early overwhelming mechanic is overcome; If using a controller rather than a keyboard; For players who enjoy or tolerate repetition and perfectionist challenge; Once players accept the 60-second level structure
- Player Archetypes:
  - Time-Loop Tactician (buy)
    - Motivation: Orchestrating a self-made squad through rewinds, layering past runs on top of each other to solve levels like a choreographed puzzle.
    - Playstyle: Adds specialized characters one at a time, deliberately rewinds to correct mistakes and stack 'ghost' versions of the previous run, treating the game as a solo co-op puzzle.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Lemmings
  - Hardcore Challenge Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Pushing the rewind mechanic to its limits in perma-death modes where every mistake can be rescued only by clever time manipulation.
    - Playstyle: Replays the whole campaign on higher-tier modes, treating character deaths as solvable problems and replaying levels until the timeline is rescued perfectly.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: ultra-hardcore player
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Completionist Grinder (sale)
    - Motivation: Collecting every medal, achievement and 100% clear, treating the checklist as the real endgame.
    - Playstyle: Farms levels across difficulties, spams needed characters on easy, and grinds out medals and hard-mode clears for full completion.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual Action-Platformer Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying a stylish 2D action-platformer with charming pixel art, chiptune music and retro-flavored level design.
    - Playstyle: Plays level-by-level through the stage select, brute-forcing fights with whatever characters work and soaking up the art and music rather than optimizing.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Mega Man; Gunstar Heroes; FEZ; TimeShift


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Time rewind mechanic praised (weight 0.63): Multiple clusters highlight the time rewind feature as a standout element, making gameplay fun and strategic. It allows saving past selves, cooperation, and clever use of time manipulation.
- Fun and chaotic gameplay (weight 0.39): Gameplay is described as outrageous, fun, and chaotic, with pleasant and refreshing elements. It is overall a delightful experience.
- Excellent pixel art graphics (weight 0.38): The pixel art style is widely praised as amazing, beautiful, and well-crafted, with retro aesthetics that look great. Graphics are considered exceptional for pixel art.
- Hilarious and silly humor (weight 0.35): The game's story and humor are frequently described as hilarious, silly, and witty, adding charm and enjoyment. Humor is solid and appreciated without being vulgar.
- Innovative and unique gameplay (weight 0.32): The game is full of innovative gameplay mechanics, often described as unique, original, and refreshing. The concept is considered genius and extremely original.
- High replayability (weight 0.2): Players note high replay value due to the game's design, encouraging repeated playthroughs. The replay feature shows past performances, adding to the enjoyment.
- Awesome boss battles (weight 0.17): Boss battles are intense, enjoyable, and diverse, requiring different tactics. They are the most memorable moments for many players.
- Wonderful sound and music (weight 0.16): Sound effects and music are highly praised, with pleasant 16-bit and well-crafted 8-bit tunes. The audio enhances the overall experience.
- Fast-paced gameplay (weight 0.1): The game is noted for its fast-paced action, keeping players engaged. This contributes to the overall fun and excitement.
- Rescuing past self power-up (weight 0.09): Rescuing your former self grants its abilities and an extra life point, adding a strategic layer. This mechanic is tied to the time rewind system.
- Unlockable Valve characters (weight 0.09): Well-known Valve characters make an appearance as unlockable content, appealing to fans. This crossover adds a fun element.
- Hardcore mode on completion (weight 0.09): Completing the game unlocks a hardcore mode that forces more careful play. Players find this mode fun and challenging.
- Game name shortens to STFU (weight 0.08): The game's name shortens to STFU, which is noted as a blast to play. This quirky detail is appreciated by players.

Common complaints:
- Controls are awkward and imprecise (weight 0.47): The control scheme is widely criticized for being stiff, unresponsive, and requiring the same stick for movement and aiming. This leads to imprecise shooting and frequent unintended deaths.
- Humor and writing fall flat (weight 0.45): The humor is often seen as heavy-handed, profane, and trying too hard, with weak writing and unengaging story. Many players find it off-putting and juvenile.
- Difficulty too high and frustrating (weight 0.41): The game is considered extremely difficult, with challenging platforming, boss battles, and one-life completion being nearly impossible. Many find it frustrating and inaccessible.
- Combat system confusing and unbalanced (weight 0.4): The combat is often described as confusing, with high enemy health, slow projectiles, and one-hit deaths for the player. Many find the difficulty unbalanced and frustrating.
- Time-rewind mechanic disrupts flow (weight 0.36): The time-rewind mechanic frequently interrupts gameplay, making it jerky and irritating. It also makes tracking characters difficult and often pauses the action.
- Game is too chaotic and over-designed (weight 0.32): The game is often described as chaotic, over-designed, and convoluted, with too many moving parts that don't fit together cohesively. This leads to messy gameplay and confusion.
- Repetitive and monotonous gameplay (weight 0.29): Many stages feel repetitive and grindy, with limited randomness and shallow mechanics. The novelty wears off quickly, leading to boredom.
- Character balance and variety issues (weight 0.28): Characters are poorly balanced, with many being useless or only differentiated by weapon and hitbox. Players often stick to a few favorites, and the game fails to utilize new characters.
- Screen clutter obscures gameplay (weight 0.27): Many players report that the screen becomes cluttered with too many objects and effects, causing loss of overview and making it hard to see projectiles or characters. This issue is exacerbated by multiple clones, gunfire, and explosions.
- Time limits cause frustration (weight 0.24): Strict time limits, especially 60-second timers and short run durations, force players to rush and collect clocks for extra time, shifting focus from combat to time management. This leads to tedious and annoying experiences.
- Technical performance problems (weight 0.23): Players report lag, stuttering, input drops, and resolution glitches on 1080p screens, making the game unplayable for some.
- Visuals and art style criticized (weight 0.23): The pixel art is often described as naive, crude, and garish, with enemies blending into the background. The presentation is considered mediocre and forgettable.
- Limited replay viewer functionality (weight 0.22): The replay viewer is very limited: players cannot save replays, control the camera, or rewind fully. This hinders speedrunning and content creation.
- Game feels more like puzzle than action (weight 0.17): Many expected a run-and-gun action game but found it to be more of a puzzle game, with emphasis on time manipulation and precise button sequences rather than shooting.
- Not fun or exciting (weight 0.17): Several players simply find the game not fun, lacking excitement and failing to deliver enjoyable gameplay.
- Level design inconsistent and awkward (weight 0.17): Level design choices are often odd, with some levels much harder than others, and certain sections (like jetpack levels or puzzle locks) feeling awkward or unfair.
- Short campaign length (weight 0.16): The story campaign is short (around 4 hours), and some players feel the game ends too quickly.
- Language and pricing issues (weight 0.12): Some players complain about lack of Chinese language support, mismatched Japanese font, and a price increase after adding languages, which is seen as unfair.
- Achievements and completion are grindy (weight 0.1): Getting 100% completion requires repetitive grinding and playing levels over and over, which becomes tedious and frustrating.

Gameplay feedback:
- Time Rewind Core Mechanic (weight 0.99): Players can rewind time after dying or voluntarily to undo mistakes, a central gameplay feature. This mechanic is frequently highlighted as essential to the game's identity.
- Many Unlockable Characters (weight 0.57): The game features a large roster of unlockable characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles. This variety encourages replayability and strategic choices.
- 2D Run'n'Gun Platformer (weight 0.47): The game is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer with run-and-gun shooter elements. Its fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay is frequently mentioned.
- Fight Alongside Past Selves (weight 0.46): Rewinding allows players to fight alongside previous versions of their characters, creating cooperative gameplay within a single player experience. This unique twist is often praised.
- Hardcore Mode Permadeath (weight 0.28): A hardcore mode exists where dead characters cannot be used again until rescued, adding a layer of permanent consequence. This mode is appreciated by players seeking greater challenge.
- 60-Second Level Time Limit (weight 0.27): Each level has a strict 60-second time limit, adding urgency and requiring efficient play. Time can be extended by collecting bonus clocks.
- Limited Rewinds Per Level (weight 0.2): Players can rewind time up to 30 times per level, imposing a strategic limit on the core mechanic. This constraint adds resource management to the gameplay.
- One-Hit Death Difficulty (weight 0.17): Characters die in one hit, making the game highly challenging and demanding precise timing and strategy. This difficulty is a core aspect of the experience.
- Puzzle and Action Platformer (weight 0.13): The game combines action platforming with puzzle elements, requiring players to think strategically about time manipulation. This blend offers a unique challenge.
- Short Playtime 5-6 Hours (weight 0.09): A single playthrough takes about 5-6 hours, which some players may find brief. However, unlockables and time trials extend replay value.
- Collectibles and Bonus Missions (weight 0.09): The game includes collectibles, bonus missions, and time trials for completionists. These extras provide additional challenges beyond the main story.
- Boss Battles and Mini-Bosses (weight 0.09): The game features boss battles and mini-bosses that test players' skills and mastery of the time rewind mechanic. These encounters are often memorable.
- Standard 2D Action Game (weight 0.08): Some players describe it as a standard 2D action game, indicating that while solid, it may not stand out in the genre. This perspective highlights its conventional aspects.

Performance notes:
- 1080p resolution bug unplayable (weight 0.06): On 1080p screens, the game may not appear and glitches out, making it unplayable. This is a critical issue for players with that resolution.
- Smooth performance with many bullets (weight 0.06): The game runs smoothly without stuttering even when there are many bullets and timeline resets. This indicates good optimization for high-action scenarios.
- Frequent lag reported (weight 0.06): Lag is not uncommon according to feedback, indicating that network or performance issues occur regularly. This can degrade the overall experience.
- Occasional unexplained stutters (weight 0.06): Players report that the game sometimes stutters for no apparent reason. This affects fluidity and can disrupt gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Appeals to Genre Fans (weight 0.45): The game is strongly recommended for fans of specific genres such as 2D platformers, action games, and side-scrolling shooters. Clusters 5, 10, 11, 24, 27, 32, 34, 35, 36, 44, 48, 49, and 61 highlight this targeted appeal.
- Wait for Sale (weight 0.38): A recurring theme is that the game is worth buying only at a discount. Clusters 2, 4, 13, 16, 25, 26, 38, and 42 all advise waiting for a sale or avoiding the full price.
- Fun and Unique Experience (weight 0.35): Reviewers frequently mention the game's fun, unique, and creative aspects, often recommending it for those seeking something different. Clusters 29, 30, 39, 40, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, and 62 capture this sentiment.
- Strong Overall Recommendation (weight 0.3): Many players recommend the game without hesitation, using phrases like 'recommended,' 'would recommend,' and 'can't recommend this enough.' Cluster 1, Cluster 3, and Cluster 6 all reflect a highly positive general sentiment.
- Positive but Qualified (weight 0.22): Several recommendations come with conditions, such as worth playing for the story or the idea, but not at full price. Clusters 7, 18, 23, 25, and 41 show mixed feelings about value.
- Not for Everyone (weight 0.2): Some reviewers note the game may not suit all players, especially those expecting pure action or a crazy arcade experience like Broforce. Clusters 15, 19, 28, 50, and 51 express caveats or personal reservations.
- Similar to Classic Games (weight 0.2): The game is often compared to classics like Gunstar Heroes, Cave Story, and Shovel Knight, appealing to fans of those titles. Clusters 32, 34, 61, 62, and 63 draw these parallels.
- Casual and Accessible (weight 0.13): The game is described as casual and accessible, with adjustable difficulty that allows even those bad at action to progress. Clusters 20, 45, and 46 highlight its inclusive design.
- Not Worth $15 (weight 0.09): A few reviewers explicitly state the game is not worth the $15 price tag. Clusters 23 and 25 reflect this negative price perception.
- Novel Mechanic and Shooting Fun (weight 0.06): The novel game mechanic and fun shooting with interesting characters are key selling points. Cluster 48 recommends it for these reasons.
- Recommended for Indie Fans (weight 0.05): Fans of indie games with unique ideas will likely appreciate this title. Cluster 49 recommends it for that audience.
- Good Value for Achievements (weight 0.05): For achievement hunters, the game offers decent value at its standard price. Cluster 22 notes that at $13, it's a good deal if you aim for all achievements.
- Enjoyable for One Playthrough (weight 0.05): The game is considered good for a single playthrough, especially if purchased cheaply. Cluster 26 mentions it's a good game for one playthrough if seen cheap.
- Second Playthrough Super Hardcore (weight 0.05): Players who finish the game once are encouraged to try the second playthrough's 'Super Hardcore Mode' for an extra challenge. Cluster 21 specifically mentions this mode.
- Recommended for Masochistic Players (weight 0.05): Players who enjoy challenging, punishing experiences may find this game appealing. Cluster 57 suggests it's for those who are masochistic in a good way.
- Tired of Gloomy Games (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for those seeking a break from dark or gloomy titles. Cluster 59 highlights this as a positive aspect.
- Atmosphere Over Language (weight 0.05): Even if you don't understand English, the game can be enjoyable if the atmosphere appeals to you. Cluster 37 notes this.
- Gamepad Recommended (weight 0.04): One reviewer suggests playing with a gamepad for a better experience. Cluster 52 provides this specific controller recommendation.
- PC Port Appreciation (weight 0.04): Some players express gratitude for the game being available on PC. Cluster 60 thanks the developers for bringing it to the platform.

Other player notes:
- Valve characters included (weight 0.35): The game features characters from Valve titles such as Team Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead. This includes unlockable guest characters like Pyro and Zoey.
- Comparisons to Contra and Metal Slug (weight 0.24): Reviewers frequently compare the run-and-gun platforming to classics like Contra and Metal Slug. The 2D side-scroller action is noted as similar but with a fresh twist.
- No multiplayer or co-op (weight 0.21): Several reviews point out the lack of multiplayer and local co-op support, which also means no multiplayer achievements. Some note it wouldn't work with the time-manipulation mechanics.
- Campaign length around 6 hours (weight 0.2): The campaign lasts about 6 hours, with full completion around 12 hours. One playthrough takes about 3-6 hours, and total playtime is 5-6 hours with high replayability.
- Comparisons to Braid and time rewind (weight 0.2): The rewind mechanic is compared to Braid, and the game is described as Contra mixed with Braid. It also shares similarities with Prince of Persia's time-rewind save-life mechanic.
- Over 15 characters with abilities (weight 0.19): The game features over fifteen characters with diverse abilities, starting with three and unlocking more as you play. Characters are unlocked by finding them or reaching badge milestones.
- No missable or glitched achievements (weight 0.19): There are no missable achievements due to level select, no DLC-only achievements, no time-gated achievements, no speedrun achievements, and no unobtainable or glitched achievements.
- Underrated and deserves sequel (weight 0.18): The game is considered underrated and did not become a hit in the indie world. Reviewers wish it was more popular and got a sequel.
- Japanese language support (weight 0.17): The game supports Japanese, with one review noting it was added via an update. Language settings can be changed in properties.
- Helladeck mode with 50 puzzles (weight 0.17): Includes a separate puzzle mode with 50 short puzzle-like missions called Helladeck. There are 50 puzzle levels total.
- Developed by Capybara Games (weight 0.16): The game is developed by Capybara Games, known for Critter Crunch and Sword & Sorcery. Their craftsmanship grows with each project.
- Russian localization available (weight 0.14): Russian localization is available and has been praised as high quality and divine.
- Multiple endings and New Game Plus (weight 0.14): Completing the game unlocks Ultra mode and purple Ultra characters, and there is a second playthrough. Hardcore mode is also available after completion.
- Levels and boss count (weight 0.13): There are 28 levels total, including 18 standard levels plus 8 boss levels. About 30 stages are mentioned.
- Achievement difficulty and time (weight 0.13): Estimated achievement difficulty is 8/10, with approximate time to 100% being 20+ hours. Completion time for achievements is about 16 hours.
- Comparisons to Broforce (weight 0.13): The game is compared to Broforce, with one reviewer saying it is worse because the chaos is lethal rather than entertaining. Another says it is no worse, though it plays differently.
- Price increased after languages (weight 0.12): The price increased after adding multiple languages. However, it is not expensive, and one reviewer would have paid even more.
- Collectibles unlock content (weight 0.09): Collecting stuff unlocks new things that unlock other things. There are many unlockables and collectables to do after completing the game's stages.
- Gamepad recommended (weight 0.05): Gamepad play is recommended for a better experience.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Players get frustrated by the high difficulty, one-life system, and long death-to-restart flow that makes progress punishing. Controls feel imprecise with movement and aiming on the same stick, and the time-rewind mechanic often interrupts action. Grinding for 100% completion and chasing the Watchers become tedious and desk-hitting.
- Amusement (weight 0.1): The game's hilarious story, silly writing, and absurd humor consistently amuse players. Funny 80s puns, pop-culture references, and charismatic characters add to the comedic experience. The chaotic gameplay of controlling multiple time-offset characters also brings amusement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players enjoy the refreshing time rewind and cloning mechanic that turns solo combat into group brawls. The fun gameplay, tight controls, and excellent level design provide a satisfying experience. The cheerful atmosphere, pixel art, and varied characters make it a blast to play.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Satisfaction comes from the well-implemented time-rewind mechanics and the satisfying feeling when the main time mechanic is pulled off. Seeing the chaos come together in a final replay after completing a level is rewarding. The game offers challenges like collectibles and hardcore mode for added depth.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Disappointment stems from the game not gaining popularity, lack of Chinese language support, and an initial bad impression due to tutorial, humor, and technical issues. The short campaign length and messy gameplay flaws undermine the interesting concept. Some characters feel useless and the humor gets stale.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.06): Enthusiasm is driven by innovative gameplay, skillful time manipulation, and over-the-top 80s action movie references. The outrageous ghost armies and challenging bosses keep players excited. The creative time travel mechanic and addictive gameplay make it a blast.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement arises from fast-paced gameplay with explosions and time manipulation. The creative time-manipulation mechanic feels fresh and brain-bending, especially during intense boss battles. The prospect of doing bullet hell, rewinding, collecting, and speedrunning simultaneously is thrilling.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the unique time travel gimmick and well-executed puzzle levels. The graphics style, soundtrack, and evident developer work in bringing the game to PC are valued. The blocky pixel art and color palette add to the appreciation.
- Love (weight 0.04): Love for the game comes from its fun characters, clever mechanics, and overall quality. The variety of characters, funny dialogue, and crazy boss battles make it enjoyable. Players love that it covers multiple genres they enjoy.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Joy is experienced through the fun platforming with time clones that respond properly to changing conditions. The forgiving gameplay with time rewind and the fun of running alongside replay characters in single co-op bring delight. The outrageously fun and smart gameplay creates joy.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is felt for the brilliant time rewind system and the phantom mechanic that lets players accomplish the seemingly impossible. Capybara Games' growing craftsmanship and the game's visual, audio, and gameplay quality are highly regarded. The creativity and rich level design are impressive.
- Fun (weight 0.02): The game is considered fun due to its unique, innovative gameplay with crazy puzzle solving and boss slaying. Getting 100% was fun at the start, and the challenging and creative gameplay keeps it entertaining.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by the interesting time travel mechanics and strategic thinking about which character to use for attacks. The game is much more interesting than other similar games.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.02): Mild frustration occurs when jet pack levels feel awkward and time management dominates gameplay. Controls sometimes fail to register, causing characters to fall off platforms.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.01): Mild disappointment arises because many characters are not interesting and get benched. Some characters are not useful and hard mode could be more interesting.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in as the game feels like a mundane action game with no excitement and gets boring quickly.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by stiff controls, the Commander's monologues, and terrible aiming controls. Fighting the limited time limit instead of enemies and rewinding time to shave off seconds adds to the irritation.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike stems from an unappealing story and humor that is too in-your-face, profane, and immature.
- Irritation (weight 0.01): Irritation is felt due to ladder climbing and aiming control issues, and the rewind process breaking gameplay flow.
- Exhilaration (weight 0.01): Exhilaration comes from unleashing simultaneous firepower from many past selves against bosses and hot-blooded gameplay.}