! That Bastard Is Trying To Steal Our Gold ! Review Summary

Engaging gameplay and a praised soundtrack are undermined by repetitive missions, janky controls, and unpolished graphics, though the challenging difficulty keeps things interesting.

Game is fun and engaging: Players find the game fun, quirky, and engaging, with some enjoying it for over an hour. It is also described as better than expected and enjoyable in the beginning.

Soundtrack is praised: The soundtrack is highlighted as a positive, with some calling it top-tier and others noting it is nice and unobtrusive, though slightly repetitive. One player considers it the only bright spot.

Challenging difficulty is positive: The game's difficulty is seen as a positive, with challenging levels that test timing, patience, planning, and aiming. The difficulty increases as players progress, which is appreciated.

Dynamite and punching mechanics: Players can use dynamite and punch others off the map, which adds a fun and strategic layer. The limited dynamite supply further enhances the strategic depth.

Retro graphics are authentic: The graphics look like an old game and are authentic to the gameplay, with a retro feel and no fuss. This is seen as a positive by some players.

Gameplay is boring and repetitive: Players describe the gameplay as basic, boring, and repetitive, with tedious mechanics and a lack of variety. The game quickly becomes dull, and levels feel repetitive and uninspired.

Controls are janky and unresponsive: Multiple reviews report sluggish, unresponsive, and poorly made controls, with issues like missed key reactions and character sliding. This makes the game feel clunky and frustrating to play.

Graphics are ugly and unpolished: The graphics are widely criticized as terrible, sloppy, and unappealing, with poor polish and a lackluster visual presentation. This contributes to the game's overall low quality.

Dynamite mechanics are frustrating: The dynamite is hard to control, bounces away unpredictably, and is limited in quantity, leading to unfair difficulty and frequent restarts. This makes the gameplay frustrating and tedious.

Music is repetitive and boring: The music consists of only a few tracks that loop endlessly, with sound effects that are limited and do not match the game's spirit. This detracts from the overall experience.

Dynamite-based block destruction: Players use a limited supply of dynamite to destroy blocks and clear paths, which is a central gameplay mechanic. The finite nature of dynamite requires strategic planning and careful usage.

Puzzle platformer with gold collection: The game is consistently described as a puzzle platformer where the core objective is collecting gold and returning to the start. Multiple clusters highlight the blend of puzzle-solving and platforming mechanics.

Gold collection and escape: The main goal in each level is to collect all gold items and then escape through a portal or return to the starting point. This loop is repeated across levels and is a defining feature of the gameplay.

Indie and 2D classification: The game is classified as an indie 2D game, which sets expectations for its scope and style. This classification is mentioned in several clusters.

Limited dynamite requires strategy: The scarcity of dynamite forces players to think carefully about when and where to use it, adding a strategic layer to the puzzle-solving. Players must also collect extra dynamite along the way to manage resources.

Game not recommended overall: Multiple reviewers advise against purchasing or playing the game, citing wasted time and money. The game is described as not worth playing even if free.

Worth it on sale: Several reviewers suggest buying the game only when it is discounted, indicating the full price is not justified. Some recommend waiting for a sale or purchasing it in a cheap bundle.

Recommended for genre fans: The game is recommended for players who are fans of the genre or franchise, suggesting it may appeal to a specific audience. This includes puzzle enthusiasts and casual gamers.

Not worth full price: Reviewers state the game is not worth its listed price on Steam, and advise against buying it at current cost. The game may be acceptable only at a significantly reduced price.

Buy alternative games instead: Some reviewers suggest purchasing other games like Spelunky or Battleblock Theater instead, implying the game is inferior to those alternatives. This indicates a lack of unique value.

Community fair range: $0.25 - $1.00.

Endgame: 8.0h.

The game never becomes fun for these players due to persistent control issues, repetitive design, and early boredom, with no reported moment of enjoyment.

Friction: sluggish controls; repetitive level design; boring graphics; repetitive music; clunky movement; tedious spike levels.

Disappointed Veteran: Analytical, compares to genre classics, evaluates each component critically. Motivation: Seeking a polished, engaging platformer experience. Stance: deep sale.

Casual Relaxed Player: Short, intermittent sessions without time pressure. Motivation: Relaxation and low-commitment entertainment. Stance: sale.

Genre Enthusiast: Tolerant of shortcomings, focuses on genre-specific features. Motivation: Exploring niche genre titles despite flaws. Stance: sale.

Trading cards are main value: Multiple reviewers state the game's primary value is its trading cards, which can be farmed for profit. The game is often purchased solely for card drops.

Low quality and simplistic design: The game is described as a small indie title with basic graphics, minimal plot, and short length. It is often compared unfavorably to better games like Spelunky and Battleblock Theater.

Developer history and behavior: The developer has a history of low-quality releases and has been criticized for micromanaging discussions and reacting poorly to negative feedback. The game was released via Steam Greenlight after Desura's bankruptcy.

Developer misconduct allegations: Several reviews accuse the developer of unethical behavior, including faking brain cancer to solicit purchases and deleting backlash. This has significantly damaged the game's reputation.

Comparisons to other games: Reviewers compare the game to titles like Fallout 4, Lode Runner, and CS:GO, often noting it is worse or less polished. One reviewer claims it tops CS:GO, but this is an outlier.