65
Black Future '88 is a fast paced, dynamic and accurate Run & Gun but truly lacks of content and gets sometimes too challenging and repetitive due to the timed runs.
70
Despite the absurdity of the narrative and the disappointing anticlimax of its ending (not spoiled here!) Black Future ’88 is an impressive title with interesting weapons, spot-on controls, creative unlocks, and entertaining action. I wish the visual accessibility was as robust as the rest, but fans of 2D action will enjoy it as a single-player experience, or with a buddy in local co-op mode.
80
Black Future ’88 is a neon-drenched 2D roguelike that effortlessly encourages you to undergo repeated runs thanks to its great music, style and short bursts of fast-paced action.
6
Cool concept, below average execution, which makes for a pretty average game in an extremely crowded rogue lite space. The biggest selling point of the game is the art design. It captures an aesthetic and theme of something that really reminds me of Canabalt. The music is good, the graphics are solid, the setting and aesthetics are nice, which is the only thing that stands out from the other games in the genre. The only issue I have is the font is small and sometimes tough to read. The gameplay is fine, it really feels like a side scrolling Enter the Gungeon in many ways, but something about it just feels uninspired. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just doesn’t feel really well executed. It really makes it feel unremarkable knowing there are other similar and better options out there. To it’s credit, it does have a couple unique mechanics, but nothing to really write home about. I got the game for $2 and I felt that it was a steal at this price. But even at the heavily discounted price, I couldn’t help but want to play some of the other games in the genre. It’s not bad, but it’s not great.
Black Future '88
Released On:
Nov 21, 2019
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
User score
Mixed or Average
7.4
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
53% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
47% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 21, 2019
90
Even with no shortage of challenging side-scrollers to get into these days, Black Future '88 is more than worthy of your time and does more than enough to stand out in an increasingly populated crowd.
Nov 23, 2019
80
Even though there are loads of similar games out there, Black Future '88 manages to be wholly worthwhile and exceptionally fun.
Nov 21, 2019
80
Black Future ‘88 is an intriguing, challenging but also supremely fun and rewarding game. It may be an audio-visual feast, but the tight gameplay, high degree of replayability and the sterling effort that has gone into overcoming many of the criticisms levelled at the genre mean it’s not just a pretty face. If you’re looking for a dose of intense cyberpunk action on your Switch, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Nov 21, 2019
75
Black Future '88 is a fast-paced, thrilling roguelike, but it offers little to shake up the genre’s inherent repetition. Its often underwhelming gear and lack of variety in levels makes for dull runs too often, even though its gunplay consistently satisfies. You’ll find lots of hidden depth in its upgrade system if you stick with Black Future '88 despite its uninspired structure, which is made easier by its great art style and stellar soundtrack.
Nov 26, 2019
70
Black Future '88 is a stylish, stunningly fast roguelite that has a unique setting and world to mess around in. If you love to get your head smashed in by games, then you'll undoubtedly fall in love with this one, but if you need a bit more than that to commit, then you might not find anything here for you. It's a lot of fun, but it does feel a bit cookie-cutter in some places, and the world of roguelites is very competitive nowadays.
Nov 21, 2019
70
Overall, Black Future ‘88 is stylish and fun, but the experience feels fleeting. Once you’ve played a few runs or tried the assist mode, it’s possible that you’ve seen most of what’s on offer. Unlocking new characters, weapons, and perks adds replay value, as do the daily challenges, but it’s more the cool visuals and action gameplay that make this one worth picking up. Two-player co-op is another nice feature. If your first impression of Black Future ‘88 is positive, I would say give it shot, but a lack of depth and variety keep it from reaching greater heights.
Nov 22, 2019
60
Every aspect of this game feels like it was made by a sadistic Dungeon Master who just never gives their friends a break. Of course I expect to die hundreds of times when playing this kind of game, but there’s gotta be something that keeps me coming back for more, that makes the challenge enticing, and I just never felt that here.
User score
Mixed or Average
64% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
18% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
18% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Apr 3, 2023
6
Cool concept, below average execution, which makes for a pretty average game in an extremely crowded rogue lite space. The biggest selling point of the game is the art design. It captures an aesthetic and theme of something that really reminds me of Canabalt. The music is good, the graphics are solid, the setting and aesthetics are nice, which is the only thing that stands out from the other games in the genre. The only issue I have is the font is small and sometimes tough to read. The gameplay is fine, it really feels like a side scrolling Enter the Gungeon in many ways, but something about it just feels uninspired. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just doesn’t feel really well executed. It really makes it feel unremarkable knowing there are other similar and better options out there. To it’s credit, it does have a couple unique mechanics, but nothing to really write home about. I got the game for $2 and I felt that it was a steal at this price. But even at the heavily discounted price, I couldn’t help but want to play some of the other games in the genre. It’s not bad, but it’s not great.
SummaryBlack Future ’88 is a Synth-Punk roguelike 2D action Shooter. Vertically climb an always evolving procedural tower to reach the top and kill its insane owner…before your heart explodes. Shoot, slash, dash and upgrade yourself to survive the endless waves of Homicidal AI, Traps & Colossal Wardens.
Rated Tfor Teen
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date:Nov 21, 2019
Developer:
Publisher:
