Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews

The very best examples of nostalgic homages are those that add something in the process. Goichi Suda's grindhouse-toned games, for example, add all kinds of stylistic features that help to build on the thematic basis. Milanoir isn't that game. It's slavishly devoted to something very obscure and doesn't do enough to appeal to people who don't know the base material. But that's not to say it's a poor game. Its energy and ballsy attitude is engrossing all in itself.

Overall, Milanoir is a very fun title. It has a deliciously dark and entertaining storyline, something that even the most expensive AAA games would kill for. It’s also home to some of the most creative use of a pixel art style seen in recent memory. The environments and characters look authentic to the period and drip personality, making all of the twists and turns of Piero’s adventure that much more irresistible to watch unfold. There are some mechanical issues that hold Milanoir back, but don’t let that stop anyone looking for a more unique video game experience from giving it a download from the eShop.

Milanoir is an enjoyable, bite-sized action game. Its combat stays fresh despite its simplicity, and well-designed boss fights allow the game to put its best foot forward for most of the campaign. However, the final act walks back much of what made the main game fun, while the story fails to coalesce into anything particularly moving. Milanoir may provide some fun thrills for action-movie junkies with an appreciation for Milan and its culture, but those looking for anything deeper would best look elsewhere.

The biggest frustration was the lack of indication when a chapter is completed.

Milanoir is a disappointment. It’s frustrating stage and boss design mar what was obviously a work of pride by people who care deeply for this period of Italian cinema. But, Piero’s misadventures simply aren’t fun to play. When things are working well the game is at best good, but it’s never an elevated experience. At its worst, Milanoir is a frustrating test of patience.

Despite hitting a lot of the same notes, Milanoir is not the Hotline Miami successor many were expecting. The game has a lot of style, enough for its 6-8 hour campaign to keep you engaged, but it is hidden underneath a layer of extreme frustration brought to light by its technical issues and extreme difficulty curve.

While strong on storyline and overall feel, the control system stopped Milanoir being great. Repetitive sequences didn't help, either - there were times where the action sequences had me bored, and were a chore to complete.

Milanoir takes an appealing aesthetic with a promising setup and turns it into a dutiful slog without much of a payout. It's basic, it's petty, and it's laughably crude. It is a noir title that really doesn’t have a whole lot to say.

Aggressively unpleasant and a chore to play, Milanoir is a bloody dud of a tale. A slick visual style is the only positive to take away from this lousy slog of a game.

If Milanoir were a Tarantino film, it would be Death Proof; a self-indulgent exercise in tedium that would make most people who experience it want their money back.