Lichtspeer Reviews
"Lichtspeer had all the components for a great arcade “reverse angry birds” game. You predominately throw spears, while stationary, at hilariously designed Germanic creatures and try to eviscerate their faces with their own blood. Alright, I may have gone a bit too far but that is essentially the point of this game. Sadly, certain design choices and technical slip-ups kept Lichtspeer from being a title that wants you to play it for over one hundred hours. Yes, there is a trophy that requires you to play the title for that long."
The question for you when considering Lichtspeer is whether you enjoy being challenged and whether you mind that the game ultimately revolves around getting very good at aiming and firing your speer. If you think you could say yes to both of these items there’s several hours of enjoyment to be had with the game, and you most certainly will be challenged over the course of playing it. If you finish the base stages you’ll be able to go for completing Game+ mode with even more enemies coming your way. If even that isn’t quite enough challenge for you feel free to take on the appropriately-named Rage Quit mode that will forcee you to complete the stages with no checkpoints. I tried and failed spectacularly, there’s always some bastard that breaks through at some point. For the right people I have no doubt Lichtspeer will be a good time, but I also would quickly say it isn’t for everyone.
The style is exquisitely over the top and the gameplay pleasantly simple. Lichtspeer shows little mercy to inexperienced players, but the glaringly colorful absurdity more than makes up for it.
Review in German | Read full review
At its core, Lichtspeer works as a simplistic arcade experience.
There's value in the art, the style, the writing and the magic when it all comes together. As much as I enjoyed all that, however, I can't say that this is a game which plays well.
Almost everything from the plot to the enemies to the presentation embraces the oddness of Lichtspeer, all they do so in a way that's not obnoxious. The game doesn't shy away from trying to challenge you from the outset, but it does so in a way that feels completely fair, even when dying seems like a constant thing. Most importantly, Lichtspeer is a fun experience that will stick with you, and it has the potential to draw you back in again, long after you've beaten it.
Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition is a bizarre juxtaposition of an off-the-wall premise and aesthetics coupled with some basic shooting mechanics that stress trajectory and timing above all else. There isn't a ton of meat to the gameplay, but it's a fun little diversion and overall satisfying gaming appetizer.
Lichtspeer is based around a very simple premise; throw spears at enemies to kill them. While the gameplay stays consistent throughout, the variety of different enemies and situations thrown at the player gives the game a surprising amount of depth, even if some levels seem unimaginative and/or repetitive.
It puts fun above all else and I loved it.
There’s a certain appeal in difficult games, but they have to be designed just right if they want to be compellingly hard rather than frustrating. Early on, Lichtspeer gets that balance just right, but later all that design sense goes out the window in favour of just becoming unfair. The first few levels are marked by a need to give it just one more try; coupled with how fantastic the game looks and feels, that made it utterly compelling. Later on, though, it just becomes an ordeal – one that, evidently, very few people have bothered to see through.
The difficulty in the later levels may be a turnoff for some, but that aside, Lichtspeer is highly enjoyable, action packed and a perfect blend of old-school action and new-school design.
Lichtspeer won’t have the mass appeal of the AAA games coming out this Fall, but it is more than worthy of your time. With a fun and over the top aesthetic mixed with simplistic game design, Lichtspeer is pure arcade bliss with all the hooks I’ve been looking for in an indie title.
Describing its world as an “ancient German future,” Lichtspeer is filled with amusing overtones, and the enemies themselves are often ridiculous and fun. Whether it’s viking penguins aboard longships or blue-skinned giants in sunglasses, there’s a comical feel to the whole thing that helps keep it entertaining.
Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition offers up addicting and challenging platforming, as well as a truly fantastic soundtrack.
At its best, Licthspeer is a frantic combination of a pulsating soundtrack and rhythmic spear throwing.
Lichtspeer's saving grace is its exceedingly satisfying aim-and-throw gameplay. Simple and yet devilishly compelling, it's the one trick up the game's sleeve that'll keep you coming back for more, despite some very challenging sections and so-so bosses. Arcade gamers that are looking for something new will have a ball with the flinger's fast-paced action, but for most, this will likely only entertain for a short while. It's not the best arcade game around, then, but it's also by no means the wurst.
Gut. Fantastisch. ÜBER. Lichtspeer is, as the devs claim, the best lightspear-tossing simulator I've played.
Lichtspeer is a fun distraction from the current avalanche of triple-A fall titles; one that you will be able to dip in and out of as you please, thanks to its simplistic gameplay and control mechanics. Never demanding a huge investment from the player, but rewarding them if they put the time in.
If you don't mind dealing with a high level of difficulty, Lichtspeer may be the perfect game for you.
Lichtspeer is nonsensical, bloody, and a joy to behold. It suffers from repetition, and stages that drag on a little too long, but is a worthy experience for those possessing the willpower to tackle this challenging title.