Lichtspeer Reviews
At its core, Lichtspeer works as a simplistic arcade experience.
Despite some great presentation, Lichtspeer is simply an unfair experience that never feels rewarding or fun.
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.
It is a shame as the rest of the game has had a lot of care put into it. The music by Marcin Sonnenberg is excellent, the ancient Germanic future to the game is a decent angle for some humour, but it ultimately fails to maintain interest due to monotonous gameplay. This is a rare case where the game’s presentation outpaces its gameplay, leaving behind a creative and briefly entertaining, yet inexplicably dull game. Certainly good for passing time, but there are countless similar games on mobile devices for a fraction of the price.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
At its best, Licthspeer is a frantic combination of a pulsating soundtrack and rhythmic spear throwing.
Lichtspeer is a videogame that lacks the synergy between its different aspects, making it a mere arcade game. This videogame is entertaining, but it needs a style of its own in order to trascend.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
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.
In a way, it's refreshing to get a game that knows exactly what it wants to do, executes on that idea, but doesn't overstay its welcome. The central mechanic of precision projectile motion is unique, and Lichtspeer plays with the formula enough to keep the experience fresh right up until the end.
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.
It puts fun above all else and I loved it.
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: Double Speer Edition offers up addicting and challenging platforming, as well as a truly fantastic soundtrack.
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.