Matterfall Reviews
Matterfall is the first notable failure in Housemarque's career. There is not even a bright and technological graphics, which studio is famous for. This is faded, boring, artificially prolonged game with a bad save system and stupid enemies. Of course, you can spend three hours of your life on it, but it's better to just skip this project and pay attention to one of the much more attractive summer hits.
Review in Russian | Read full review
The augments are fun to collect, and the bosses are a decent challenge but there isn't much to make you want to go back for more, especially with all that unnecessary Smart Matter Paraphernalia. Take that away and you'll have a much more fun and intense shooter.
If you can handle the uncomfortable controls, you'll be able to immerse yourself in some good old platformer shooting fun.
Unfortunately, Matterfall never quite comes together, despite its short runtime
While I have to tip my hat to Housemarque for trying something different, Matterfall feels more like a side project than a proper release in the developer's esteemed lineage of twin-stick shooters. The controls lack the same level of slick polish, the main experience is short, and there's little to keep you coming back.
Matterfall contains some welcome formula tweaks and the usual level of Housemarque polish, but it's much less inspired than the Finnish studio's better shooters.
Housemarque's understanding of arcade shooting mechanics is, as ever, strong with Matterfall, but it lacks the flair and bombast of the more thoroughbred members of its family. The core concepts carried over from Housemarque's previous efforts may be signature moves now, but they are starting to grow a little tired, more so when the game they feature in isn't among the best the developer has put out.
Matterfall brings back retro gameplay mechanics in a futurist set. However, it doen not bring anything new and becomes a little bit repetitive due to this.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
PS4's Matterfall is a visually stunning yet uninspiring hybrid of Housemarque's past successes.
Nowhere close to the arcade perfection of Resogun or Nex Machina, this undercooked action platformer lacks the precise controls and instant appeal of its stablemates.
Admittedly, the overall quality of Matterfall hurts more than usual because we've seen exactly what Housemarque can do. The core game is fun, but mediocre platforming holds back the game's strengths of dashing and shooting. Controls seem fine on paper, but the inability to map the buttons means that there's a learning curve to the game that will result in many deaths and wrong moves. It may look and sound pretty, but with a short game length and a punishing leaderboard system, consumers may want to wait for a price drop before jumping in.
Matterfall is a mechanically sound game but has very little to keep you coming back to chase high scores. As it stands, I enjoyed the handful of hours that I spent with it, but I can't see myself going back anytime soon. This greatly disappoints me since I have spent months if not years coming back to some of Housemarque's past ventures. While I like the new direction that Housemarque tried to go in with Matterfall, I'd be fine if we never ended up seeing a game in this same vein in the future.
Matterfall has been successful in presenting an action shooter which can increase the rush of adrenalin in your body! Yet, unfortunately, the game lacks content and is unable to keep you entertained for hours. However, it’s unfair to ignore its exceptional music and sound design. The combination of soundtracks and action shooter genre is the best part of the game!
Review in Persian | Read full review
Matterfall is a game filled with ideas and mechanics that seem fine on their own, but contradict and conflict with each other when added together. The experience is so short and stifled, that even with some enjoyable moments along the way, it's hard to recommend.
A Dashing experience that contains all the factors we are used to in a Housemarque game. Unfortunately, it lacks a unique identity and more content to brightly shine as one of the strongest titles for this studio.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Matterfall is perhaps the least essential Housemarque title in the PlayStation 4's catalogue, but it's still a cut above the majority of the competition.
Effectful and entertaining arcade genre mix, which loses its charm quickly because of its very small scale and little replay value.
Review in German | Read full review
Very good-looking and enjoyable with is nervous, but easy to understand, gameplay, Matterfall fells great but doesn't offer so much to do and ends too quickly. But if you're a scoring addict, it's definitely for you.
Review in French | Read full review
MatterFall is crammed with interesting mechanics and there's something really lovable about its Metroid-meets-Contra-meets-Bullet-Hell style. It's just a shame that the levels aren't memorable enough or the enemies distinctive enough to make it another retro-arcade great. Throw in boss battles that go on way too long, and it's a solid shooter that will please enthusiasts, but not quite up there with Resogun or Nex Machina.
Matterfall's not the best game Housemarque will release in 2017 – but then, the virtually flawless Nex Machina was always going to be a tough act to follow. There's a lot to like about this side-scroller's pulsating platforming levels, and when it all comes together you'll feel like you're on top of the world. An unorthodox control scheme means that it's not the most accessible game, but once you slip into a rhythm it feels right. Unfortunately, it can be hard to stay in the groove, and while those looking for a challenge will undoubtedly relish the practice required to master this menacing sci-fi affair, it will put others off.