No Straight Roads Reviews
You never lose sight of No Straight Roads's thematic intent during its big show-stopping numbers.
Though No Straight Roads is filled to the brim with character and style, it can’t overcome its needless complexity in a game which is more taxing than it is fun.
No Straight Roads has a laundry list of inspirations and it proudly pays homage to them all in one way or another throughout the journey. Though a few of the game's ideas end up feeling underdeveloped, the game has a lot of heart, a slapping soundtrack and the best boss encounters you'll see in a videogame this year. Just like Bunk Bed Junction in Vinyl City, I expect Metronomik to chart well within the indie scene.
Despite its flaws, there are some interesting concepts, some clever boss and district design and an ultimate message of equality that’s been presented within; should we get a sequel, I hope more time is spent on a narrative and connective tissue that does the entire package justice.
A classic case of style over substance, No Straight Roads aspires to be so much more than it turned out to be. It's got all the charm of a cult classic without the gameplay to back it up.
Taking into account everything No Straight Roads does right and wrong, it truly does feel like a game from the 2000s that I would be nostalgic as hell for.
No Straight Roads is an epic adventure that hits all the right notes with its design, story, and deep gameplay design. Sadly, the coop mode is a complete disaster that needs more work.
Despite being a relatively simple game, No Straight Roads has more than enough charm to stand out. Mayday and Zuke are a cute pair that made me smile on more than one occasion. The soundtrack is also really good, one that prompted me to move away from my usual sound system in favor of some nice headphones. Its unfortunate combat isn't overly deep but everything else comes together so well it's easy to overlook that.
No Straight Roads it's an outstanding action game with some rhythm game mechanics, filled with love for the music and an amazing art direction.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A wild, rocking adventure that exemplifies everything that makes indie gaming great, eclipsing its own shortcomings with an endless torrent of unbridled creativity and energy
No Straight Roads is a music-based boss rush basher with a fun cast and great soundtrack. Despite a few control issues and a rather small base game, there's obviously a lot of heart present.
For such a short game with so many issues, it seems crazy to recommend No Straight Roads. The story is overly drawn out, almost feeling like it was intended for a longer game, the levels are to be endured and the underlying systems meant to bring depth are just kind of there, staring at you, begging you to yell "Freebird" so it can go on a long tirade about jerks in the audience.
No Straight Roads looks great, sounds great, and has great characters- but it has major gameplay issues that bring down the whole experience.
Bright, colourful and completely insane. No Straight Roads is like nothing I have played in recent memory and I enjoyed my time with it. It may be a bit much for some and at times it has a few performance issues but overall if you are into weird games, brawlers or rhythm games, give it a shot you might like it. Let's rock!
No Straight Roads succeeds in blending its unique art style and wonderful soundtrack with its gameplay mechanics. However, those same mechanics often face annoying issues that can hinder the flow of combat. When it comes down to it, though, the game is still an enjoyable experience to play through, especially for fans of pretty art styles, rock, and EDM.
No Straight Roads often has a frustrating difficulty that stems more from developer choices and less from player skill, making for flawed fun. This rhythm brawler is best played as an in-sync duo or trio. But a slicker, more stylish toe-tapping passion product, you're not likely to find. I hope to see more of Bunk Bed Junction.
No Straight Roads is an enjoyable romp through a weird world of colorful characters. It almost has a Psychonauts vibe to it, and not just due to the art style. NSR provides a cute adventure with some fun boss fights, but it doesn't redefine the genre or do anything extraordinary. If the in-between areas had been stronger, they might have elevated the game, but they don't currently detract from the experience. All in all, NSR is a charming title that is worth a look. As the developers say in the ending credits, "We like EDM too."
No Straight Roads is a good first effort for the Malaysian based Metronomic. It’s got a beautiful art style, catchy soundtrack, varied boss fights, and great voice acting. Some of the other parts of the gameplay like the exploration and regular combat fights feel a little underbaked.
Its soundtrack is potentially one of my favorites of the year, the writing is genuinely funny, and the character and boss designs are honestly top notch, but this is unfortunately not enough to counteract the many problems I have with how the gameplay itself pans out. There is a diamond trapped within this rock, and I truly hope the team at Metronomilk is able to polish it to the full potential that is so clearly there. For now, though, its problems are too hard for me to ignore and make what could be a great game into a game that's just alright.
You really need to play No Straight Roads. While the isn't amazing, the presentation is, and it's flawed in some truly interesting ways.