Black Future ’88

Black Future '88 is, unironically, a game that "gets better after X amount of hours".
Whether you feel like sinking in some time investment is up to you, but I strongly respect what this game is going for. It's very DIFFERENT from the more popular rouge-like games, and it definitely isn't going to be for everyone. This game is cryptic, with many secrets and surprisingly well-thought mechanics that may fall a little flat in execution, but you can see that INTERESTING ideas were brewing here. It's unfortunate that the first impressions of this game will undoubtedly be very rough, but if you bother to keep playing, more mechanics (some that should have been there at the start) will be added that makes a lot of sense in hindsight. Like, being able to gamble your Deadlock time to get some back later doesn't make sense on the first few runs, but if you clear a run for the first time, you'll eventually realize that the true "meat" of this game lies in Looping, where you're not just focused on survival and dealing damage, but also having enough time to last you for subsequent loops.
I do think there are some glaring issues; the visual flare this game has can definitely be a bit much at times. You eventually get used to it, but again: first impressions are very important. Also, using explosives is EXTREMELY PUNISHING because self-detonations (which are very easy to accidentally do) are almost-always an instant kill. There ARE perks to mitigate this issue, and one Synergy in particular that would actually make them usable, but the fact that an ENTIRE CLASS OF WEAPONS is generally just safer to IGNORE because otherwise they may END YOUR RUN just for using them is really too harsh. I do think there should be some inherent risk in using them, but you really have to go out of your way to get away with using them safely.
Speaking of which, Synergies are a little too hard to make; you only learn the recipe after making said Synergy, and there are no hints leading up to it. I suspect many players don't even know what the last tab in the Codex is meant for, because it's meant to show data for each Synergy. But you often need a specific weapon as well as the specific combination of perks active, making finding these organically in regular gameplay more difficult than it should be.
I also wish that dashing could be done omni-directionally instead of just an X and Y axis. This game puts heavy emphasis on dashing to evade danger, and with the lack of i-frames it's very easy to die. Having some more flexibility on dodging would be great.
Overall, I would NOT recommend this game to newcomers to the roguelike genre. I WOULD recommend this game to people familiar with roguelikes, and are craving something very different from the usual formula, and are willing to get out of their comfort zone. This game is generally ruthless, but that makes getting good at it all the more satisfying.

Game looks good, music is awesome.
Level design wise is a bit confusing and the mechanics are a tad weird sometimes, but fun nonetheless.

I was on the fence as to whether this should be a thumbs up or thumbs down, as there's certainly a lot to critique here. But in the end I walked away from my (brief) stint with this game having had enough fun that I could pretty happily recommend it to those who love this sort of thing, even if it isn't entirely for me.
Like a lot of other players here, I think the game's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness, and that's in its presentation. It makes a great impression on the store page here, but in reality it kind of looks better than it is to play. "Style over substance"? Maybe, although that calls the content of the game itself into question (and for a small indie title, it does actually have depth to uncover). "Form over function" is perhaps a more apt summary.
The game is dazzling, flashy and overstimulating to a fault. It's visually dense artstyle is often hard to parse, and in of itself creates a learning curve as you learn to grapple with what the hell is happening on your screen... especially when combined with pretty poor UX and player feedback. Luckily there are some game settings you can tweak to tone down the intensity, but it starts to come at a cost to the game's quite appealing aesthetic. And although the game is largely a success artistically, I do feel that the high quality of the pixel art starts and ends with just the environments - the sprites & animations of characters themselves mostly vary from dull, to nondescript, to even confusing, sometimes getting in the way of clear visual communication.
The procedural mapgen is also one of the weaker elements, which hurts somewhat for a roguelike. The progression of rooms in these 2D stages will often bug out and overlap, stacking in the minimap and confusing navigation. Almost every run has a selection of heavily-trapped dead-end rooms with NOTHING at the end of them... no loot or reward of any sort, just maybe a pip or two of health lost to environmental hazards. I even had one run rendered unable to be finished, as I was given a tall room with the exit at the top but no platforms to reach there (unless this was some sort of environmental puzzle randomly applied to 0.01% of rooms, but then that would just be a different complaint).
By far my biggest complaint though, and this is probably more personal, is that I had no idea just how bullet-hell-esque this game was going to be. I never saw the game in motion before playing and only went by screenshots, so perhaps that's on me. But there are some bosses and enemies there will just ABSOLUTELY soak you with bullets. Now, I'm not one to usually shy away from a "difficult" game... but this has made me realise maybe I enjoy a different type of "difficulty". Give me a big slow boss with well-telegraphed moves... even with one-hit-kills, maybe a bait/fakeout move here-and-there to contend with... and I'll learn to dance that dance. But fill my screen with endless fractal waves of projectiles, and something in my brain just shuts down and short-circuits.
The game luckily has an easier "Assist Mode" you can toggle, which I played on for the last couple hours of my time here. It introduces a sort of bullet-time slowdown you can activate, which made navigating those bullet-hell moments a lot more tolerable for someone like me. But whilst I did wind up finding myself having more fun with the mode toggled on, the slowing of time actually speeds up the game clock, which meant my runs never even wound up being more efficient than with the mode turned off. Which I guess brings me to some of my smaller complaints - I just don't like time limits, nor the game's "Skymelt" feature that swallows up your money and ammo drops after a few seconds on the ground to power up enemies. Maybe roguelike purists appreciate the difficulty these introduce, but I just don't see where the actual fun is.
Despite those complaints, I did still have some fun here. I think the progression and combat are compelling enough, but what carries this game is the audio/visual sensory treat it presents. Beautiful, colourful environments and lighting with incredible sound design and an absolutely banging soundtrack. It's buggy and a bit rough-around-the-edges, but I can still see why Black Future '88 has its fans.
★★★✰✰

All in all Black Future '88 is a pretty good roguelike. The movement and general gameplay feel fluid, and the other systems (stims, perks, curses) feel balanced. There is on the other hand a fair bit of screen shaking and flashes which might be troubling for some players. The biggest problem I had with the game though is the achievements. Most of them are fine, but things like "Dash 10000 times" and die "Die 150 times" really annoy me since you are most certainly going to have to spend a few hours repeating the same inputs to get them as they wont happen naturally over the course of gaining the other achievements. Other than that some of the extra rooms which you need to visit for achievements feel like a really low rate of appearance, especially when they only spawn on 1/2 specific floor(s). Then again, if 100%ing is not what you care about, then this game is great, and despite not having an update in many years I would say it still holds its own in the ever expanding list of great rougelikes out there.

Finally picked this one up at a steal, and was not disappointed. It's a very compact game but has a lot of interesting variety to it that will keep you re-loading its eighteen-minute loop. (should you consistently consume all of it, that is.) Yes, that 18-Minute loop is most deceptive. You think you're only going to do one run, and the next thing you know it you've done five in a row and see now signs of stopping.
The difficulty is something you will get used to -- and dying in itself remains visibly rewarding as you get to unlock more and more stuff as you go along. And don't be afraid to use the Accessibility Buff -- there is no shame! It helped me a ton to just familiarize myself with the game loop and eventually was able to progress more smoothly in each run.
Neat little loop, and an easy 100% for Trophy Hunters. Some achievements need a bit of time to unlock but all of 'em are pretty easy to fish.

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"Black Future '88" Review
Developer: Superscarysnakes
Genre: Action, Roguelike
Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch
Overview
"Black Future '88" is a game that immerses players in a dystopian world of frenetic action and retro-futuristic aesthetics. Published by Superscarysnakes, the title stands out for its unique combination of visual elements, sound and challenging mechanics, creating an immersive and memorable experience.
Graphics and Aesthetics
One of the most striking points of "Black Future '88" is its artistic style. With a vibrant color palette and pixelated graphics that evoke the aesthetics of the 80s, the game is a true visual delight. The neon lighting and detailed environments help to create an immersive and oppressive atmosphere, transporting players to a dystopian future, where each level is a new adventure.
Gameplay
The gameplay of "Black Future '88" is intense and captivating. The game is a roguelike, which means that each game is unique, with procedural generation of levels. Players control a protagonist who must navigate environments full of enemies, traps and challenging bosses. The combat system is dynamic, encouraging the use of different weapons and abilities to face the hordes that appear.
One highlight is the movement and dodge mechanics, which allow for fluidity in combat. Players need to be quick and strategic, taking advantage of the space and resources available. Each death is an opportunity to learn and adapt, which keeps the experience fresh and engaging.
Sounds and Music
The soundtrack of "Black Future '88" is one of its great attractions. With a mix of synthwave and electronic sounds, the music not only complements the action, but also increases the immersion in the game. The sound effects, in turn, are well-crafted, making each shot and explosion resonate with impact.
Variety and Customization
The game offers a wide variety of weapons and items that can be collected throughout the game. This diversity allows players to customize their approach and playstyle. Additionally, the upgrade and modification system encourages exploration and experimentation, allowing players to discover unique combinations that suit their style.
Difficulty and Reward
"Black Future '88" is not an easy game; its difficulty is one of its strengths. Each game presents significant challenges, and the initial frustration is quickly rewarded with the feeling of progression. The permadeath system (permanent death) can be challenging, but it also encourages skill and strategy. Learning through repetition is a fundamental part of the experience, providing a sense of achievement when overcoming obstacles.
Conclusion
"Black Future '88" is a game that stands out for its combination of striking visual aesthetics, intense gameplay, and engaging soundtrack. With its roguelike approach, it offers a varied and challenging experience, ideal for players who enjoy action and exploration in dystopian worlds. Superscarysnakes has managed to create a title that not only pays homage to 80s culture, but also establishes itself as a modern and engaging experience. If you're a fan of fast-paced action and retro-futuristic environments, "Black Future '88" certainly deserves a place in your gaming library.