Ever heard of Villanous? The Cartoon Network short series based on a silly group of villains running an agency to become the biggest brand of villany? Well, Nefarious gives the same vibes.
It has an fantastic premise: take the archetypes of different gaming villains and mesh them together into a single experience, where you have a character that in one level controls a giant robotnik-like mecha, in the next a giant EVIL spaceship, and then turns into literal Kefka from Final Fantasy 6.
It is an amazing idea that lead to a great sets of gimmicks.
The issue is that... I wish the game did more with it. Instead, most of this title is based on a series of platforming challenges, too reminiscent to a choppy Megaman clone, with a slow and often tedious approach. Most of the time the cooler set pieces make up for the slower sections and platforming challenges, and the cartoony cast and writing adds a lot of charm to the experience, but overall I feel it needed some major improvements in terms of levels designs and flow of the game.
The bosses are also really creative, with the exception of the final boss that is legitimaly a slugfest to go throught.
I wish the best for these developers, and I am glad that this character was able to show up again (apparently was a villain in another indie title from other devs, which is great), but overall as their first big game.... I was hoping for a bit more. SOrry about that!
It has an fantastic premise: take the archetypes of different gaming villains and mesh them together into a single experience, where you have a character that in one level controls a giant robotnik-like mecha, in the next a giant EVIL spaceship, and then turns into literal Kefka from Final Fantasy 6.
It is an amazing idea that lead to a great sets of gimmicks.
The issue is that... I wish the game did more with it. Instead, most of this title is based on a series of platforming challenges, too reminiscent to a choppy Megaman clone, with a slow and often tedious approach. Most of the time the cooler set pieces make up for the slower sections and platforming challenges, and the cartoony cast and writing adds a lot of charm to the experience, but overall I feel it needed some major improvements in terms of levels designs and flow of the game.
The bosses are also really creative, with the exception of the final boss that is legitimaly a slugfest to go throught.
I wish the best for these developers, and I am glad that this character was able to show up again (apparently was a villain in another indie title from other devs, which is great), but overall as their first big game.... I was hoping for a bit more. SOrry about that!
good platformer with mutliple ending
I was incredibly hyped for this game upon finding out it exists. I love the idea of playing as a silly villain dude and capturing princesses, and while this game is hilarious the platforming can get really annoying and the final bosses are unbearable
I kind of feel weird about this game. I love the ideas, the bosses, and the characters, but the levels can get pretty annoying.
The concept of playing as the main villain of every 90's platformer is cool, and honestly the levels themselves are pretty fun. The biggest issue are the boss battles - controlling the weird Robotnik and Wily-esque vehicles SOUNDS cool... but maybe there's a reason you fight them.
A pretty good idea with characters I like, but it's hindered by floaty controls and occasionally bad-level design. (read the webcomic)
Yeah, this game really didn't age that well, even after 5 years, with just how many bugs and glitches I could find. Gameplay wise also has some elements in some levels that seem like they were designed to mess with you in terms of taking damage by cheap shots, and the boss fight controls are too slippery and bouncy, making it hard for precise shots. That said, writing-wise it's outstanding. Crow is one of, if not, the best, villains I ever saw, and the other characters are unique and loveable enough to make me go for the true ending. And the gameplay can be fun at times when it comes to traversal and mowing through enemies. I really wise this game had more time to bake, but I do understand just who it's like this, only barely scraping by the Kickstarter goal in the last hour, heck; possibly the last minute, literally. Thankfully, the comic pretty much goes off on the best aspects and expands on these great characters. I say check the comic out, and if you want a nice and quick game to check out relating to these characters, I say give this game a shot.
great premise, wish there was more
A streamer tricked me into thinking this would be good. I was too old and should've known better than to fall for that.
One star for the idea of playing the bad guy.
That's the only star you get.
Luckily you're only less than 4 hours long.
One star for the idea of playing the bad guy.
That's the only star you get.
Luckily you're only less than 4 hours long.
the princess is pretty cool
Super fun platformer where you play as the boss character. Just a little too slow and the levels can be a little too long.
While its a really fun game, i cant really give it nay higher for how short it is
It's got a REALLY fantastic premise, I was so onboard with the idea of a Megaman or a Sonic game where you play as the maniacal over the top villain but it's just not capitalised on properly.
It is in all ways, exactly like those games, except a lot less polished, with a skin pretending you're the "bad guy" of those games. Apart from the occasional boss fight where you control the big silly boss vehicle (which is great btw) it does nothing new.
It is in all ways, exactly like those games, except a lot less polished, with a skin pretending you're the "bad guy" of those games. Apart from the occasional boss fight where you control the big silly boss vehicle (which is great btw) it does nothing new.
This game is QUITE ENJOYABLE so far! Honestly I love the characters/the silly little universe a little more than the gameplay itself. Fun in some parts, AGONZING in others. I HATE SUKOCHI SO MUCH HOLY BALLS other than that it's been pretty fun on my run to 100%ing it :3
This game felt like it was going to fall apart at the seams at every turn
A neat indie platformer that had an cool premise and fun characters. Didn't even know it had two endings until later.
Un jeu de plateforme avec un pitch intéressant mais dans l'exécution c'est un jeu basique et assez médiocre dans tous ce qu'il fait.
This is not good, but i like it. The concept was really cool but sadly the execution was lacking. Even for the regular plataforming it could have been a lot better. But i can't hate this game, it's not THAT bad and i really loved the characters and their interactions. Luckly they live on in webcomic form.
Btw the soundtrack was pretty nice.
Btw the soundtrack was pretty nice.
An okay game I liked enough to go through and see the True Ending for. I love the character designs, style, got solid music, writing is pretty decent, and I ADORE the concept of playing a videogame in the perspective of the antagonist however it's execution falls short due to how the game feels.
The game is floaty, clunky, and a bit cheap in some spots where it makes some parts of the game annoying to play through including its main appeal of controlling "the boss" in some portions of the game.
Overall, this game deserved better or at least another stab at the concept. Far from the worst indies I've touched, but Nefarious would land in the middle or bottom of my list of indie game recommendations.
The game is floaty, clunky, and a bit cheap in some spots where it makes some parts of the game annoying to play through including its main appeal of controlling "the boss" in some portions of the game.
Overall, this game deserved better or at least another stab at the concept. Far from the worst indies I've touched, but Nefarious would land in the middle or bottom of my list of indie game recommendations.
When it comes to style, jokes and overall feel, Nefarious has this in the bag from its ridiculous plot mocking a variety of videogame hero/villain tropes, to its relentless snarkfests between some of the more serious characters. Its a joy to see.
But to play? Its a bit of a mess. Levels feel bland and rather plain, there's one or two levels that seem to absolutely love chucking instakill elements at you and the overall controls be it shooting or platforming don't always work properly.
If it wasn't for the fact that this regularly goes on sale and the fact that its quite a short game, I probably would be a bit harsher on it. As it stands though I can really only shrug.
But to play? Its a bit of a mess. Levels feel bland and rather plain, there's one or two levels that seem to absolutely love chucking instakill elements at you and the overall controls be it shooting or platforming don't always work properly.
If it wasn't for the fact that this regularly goes on sale and the fact that its quite a short game, I probably would be a bit harsher on it. As it stands though I can really only shrug.
Uh oh... Something nefarious is brewing... 🤨🤨
Definitely better off as a comic book rather than a game, but goddamn Crow has to be one of the best characters I saw and without a doubt the best villain. He's just such a charismatic crook that is able to keep his captives happy. I have to respect that.
God where do I even begin with this one? Yet another indie game that represents the main issue I have with all promise but no delivering.
There are some sections that felt really cool! Nice of the devs to place those bits in the trailer whilst the unpolished pieces remained absent, I swear the trailer basically shows off all the parts of the game I liked the most. There is a good concept here but this game lacks so much polish from the graphics which look like a flash game, all the way to the horrific sound design and subpar gameplay.
The boss fights are possibly my favourite part because of the interesting concepts they present, like how you play the boss of an RPG. The execution of some of these though are mixed.
The only reason this isn't lower is because some of the writing is pretty funny and makes some of the characters memorable but that's also few and far between. To this game's credit, it's the indie title that made me be more careful when buying indie games.
There are some sections that felt really cool! Nice of the devs to place those bits in the trailer whilst the unpolished pieces remained absent, I swear the trailer basically shows off all the parts of the game I liked the most. There is a good concept here but this game lacks so much polish from the graphics which look like a flash game, all the way to the horrific sound design and subpar gameplay.
The boss fights are possibly my favourite part because of the interesting concepts they present, like how you play the boss of an RPG. The execution of some of these though are mixed.
The only reason this isn't lower is because some of the writing is pretty funny and makes some of the characters memorable but that's also few and far between. To this game's credit, it's the indie title that made me be more careful when buying indie games.
Game has charm in spades but FUCK these levels feel like they were made in Mario Maker
Fun time with the same energy as a high-budget flash game. You play as the villain of a story who has to kidnap princesses to build a doomsday laser. It's held up mostly by its fun characters, unique setting and writing. Otherwise it mechanically feels like a really cheap Unity project, with lots of rough edges and little visual cohesion. Its best moments were charming enough to justify the trip though, and I do hope this concept gets a second chance with a higher budget someday.