They Bleed Pixels

$9.99

Release Date:: Aug 29, 2012
Metacritic:: 74
Developer:: Spooky Squid Games Inc.
Publisher:: Spooky Squid Games Inc.
Platforms:: Windows Mac Linux

Indie Action Steam Achievements Full controller support Steam Trading Cards Family Sharing Single-player

About This Game

They Bleed Pixels is a fiendishly difficult action platformer inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and classic horror. Rendered in a distinct visual style that blends pixel art with paper and ink textures, They Bleed Pixels is a singular mix of intense platforming and fierce beat-em-up action. At the core of its fighting system is a simple one-button combat scheme with surprising depth and versatility. Button mashing is discouraged while kicking shadowy monsters into saws, pits and spikes is rewarded, thanks to a unique system that lets you earn and place your own checkpoints through stylish kills. The fancier your kills, the faster you fill the checkpoint meter.

Story:
When a young girl arrives at the Lafcadio Academy for Troubled Young Ladies, she's unprepared for the violent nightmares that plague her dreams and transport her to other worlds. Worse yet, her dreams are intruding into her waking life, slowly altering her flesh into the demonic form of her night terrors. Can she destroy the mysterious blood-soaked book that appears to be the root of her troubles or will her transmutation from girl to clawed horror become complete?

Key Features:

Extra tight controls: One-button attack system favors skilled combat over complicated combos and button-mashing. Super precise platforming controls let you stop and start on a dime while pulling off gravity-defying dashes and double jumps.
Eleven massive levels to fight through and explore, each with unique visuals and music. Unlock additional bonus levels and guest levels from indie game developers based on their own creations: They Bleed Ponycorns, They Bleed Stardust, exp.
Unique checkpoint system rewards fancy kills with a save spot you can carry with you. Hold on to it for extra points or drop it right away to preserve your progress.
Becoming a monster stabbing master with individual level rankings as well as 150 skill-based achievements. There's lots to aim for after you've completed the game.
Standard and Novice difficulty to match your skill level.
Record, playback and share your best playthroughs with online leaderboards for speed and high score!
Lush pixel art motion comics tell the story a young girl haunted by eldritch nightmares.
Original electronic soundtrack by DJ Finish Him (aka Shaun Hatton) composed with synthesizers, unconventional instruments and gadgets often not meant for musical use.

Screenshots

User Reviews

Mixed

2 user reviews

50%

Positive

User #967599 english

2 hrs at review

Not Recommended

They Bleed Pixels is a game about "Don't judge a book by its cover" They Bleed Pixels is a game with very beautiful pixel art, but terribly made gameplay. One day when I was looking for something to buy on sale, this game caught my eye, I was very interested in the cover, and after I saw the trailer and the platformer tag, I immediately added it to my cart. I put it off for quite a long time, but now that I have a desire to play it, I regret it, because I probably won't even be able to get my money back. The art here is really great, I won't take my words back, the graphics are very beautiful and pleasant. I didn't have time to delve into the plot, because I played too little, so I won't say anything. But the gameplay... it's terrible, the character is as uncontrollable as possible, which is simply unforgivable for a platformer, the third level in the game is made almost entirely with a slippery floor, on which it becomes completely impossible to control the character, the combat...

User #641078 english

15 hrs at review

Recommended

Platform hell game with some combat and combo mechanics. It put me through 15 hours of pain to complete every level in normal mode. I am not enough of a god to go for all collectables in addition to a few being hidden the last level's are just even more difficulty on top of the already inhuman difficulty. Never mind any of the deathless achievements.