1001 Spikes

Critic reviews

• ZZTGD

  Ken McKown · Jun 26, 2014

  7.0

  Still, for those looking for a punishing experience on console or PC, 1001 Spikes definitely delivers on that promise. I died and died, yet kept coming back for more. The multiplayer mode is more fun than it has any right to be, and the tight controls make it a joy to play. If you can get past the cheap deaths and played out aesthetic there is a lot to love here. Just make sure you know what you are in for before diving in.

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• PPolygon

  Russ Frushtick · Jun 24, 2014

  8.0

  1001 Spikes feels like a game that's been locked away for 25 years. Upon being removed from a time capsule filled with Tab and Reagan bumper stickers, it was dusted off and updated for a modern generation, but 1001 Spikes remains extremely true to the era that inspired it.

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• NWNintendo World Report

  Neal Ronaghan · Jun 20, 2014

  8.0

  The sheer volume of content on offer here is quite impressive, as is the presentation. The graphics and music feel authentically 8-bit, and even the Ninja Gaiden-style cutscenes present a story that adds an appealing texture to things. Those patient enough to tolerate 1001 Spikes’ punishing design sensibilities should find a valuable treasure beneath its prickly exterior.

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• UUSGamer

  Jeremy Parish · Jun 18, 2014

  9.0

  Maybe retro-style indie games are getting a bit long in the tooth, but 1001 Spikes is an example of the format done right: It harnesses that old-school look for a reason and focuses in on a single design concept with obsessive clarity. Developer 8bit Fanatics really gets what made the best classic games great, and manages to make a hateful, hurtful game into addictive fun. And the multiplayer mode (on systems that support it) is surprisingly great, a mix of Contra and The Outfoxies. Maybe it's not a game for everyone, but 1001 Spikes knows what it's about... and does a bang-up job of achieving it.
• PSPush Square

  Graham Banas · Jun 17, 2014

  8.0

  Sadly, the game’s only major downfall is that the loops of audio get somewhat obnoxious. ...While 1001 Spikes’ extreme difficulty may pose a barrier to some, masochists will enjoy every minute of this punishing platformer. Tight controls and massive replay value make this a brilliantly brutal experience – and one of the PS4’s better side-scrollers to date.

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• GGameSpot

  Britton Peele · Jun 16, 2014

  8.0

  One of the few areas in which 1001 Spikes is lacking is in comparing your performances with other players. ...That's too bad, because self-imposed misery loves company, and 1001 Spikes is best for the kind of person who can take punishment and enjoy it. It can be soul crushing for the same reason it's inspiring.

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