Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic Critic Reviews

Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic is such a charming, funny, and addictive retro RPG experience that it's a must-play for anyone looking for an old-school fun-filled adventure.

What works in Pixel Heroes is a successful blending of that classic, turn-based RPG gameplay with a modern, rogue-like twist. The shoddy UI, lack of a "stash" feature, and general lack of polish hold it back from being a resounding recommendation, but those who look back fondly on the realms of Alefgard and Corneria should definitely check it out.

There are a lot of RPG elements built into this little indie game, but as I wasn't sure what to expect, and in the end I wound up actually enjoying this game quite a bit. I loved the roadside interactions and felt that the comical atmosphere made the game more enjoyable, and in the end that's one of the main reasons, if not the main reason, we play games in the first place, because we want to enjoy them. Sure, there are some faults with this game, it's a few years old, and the $10 price point may seem steep for the content you're getting. If you really enjoy retro styled pixelated games that cram RPG elements and humor into a mesmerizing mix that will result in you spending hours in trying to get everything just right, then this game is for you.

Pixel Heroes: Byte and Magic is made for those who really cherish RPGs from the past. It has got its flaws, but is definitely a game for fans of the genre and time period.

Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic has got some nice ideas behind it. For the first few hours, it's an interesting and challenging take on retro RPGs. However, it's eagerness to make you suffer is ill-placed and more of an annoyance than a lesson learned. There's an achievement to wipe your party 100 times, but I'm pretty sure I would have experienced some mental breakdown if it got to that point.

If you miss old-school role-playing games and you have a good level of English, Pixel Heroes: Byte and Magic is meant for you and although it is very entertaining and fun it inconveniently falls too quickly into repetitiveness. Also the game has got a great variety of characters and enemies and a lot of humor which is something to be thankful for.

Whilst it's held back by irritating music and the lack of a stash, Pixel Heroes is still an enjoyable wee game.

Unless you’re really looking for that blast from the past, stay away from Pixel Heroes on console. It offers all of the classic RPG tropes, but all of the problems that came with retro games so long ago as well.

For what it is, Pixel Heroes: Byte & Magic succeeds in accomplishing what it sets out to do. It’s an unapologetic retro game that looks to capture the nostalgia of an era in gaming long gone. But while it does succeed in doing that, it remains to be seen if many gamers will actually find that enjoyable.

Pixel Heroes has playful writing and art, but there isn’t enough here to warrant sticking around for more than a few hours of retro-themed dalliance.

Pixel Heroes: Byte and Magic simply decides when it’s your time to die and doesn’t equip you with enough tools for a fair fight. The combat is not strategic enough to justify the difficulty. The characters fleeting charm doesn’t justify the headache.

Random but ridiculously repetitive, this deadly dull dungeon hack gives little reason to recommend it.