Berserk Boy Review | This Game Knows How to Rock, Man

Berserk Boy, an indie high-speed platformer inspired by the genre’s great games, is finally out! Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

Berserk Boy Review Overview

What is Berserk Boy?

Berserk Boy is a fast-paced platformer with metroidvania aspects. The game features a stylized retro pixelated look which is inspired by the great games of the genre in the past where you play for fast times and high scores. Its gameplay is reminiscent of platformers like Mega Man ZX, especially with how the game flows and the animations of the game. Most noteworthy is that the composer of the music is Tee Lopes, who is known for his work on Sonic Mania, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, and more.

You play as Kei, a young boy who is suddenly thrust with the responsibility of saving humanity when he comes into contact with a Berserk Orb that turns him into the all-powerful and titular Berserk Boy. Harness the power of five different orbs and forms in the game – Lightning, Fire, Earth, Air, and Ice and change forms mid-combat to defeat the evil forces and minions of Dr. Genos.

Berserk Boy features:
 ⚫︎  Fast-paced platforming with a slight focus on exploration later in the game
 ⚫︎  Multiple forms to answer any situation and suit any playstyle
 ⚫︎  Soundtrack made by Sonic Mania composer
 ⚫︎  Stylish retro pixelated visuals
 ⚫︎  Mission-based gameplay with tons of replayability as you unlock more powers
 ⚫︎  Chain together abilities to unleash special attacks with the Berserk Meter

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Berserk Boy's gameplay and story.

Berserk Boy
Steam	Switch

Berserk Boy Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Amazing Retro Visuals Fast-Paced Gameplay with Tons of Replayability Great Soundtrack	Somewhat Difficult, Even Early On Not Exactly A Great Tutorial Subpar Metroidvania Aspects

Berserk Boy Overall - 84/100

Berserk Boy succeeds in delivering the nostalgia bomb to platformer fans around the world while being a completely new title in the genre. Its high speed action-packed gameplay is complimented perfectly by its stylish retro visuals and high-energy soundtrack. This is a game that fans of the genre and those wanting to give the genre a try don’t want to miss.

Berserk Boy Story - 7/10

Berserk Boy features Kei, a young boy who comes into contact with a Berserk Orb after a series of events that eventually lead him to becoming the titular hero. He is suddenly thrust into conflict for the safety of humanity against the evil army of Dr. Genos. Its story is nothing out of the ordinary, especially as it even seems familiar to those who are fans of the Mega Man ZX franchise.

Berserk Boy Gameplay - 9/10

The gameplay is super fast-paced with a focus on chaining together attacks to fill up your special meter, on-the-fly form changing to synergize your attacks with the different available forms, and finally, replayable missions as you unlock more powers to explore each secret of every level available in the game. The difficulty is also quite palpable, as you are expected to take advantage of the mechanics early on without really teaching you the full extent of Kei’s capabilities.

Berserk Boy Visuals - 8/10

The game features a stylized retro pixelated art style similar to the great games of the platforming genre in the past. Its animations and distinct colorization are top-notch, especially when seeing everything in action as you play.

Berserk Boy Audio - 9/10

With the composer of the Sonic Mania soundtrack, Tee Lopes, involved in the game, the soundtrack is nothing short of amazing. It successfully conveys the "arcade-y" and high-energy vibe of the game with its music and sound effects. While the game features voice acting from its characters, it’s quite jarring that the voices usually don’t match the dialogue in cutscenes.

Berserk Boy Value for Money - 9/10

For the measly price of $20, Berserk Boy is a must-buy game for not only fans of the genre but also those who are interested in trying out new platformers. It features replayable levels with explorable secrets as you progress and unlock more forms, as well as an amazing soundtrack to accompany the experience.

Berserk Boy Review: High Octane Nostalgia Bomb

I’m so glad that this lived up to my lofty expectations that were made as soon as I saw gameplay footage from back in 2023. This game reminded me of a certain Mega Man spin-off that’s near and dear to me which is the ZX franchise. What struck me was both the movement and the animations of form changing which triggered me to pay attention to this game as it looked to be something special. The gameplay, the visuals, and most of all, the music, really pushes this game from a good game to a great experience.

While the game doesn’t necessarily follow the traditional Mega Man pattern of having a ranged attack as your first weapon, the attacks that you’re given from the first form which are a dash attack and a tracking "missile" that homes on those you hit with the dash attack pushes the game to go beyond Mega Man’s slower and more methodical platforming to a way more dynamic experience.

The level design of the game also introduces hazards quickly, as stages can have multiple enemies, stage hazards, and even pitfalls in one section of a stage. Stage gimmicks are also present and influence how you move around the stage as they can make things easier for you as you get used to how they function not just for movement, but for subduing enemies.

Visually, I like the stylized retro art style that they went for. They could’ve substituted this with higher fidelity, but I’m glad they went with the pixelated design as it adds to the charm of the game. As I said earlier, I was immediately intrigued by the game’s animations, as the movement, attacks, and form changes, reminded me of Mega Man ZX, which is my favorite game in the Mega Man Z/ZX franchise. These animations are smooth and really add to the game’s pleasing aesthetic even with everything moving at breakneck speed.

The game’s music is another highlight as it pairs perfectly with the game’s pace and greatly adds to the experience. It ranges from a classic heroic theme on one stage to a melancholic vibe on another. There’s not much to say other than it being great enough for me to actually look up the tracks after playing the game. It’s that good.

All in all, Berserk Boy is a platformer that is clearly inspired by the past great games of its genre and it shows. It’s an experience that I’m willing to recommend and keep playing after this review, as it succeeds in creating a new experience while respecting the past games that inspired it. The platforming genre isn’t my favorite genre, but I’ll always have a space for it, especially for games that play like Mega Man.

Pros of Berserk Boy

Things Berserk Boy Got Right
Amazing Retro Visuals Fast-Paced Gameplay with Tons of Replayability Great Soundtrack

Amazing Retro Visuals

With its retro look, it’s certainly a blast from the past without really being from that time. The art style is reminiscent of the games of the past but has the smooth and buttery animations of the modern era. Both aspects of the visuals work hand-in-hand to showcase the game’s aesthetic in its gameplay.

Fast-paced Gameplay with Tons of Replayability

The game highlights its gameplay with its fast pace and encourages people to chain together attacks to build even stronger attacks to go even faster. Its level design is made to be replayed when you start unlocking more forms as you progress through the game, and it becomes a sort-of collect-a-thon as you explore more of the older missions to complete 100% of the game.

Great Soundtrack

With Tee Lopes responsible for the game’s soundtrack, the game couldn’t have found a better composer for its music. The music pairs perfectly with the gameplay and always keeps you hyped up to keep going. Lopes’ imprint is apparent in the stage music as it reminds you of his older work while being completely original.

Cons of Berserk Boy

Things That Berserk Boy Can Improve
Somewhat Difficult, Even Early On Not Exactly A Great Tutorial Subpar Metroidvania Aspects

Somewhat Difficult, Even Early On

While the game isn’t necessarily super complex, it took me a while to get a hang of using the first form’s attacks and how to chain it together. While frankly, this is a skill issue, there are certain enemies that are pretty annoying to deal with like the ones with the shields. It’s not frustratingly hard to play, just tedious as some stages have pretty far-off checkpoints.

Not Exactly A Great Tutorial

I barely saw any tutorials for using the first and second forms which led to me brute forcing a lot of the enemies early on. Things started to click when I realized that you can kill multiple enemies with the B attack when you mark them with your dash, which then led to my enjoyment. Players might not be able to get this early on, as it took me quite a while to chain together my attacks as opposed to killing enemies one by one.

Subpar Metroidvania Aspects

I’m glad that I read that the game only has ASPECTS of a metroidvania and not an actual metroidvania. Don’t go in expecting intricate level design where everything is interconnected. Most, if not all, stages are pretty much straight lines that you can warp from each of its four checkpoints which creates the illusion of being a metroidvania. It’s not the core foundation of its stage design, as it really takes more from Mega Man’s stages than Metroid's.

Is Berserk Boy Worth It?

Absolutely! Everyone Should Go Berserk!

As a fan of the OG Blue Bomber (Mega Man) and its other spin-offs, specifically the Mega Man Z and ZX series, I went into the experience with high expectations and I’m glad that Berserk Boy didn’t disappoint. It’s a $20 game packed with high-octane gameplay and great music that starts off strong and continues to be this way as you progress through the game. This game is a must-play for fans of the genre and a must-try for those interested in trying out the genre.

Digital Storefronts
Steam			Switch
$20

Berserk Boy FAQ

What are the System Requirements to play Berserk Boy?

The System Requirements are as follows:

Who is the Composer of the Soundtrack in Berserk Boy?

The composer is Tiago Lopes, also known as Tee Lopes. He is responsible for the soundtracks in well-known games such as Sonic Mania, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Streets of Rage 4, Metal Slug Tactics, and more.

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Berserk Boy Product Information

Title	BERSERK BOY
Release Date	March 6, 2024
Developer	BerserkBoy Games
Publisher	BerserkBoy Games
Supported Platforms	PC(Steam), Nintendo Switch
Genre	Action, Metroidvania, Platformer
Number of Players	1
Rating	ESRB E
Official Website	Berserk Boy Official Website

Michael Gerra-Clarin

Resident fighting game nerd, avid FFXIV fan, and enjoyer of mostly anything gaming. He is currently trying to get farther in the Tekken ranks while waiting for Dawntrail.