Butcher (video game)

Last updated
Butcher
Butcher cover.jpg
Developer(s)
  • Phobia Game Studio
  • Transhuman Design
Publisher(s)
  • Crunching Koalas
  • Transhuman Design
Engine Unity [1]
Platform(s)
Release
  • NA: October 5, 2016 (PCs)
  • NA: May 9–10, 2017 (PS4, XB1)
  • NA: September 27, 2017 (NS)
Genre(s) Run and gun
Mode(s) Single-player

Butcher is a run and gun video game developed by Phobia Game Studio and Transhuman Design. Crunching Koalas and Transhuman Design published it in 2016.

Contents

Gameplay

Players control a cyborg tasked with destroying all life on Earth. This takes the form of multiple levels of 2D platforms where the player clears all enemies. [2] It is a run and gun video game that uses twin-stick controls. [3]

Development

Butcher was developed in Poland. [4] A free browser game prototype was released in 2015, [5] It was released for PCs on October 5, 2016; [6] PlayStation 4 on May 9, 2017; [3] Xbox One on May 10, 2017; [7] and Nintendo Switch on September 27, 2017. [8] The game advertises "hard" as its easiest difficulty setting. Due to player requests, a free DLC that implements casual difficulty was added. [9]

Reception

Butcher received mixed reviews on Metacritic. [10] Hardcore Gamer recommended the game to people who enjoy violent and challenging retro games but said it may not appeal to people outside of that niche. [2] Commenting on the game's violence, GameSpot said that "beneath that gruff exterior is a thoughtfully crafted game". [11] Digitally Downloaded said the game comes close to its goal of channeling Doom in a 2D game but is "let down by its idea of scale". [12] Push Square wrote, "It’s brief, chaotic, and hard as nails, but this is a glorious throwback that every fan of 90s shooters should pick up." [3] Nintendo Life said the gameplay is repetitive but recommended it to players who enjoy challenging games. [8]

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References

  1. "Butcher game". Transhuman Design. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  2. 1 2 Shive, Chris (2016-10-12). "Review: Butcher". Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  3. 1 2 3 Talbot, Ken (2017-05-09). "Butcher Review (PS4)". Push Square . Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  4. Prescott, Shaun (2020-11-16). "Butcher is free-to-keep on GOG for a limited time". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  5. Smith, Graham (2015-05-27). "Butcher: Ultraviolent Prototype From Makers Of Soldat". Rock Paper Shotgun . Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  6. Vincent, Brittany (2016-10-01). "Paint The Walls With Blood In Butcher Next Week". Rock Paper Shotgun . Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  7. Khan, Asif (2017-05-07). "Weekly Game Release Highlights, May 7-13". Shacknews . Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  8. 1 2 Craddock, Ryan (2017-10-01). "Butcher Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  9. O'Connor, Alice (2016-12-10). "Soldat dev's Butcher adds easy mode, only if you want". Rock Paper Shotgun . Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  10. Starkey, Daniel (2016-10-27). "Butcher Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  11. Sainsbury, matt (2017-05-11). "Short 'n Sweet reviews: Indies on PS4 edition". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-08.