MiniPix is an indie Android game developed by Laurent Bakowski and it channels the age-old 8-bit graphics of retro classics and the simple gameplay that many modern mobile titles feature. The aim is simple, to keep running, jumping and shooting your through world-after-world and see how long you can keep it up. MiniPix features different worlds that constantly cycle as players keep running and gunning that are set in different universes like Disney, the Smurfs, Star Wars, Dragon Ball and more. A classic, retro platformer that fits right in with the endless runner games people seem to love so much these days, MiniPix has a lot going for it, so let’s see how much fun such a title really is.
For players to get started with MiniPix, they just need to download the game for free from the Play Store and get running.
The controls are super-simple here, there’s one button to jump and then another to shoot. As the rainbow wipe comes along, the world will change instantly as players keep on shooting to another popular reference from pop culture. Here, we’re moving from the Smurfs to Star Wars, which features a different weapon, the lightsaber of course!
There’s a strange animation that happens each time you die, which I can only assume is a reference to something like the Attack on Titan anime? I managed to capture the clenching teeth in a screenshot, and it’s definitely a little unsettling the first few times you see it.
When you do succumb to the game, MiniPix gives players a little score, which is a pretty simple yet nice metric for the game to give players to see how they’re doing.
Players can share this to Facebook and there’s also Google Play Games integration as well.
The rainbow wipe feature is a nice one, and it keeps you on your toes as you keep playing, when the weapon type changes it can be interesting, too. There’s a Brave world that people pass through, and the arrows don’t travel as far so there’s a little adjustment that needs to be made there. The Simpsons world is one of my favorites as well.
Gamers from the Super Nintendo era will appreciate the Street Fighter II reference as well (SFII Turbo for life!)
All-in-all though, MiniPix is a very simple game, but that’s part of its charm. There’s little “chrome” to get in the way of the experience and as a result of the 8-bit retro graphics the frame rate is super-smooth and everything happens quite quickly. This results in a challenging experience for players looking for something retro and a little different, while also offering them an accessible title that can be played wherever. The visuals of the game make me feel as if an NES game developer went forward in time and made snippets of popular classics from the future, it’s nice to see Dragon Ball, Star Wars, Disney and more all in the same game even if they’re just small homages. The music here is cool as well, and will definitely suit those looking for some retro, yet modern, tunes to go along with their classic gameplay. I had a lot of fun rushing through the varied levels, and while I keep getting caught out by the jumps, I’m getting pretty good at the game.
Ratings
- Speed (5/5) – Not only does MiniPix launch quickly, but it runs nice and smoothly. The high frame rate and fast game speed make it a fun challenge, too.
- Theme (4/5) – These kind of visuals won’t appeal to everyone, but I had a lot of fun with them and I’m sure retro gamers out there will as well.
- Features (4/5) – There’s no getting around the fact that the gameplay here is incredible simple, but that’s part of the point. A game you can fire up no matter where you are and have fun with, MiniPix is byte-sized brilliance.
- Overall (4/5) – A solid, if not very simple, game that will appeal to casual gamers as well as those looking for a little slice of their childhood playing such games.
Pros
- Super-simple and easy to get into, with really easy controls while still offering a decent challenge.
- High frame rate and fast game speed make this a challenging and smooth experience overall.
- Lots of different references to pop culture throughout the good-looking 8-bit retro visuals.
- Addictive to the max, with the urge to keep on playing well beyond a sensible time.
Cons
- Might be a little too simple for a lot of gamers looking for something more complex.
- Power-ups and add-ons would be nice to see, but it might spoil the simplicity some will love.
All-in-all, MiniPix is an excellent game that has a lot going for it, but it’s more a game for those that enjoy these simple diversions than an epic mobile title. That’s totally fine however, if like me, you leave the proper gaming to a console or PC, in that case this is a great bit of fun to take with you on the commute or wherever you need to kill some time or whatever. With fun retro visuals and a cool soundtrack, MiniPix is worth giving a try.