Spelunker World Image
Metascore
  1. First Review
  2. Second Review
  3. Third Review
  4. Fourth Review

No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews Awaiting 1 more review What's this?

User Score
4.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: Embark on an underground adventure. Spelunker World is a free-to-play, side-scrolling action game. Play as underground explorer “Spelunker” and venture into the quixotic dungeons.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Dec 7, 2015
    65
    This brutally honest tribute to the 1983 classic will find it's way into peoples hearts through the control scheme, which won't be appreciated by people who never touched a NES or any other classic console. It is visually charming and it offers a deep customisation system, but it is better to treat it carefully and just visit in short game sessions.
  2. Dec 15, 2015
    64
    Spelunker World relies a lot on gaming nostalgia to pull it through, while trying to mask the world of microtransactions. It works to an extent, but not completely. There is still too much simple, not enough modern and far too much room for frustration from failure. It’s not a horrible game by any means, but it is limited in its capacity for fun in long stints.
  3. 60
    Spelunker World has a few free-to-play irritations, stiff controls and iffy multiplayer, but a certain audience will find its old-school charm and addictive gear system enough reason to revisit the 22-year-old franchise.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 4 out of 5
  1. Jan 2, 2016
    9
    Spelunker World will challenge you at every turn, since so many obstacles are deadly. If you persist, you'll find a rewarding experience. I'veSpelunker World will challenge you at every turn, since so many obstacles are deadly. If you persist, you'll find a rewarding experience. I've played the previous PS3 version (Spelunker HD, including the Championship difficulty DLC) a ton, and this is a worthy successor with a few flaws. If you don't know already, the point of Spelunker is that it is punishingly difficult (maybe like Super Meat Boy), so you will die a lot. You only get 2 spare lives to complete a level, but you can always quit and retry a level. Or, play cooperatively online and be rescued to get a new life. The free-to-play aspect kicks in if you choose to get a new set of lives within a level, but this is never required. You can collect equipment to make the game easier by collecting treasures. If you keep collecting the same equipment, it can be upgraded. Upgraded equipment is never required to beat an area, but is required to collect at least one treasure in most areas.

    Compared to the PS3 versions, Spelunker World lacks offline split-screen co-op but online gameplay seems more stable. Areas are broken into smaller sets of levels so that people can rejoin easier. Since you cannot join an online lobby when the game is in progress, I wish it had an option to spectate or wait until a game is joinable. The treasure unlocking at the end of an area could stand to be sped up. The gameplay feels a bit stiff compared to the PS3 version, but this appears to be due to a slight pause when your character changes directions, which is fine once you get used to it. "Rope Assist" is now on by default which feels strange. This makes the game easier by preventing you from slipping left or right off of vines, but it would be nice if there was an option to turn this off.

    Difficulty wise, I would say it's slightly easier than the PS3 version both due to the automatic "Rope Assist" and a few situations which would have resulted in death but are now safe maneuvers in Spelunker World. But on the flip side there is at least one situation that will kill you in Spelunker World that had been safe in the previous games.

    I highly recommend playing especially for the online co-op, which is an experience like nothing else. As long as you play patiently and smartly (and prepare to be trolled by the developers), then you'll do fine.
    Expand
  2. Nov 22, 2015
    3
    Spelunker World feels like one of those notoriously bad NES titles that people will always warn you to stay away from. The gameplay isSpelunker World feels like one of those notoriously bad NES titles that people will always warn you to stay away from. The gameplay is practically broken because of how restrictive it is to the player. You have to play the way Square Enix wants you to play or else you will die at nearly every corner of a jump, drop or obstacle. It does partly redeem itself for giving plenty (and I mean dozens) of lives before the paywall for more lives comes up. The micro transactions aren't anywhere near as severe as Frozen Free Fall. There are some acceptable customization features in the midst of the repetition, but there are still far better games out there that you can invest your time in for free. Expand
  3. Nov 18, 2015
    2
    This is the lowest rating I've ever given a game on here. Now I'm a huge spelunky fan so when I saw this game, I was very excited. NeedlessThis is the lowest rating I've ever given a game on here. Now I'm a huge spelunky fan so when I saw this game, I was very excited. Needless to say I was horribly disappointed. I don't even know where to be begin; This game is flawed in every way possible. A pathetic undertaking that Square Enix should be ashamed to have taken a part in. Expand
  4. Nov 12, 2015
    0
    Worst Japanese game all time. I'm sorry that I couldn't give it a literal negative review. I am emotionally distressed after just opening andWorst Japanese game all time. I'm sorry that I couldn't give it a literal negative review. I am emotionally distressed after just opening and seeing the home screen. -10/0= Does Not Exist Expand
  5. Nov 12, 2015
    0
    Have you ever visual seen a turd wrapped up inside another turd? Well, if you have played this game, now you have. I have seen better thingsHave you ever visual seen a turd wrapped up inside another turd? Well, if you have played this game, now you have. I have seen better things floating in my toilet than this game. I would recommend this game to no one, and I mean no one! I feel ashamed that this is a video game. I get nightmares every time I even look at the title of the game! I need help, going to see a phycologist right now... Help me... Please...
    0/10 (In reality -500^90/10)
    Expand