Gennady Review

Few games make me regret switching on my console, but Gennady is one of them! It is so unbelievably tough and unfair that I wanted to do anything but play it. That’s a shame, because it is a fantastic game for gamers who love a brutal, often unfair time. I set my limit on how many times I’m happy to die, and this game pushed me to the breaking point.

Feed 64 has developed this stylish but incredibly harsh side-scrolling platformer. This single-player game has procedurally generated levels, rogue-like mechanics, huge and cruel bosses, and a learning curve that’ll make your head implode. In short, it is not a game for the faint of heart.

Gennady tells a nightmarish tale!

Surviving a surreal experience is enough to make anyone scream. After all, if you don’t know what is real or fake, you have no hope of making it out alive. Sadly, the hero in Gennady knows this all too well. The world in which he resides is a hellish, uncomfortable, and dangerous environment filled with monsters and huge bosses.

If you have to fight aliens in a meat factory, you want on a little more than just your underpants. However, this is the costume of choice for this strange protagonist. Armed with his fists, a deadly and ever-burning rage, the ability to dash, and alien weapons, this unlikely hero must navigate each world, collect artefacts, improve his skills, and try to survive.

Death, death, and more death.

Gennady focuses on fast-paced combat, accurate platforming, pinpoint reactions, and an eye for detail. Alongside this, you must master your skills, find secrets, destroy countless enemies, and make it far enough to destroy every biome super boss. It is a game that is filled with grime, comical moments, and plenty of death.

Alongside the well-trodden mechanics are some artefacts and abilities that change the way you approach each stage. Whether it is increased attack range or a chance to use fire, the hero has choices that’ll improve his chances. This combines nicely with the permadeath twist. Once your run concludes, you can add a chance upgrade to improve your odds of survival. This is luck of the draw, and getting the right one that works isn’t easy.

If you somehow master your skills and make it through each deadly biome, you’ll encounter some of the most horrific and tough bosses you can think of. These creatures have set patterns and multi-stage survival to overcome. This tests your memory and combat style. Do you use your rage skill to blast a hole in their defences or play it safe and pick them off from afar? Each boss has a weakness, and you must try to survive long enough to exploit it and kill them.

Gennady is a game of grim beauty.

Gennady is often a grim trip through a bizarre and surreal alien world. The procedurally generated levels keep you guessing, and the different enemies offer a unique challenge that must be overcome if you wish to survive. The action is smooth, and this helps with the precision and tight combat moments. Moreover, there is a delightful element of sci-fi gore as you decimate everything in sight. The audio supports this horrible design with its aggressive, fun, and weird tones. Each of the sound effects is OTT, silly, and wonderfully suitable.

The control system makes exploring each of the stages a pleasure. Although I often struggled, it wasn’t anything to do with the control system. The buttons are responsive and learning the basics was easy. Yet, it is the demand for accuracy, quick responses, and the desire to explore every location that puts you under constant pressure. Gennady offers plenty of replay value if you like a bit of grind and rogue-like games. Additionally, if you are a fan of luck and losing it all, this will keep you coming back for more.

Gennady was too tough for me.

I can’t lie, I found Gennady to be far too tough. It was punishing at every turn. Furthermore, the loss of every element of progress was a kick in the teeth. I admit that I love the concept, the exceptional visuals, and the fun ideas. However, it still pissed me off throughout. Despite my complaints, it is great, and you should grab a copy from the Xbox Store!