
BOXBOY! is Game Boy-era design and aesthetics reincarnated for Nintendo's latest handheld, picking up a few new ideas since the monochromatic minster's heyday. With plenty of polish and thoughtful puzzles to conquer, we were surprised to find ourselves so bored with it all.
Just like the retro classics, BOXBOY! makes a simple request of its players: guide Qbby, the chunky cube that could, to the exit. The game is segmented into worlds, each dedicating its handful of stages to introducing a new mechanic and then teaching players how to use it. Qbby can't jump very high, nor can he withstand much pain from the assorted lasers, spikes, and pits that punctuate his hostile environment.
What he does have going for him is his ability to summon boxes out of his side - hold down a button and Qbby can sprout chains of boxes. Sprout three in a horizontal line to build a bridge, for example, or two across and one up to build a makeshift staircase; box lines are also useful for pulling Qbby through otherwise unnavigable terrain. Each stage sets parameters for how many boxes can be summoned, as well as how many boxes can be used before the assorted collectible crowns littered about the stage disappear.

If you get stuck on a stage then you can spend one Play Coin for a hint. Mess up along the way? A quick tap of L and R will restart you from the last checkpoint. The setup is fairly standard fare, yet feels oddly constraining here; new ideas are continuously introduced, but BOXBOY! is reluctant to let players cut loose and explore the boundaries of its world in any meaningful way.
Everything feels like it's in a perpetual state of teaching. Techniques learned earlier in the game are layered into subsequent puzzles, but usually as minor elements. As a player, it's difficult to feel as though you've mastered anything when the game is in teach mode seemingly all the time.
One look at BOXBOY! is enough to be impressed by its dedication to the Game Boy aesthetic. Less impressive is what BOXBOY! then does with it: nothing. The aesthetic is little more than a photo filter peddling manufactured nostalgia. Yes, the sprite work is chunky and minimal, with a clean look designed to hold up on a notoriously blurry display. But so what? Why force constraints — for visuals, audio, and scope — when you have no plans to challenge them?

BOXBOY! doesn't have a good answer for why it co-opts an iconic visual style and, given the overly pervasive retro "throwback" trend that has dogged smaller games for years, probably didn't expect anyone to even question its decision.
Conclusion
BOXBOY! will surely find an audience among those who are deeply in love with the Game Boy's sensibilities, but this writer is finding it increasingly difficult to be nostalgic for a style that never goes away. What's left, then, is a polished puzzler with surprisingly dull tendencies.
Comments 52
That's so disappointing as it was one of very few eShop exclusives that looked interesting.
@RCMADIAX I have a feeling it will be made available after today's Nintendo Direct.
A 6? That is lower than I thought it would be. I was thinking 8, potentially 9. I have this on my japanese 3ds and it is a fantastic eshop exclusive game. Exactly what I want from a download only game. It's quirky, clever, and has a great style. I can't wait for the localization to come out.
I was looking forward to that, but know I am not sure.
This is a definite buy for me . It got a high recommendation from the famicast. Plus it's made by Hal laboratories (kirby) ...and puzzle games are timeless!
The complaints in this review seem too nitpicky. Many games have a hint system, and this game at least has some kind of punishment for using it. Also, what is this game supposed to do with retro visuals? If no other game will get criticized for doing nothing with visuals, then why is that the case for this game? "Different reviewers" is not a good excuse. How many games in recent years have even used gameboy inspired visuals? This review does so little to explain why the game is dull, and all the points end up being weak as a result.
So basically this reviewer didn't like the game because it's in black and white? Ok... Seems very "too much water" to me.
can we have other Nintendolife members vocalize their opinions on reviews, (even if its one or so paragraph blurbs at the end of the review) I would love more than a single reflection.
Hal's made some spectacular Kirby games, so I'm very interested to see what they've done here
OK, I take back everything I said about the graphics in Elliots Quest.
I have to admit I'm really curious about the price as eShop extends from 99 cents to $19.99 now if not higher, and my expectations do vary w/ the price. Pokemon Shuffle is fine for free, but I wouldn't pay $19.99 for it.
I love NL reviews but this won't deter me from getting it. I would like to know the price though.
This sounds like it should be within the price range of Gunman Clive.
@GeminiSaint It's just this review that makes it seem that way. I watched the GameXplain review, and there was a lot of content not mentioned at all in this review.
Review seems a bit harsh - but I've not played the game so not in a position to judge.
Will still be getting this even if the review score isn't as good as I expected. I'm sure I'll enjoy it. The only thing I'm concerned about is price.
The review is a little light on content. Seems like Jon played something like half the game, didn't like it and wrote this. I'm still curious about the game.
A bit unfair on the reviewer's part for not waiting until the price and date info.
Hmm, only a 6. Might still download it, but its all about the price. If its 2 Euro, then it might be a worthwhile purchase. If its a 10, then forget about it!
Is this an April Fool review score?
I played a dozen or so levels of the JP release and it's great. Understated, but polished with a perfected difficulty curve.
Looking forward to playing it to completion in English.
5 Euro, hmmm. Anyway, downloading as we speak.
It looks closer to Atari than Game Boy to me... I think the concept is really interesting in this. I might pick it up when it goes on sale.
Today's Nintendo direct made this look really interesting to me, so I will most likely buy to try. . .depending on price.
I disagree with this review.
I've just downloaded it and it's a clever enjoyable game.
I'm having lot of fun in thinking how to do to pass every puzzle !
This review is pretty much exactly how I felt about this game. Especially this:
"Everything feels like it's in a perpetual state of teaching."
It was fun while it lasted, but it was too easy, pretty much every level felt too short, the art style and music were nice but could have easily been made better, and by the time you get to the part where you have to combine all of the skills you've learned, it felt like way too little way too late. Not to mention the story that COULD have made the game more interesting, but because it was so incredibly sparse it mostly just raised more questions and felt unnecessary.
That being said... it WAS still a pretty fun game and worth the money in the end. It just could have been a million times better with not a whole lot of effort.
Long time lurker here but decided to go ahead and make an account since I use the site everyday anyway
I always use this site to help in deciding whether to purchase it or not but I also double check the comments to see for other opinions. I'm always for multiple reviewers instead of one, gives you a better gauge how it is for different audiences.
So despite the 6, I'm still going to get this since I fell in love with the trailer.
I got it last night despite the not so great NL's review and I don't regret my decision. So far the game has had a single flaw for me, that some other reviewers have pointed out, which is the way each world seems to try and teach you a new technique but manages to get rid of it before it uses it to it's full potential. So far it's an 8/10 for me, I'm at World 3 atm.
I might get this. The price is good and if it has a lot of levels...the review being so harsh is off-putting enough that I'm going to research it some more.
I've never seen the comments section so united. For the sake of unity and peace, y'all should write nitpicky reviews more often. I can't say anything stood out about this game to me, but it still looked good enough to keep an eye on. I just already am working on Fluidity: Spin Cycle and Night Sky, two other puzzle platformers.
Would the reviewer mind explaining how exactly the game's minimalistic art style is "retro"? Does that mean a simplistic graphics style automatically makes a game a retro cash-in?
So wait. What's the problem?
So many butt-hurt commentators, frankly I think we should expect more from our games. The reviewer is singling out this game, for being unable to impress on even a nostalgic level in their opinion.
@OptometristLime Too bad the reviewer did a poor job of informing readers about this game. There's a lot of stuff the review left out about this game that I saw other reviewers (even GameXplain) mention such as length, and bonus content. The review being short also doesn't allow the reviewer to make a convincing argument, and every point brought up feels weak. Maybe we should expect more from our games, but the same can be said about our reviewers if they're deterring others from buying games without a good reason.
I just purchased Boxboy! And I'm really enjoying it. Yes, the game never stops "teaching" you, but that keeps the levels fresh! There's only so much you can do with a relatively simple game mechanic. It more or less introduces a new concept or hazard in each world. It reminds me of the old donkey kong game on game boy where it is simple at it's core, but they introduce different level features to keep it fresh and make you think about how to get past he obstacle safely. Boxboy! Introduces spikes, conveyors, and cranes so far from what I've played and it really makes for some challenging puzzles in the later stages. The sense of accomplishment when finally figuring out what you need to do is great! Yes the graphics are simple, but it was $5.99 CDN, and it has solid gameplay, so I really don't mind how it looks. Great bang for your buck, I'd recommend it for any puzzle/platformer fans. 8.5/10
I keep thinking, after seeing a lot of positive comments everywhere, that this review was probably written while the reviewer was just in a bad mood.
The reviewer is welcome to his opinion, but I'm hooked on this game. I don't find it boring at all.
I normally pay attention to the reviews on here, particularly when it comes to eshop games and i wouldn't normally spend my hard earned on anything lower than a 7. However in this instance I have a feeling i'm going to disagree with this review, so downloading it now and i'll make my own mind up.
This review is overly negative.
I got boxboy last night for less then £5 and have loving it. Its a simple, fun, charming and novel game. The visual style is bare bones but does blend old skool gameboy with modern hardware (the animations are detailed and high frame rate, but minimally applied).
The shop system is charming and addresses the initial simpleness of the game. You've some tiny attachment to your plucky box and its skills and then you get to 'buy' (with ingame points, not IRL payments) costumes for it at which point it becomes your own.
Others may disagree about whether that charm matters but the gameplay and puzzles themselves are great. Its true it does feel like you're in learning mode for a long time (I think I'm 30-40% of the way through and it still feels like that). That could be viewed as a positive or a negative though - even if continues for the whole game that would break the pattern of most comparable games where you yearn for a new element to be introduced.
TL;DR - 6/10 is way too low. 7 would be stingy. 8 would be appropriate and 9 the most accurate seen within the confines of the genre.
Reviewers have a small responsibility not to slate originality where its fun and engaging. This should be seen as a kind of pure, minimalist logic puzzler. To criticize it for that would be like to criticize Qix or Tetris for the same qualities.
Buy the game, its cheap and don't be put off by this websites review!
So it seems to be a solid puzzle platformer? I'll be grabbing this on payday.
I like nintendo life, but they are horrible with the numbers
This game is a 7 or 8, it's a brilliant puzzler.
I agree with most of the comments here about the review. The part in it about the game not integrating the visuals very well confused me a bit:
"Less impressive is what BOXBOY! then does with it: nothing. The aesthetic is little more than a photo filter peddling manufactured nostalgia. Yes, the sprite work is chunky and minimal, with a clean look designed to hold up on a notoriously blurry display. But so what? Why force constraints — for visuals, audio, and scope — when you have no plans to challenge them?
BOXBOY! doesn't have a good answer for why it co-opts an iconic visual style and, given the overly pervasive retro 'Throwback' trend that has dogged smaller games for years, probably didn't expect anyone to even question its decision."
I'm not really sure what was so unsatisfactory about the game's visuals. It's simple visuals for a game with simple gameplay. Seems like a good enough reason for me. Also,(some other people have mentioned this before) I'm pretty sure the visuals were just supposed to be minimalist. I mean, as opposed to being there solely to evoke nostalgia for the Game Boy or whatever. I also don't really find the game dull at all. In any aspect. In fact, while writing this I've been fighting the urge to go back to playing it. Just a lot of things I disagree with here. Any way, better luck next NLife, this review really just didn't seem like a ton of thought went into it. (Which shows given how short it is, and how focused a lot of it is on just introducing the mechanics of the game).
It feels goooooood being a ninja box.
Currently on World 13 and this game is still throwing new ideas at me on every single level.
I dunno about this review, game looks like an 8/10 to me. I've been having fun with it a lot. It's a great puzzle game.
Now that I have it I think its okay. Not mind-blowing, but definitely a 7. The graphics are VERY simplistic though, and I really wouldn't compare them to Gameboy (the Gameboy had games that looked much more complex graphics-wise, like Warioland, Links awakening, etc)!
Well... I liked it. Agreed about the game always being in teach mode, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it, overall.
Good game. Worth it. Way better than dooors. It's shameful that it got a lower rating, it's 1000 times better. Got really challenging only in the last few worlds, though, and since there are a lot of worlds, it can get boring before it gets fun.
I am pretty baffled by your rating system, you gave some ancient, stale Game Boy games that I couldn't even play for more than 5 seconds (Mega Man series for instance) 9/10 and you give this fantastic little puzzle game a 6?
This is easily an 8/10, if not more.
A bit late to the party here, but I have been hooked on this game for the past week. A 6 seems quite unfair, especially when part of that score is based off of aesthetics alone; I find the minimalist style refreshing and beneficial to the gameplay.
I don't think the review's author had a good day writing this; this is NOT like every-other indie games that tries to reach the "nostalgic" effect. In any moment I tought I was playing a "retro" game. Boxboy is a solid and polished pluzze game, should be on top of the pops from e-shop. This review got the wrong approach, I think a "second oppinion" would benefit.
C'mon. I mean, even IGN gave this 8.2/10!
This review is an utter joke.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...