Hyper Scuffle

Hyper Scuffle is a 2D retro pixel PvP arena platform brawler (aka ripoff of Super Smash Bros) that's been slapped together with the godawful GameMaker Studio video game construction kit from Yoyogames. The game features 2D retro pixel line art. There's online and local multiplayer as well as a botmatching option, which is useful because nobody wants to play this. They chose to use obsolete retro pixel line "art" as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics. It's unclear if this is due to lack of budget or talent, regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low as a result. Resolution and controls are locked (although you do get some flexibility in choosing from a number of locked control schemes). These flaws push this game far below minimum acceptable standards for PC. Games don't exist in a vacuum, either... it's unclear what the developer sought to achieve by releasing a deficient version of a game format that has many serious competitors of far higher quality embedded in the market. GameMaker Studio is a very poor quality game construction kit, and unsurprisingly results in products that have little to no value as games, especially when compared to the work of professional developers who create genuine products for gamers. Using a video game construction kit requires little to no talent or skill as a game developer. Very often, GameMaker Studio is used to make shovelware and lazy cash grabs, although in this case the game is completely free. Nothing speaks more to a developers belief in themselves and their product than making their game available for everyone without remuneration. This is certainly a gesture that shows dedication to the gaming industry. It's a shame in this case that the implementation is below the minimum standards a dedicated PC game should offer to enthusiasts. There's no "maybe" option in Steam, unfortunately, but I hope to see more work from this developer, perhaps as part of a professional game development company that can make full use of their talents without needing to make budget/quality compromises like pixel art and using off the shelf game templates and construction kits.