Bad Pad

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I decided to finally buy this and give it a chance after seeing the creator advertise this on r/metroidvania and realizing a few days prior that "the metroidvania review" curator is a joke. This is basically super meat boy reimagined as a metroidvania. It's clearly someone's first game and it shows but it has undergone several patches and the developer is very active and will immediately fix any issues that get reported. Nonetheless, if you're going to buy this, you should wait for a sale. Also, keep in mind that this game has some of the worst world design ever in a metroidvania. edit: after playing more I've decided that this can't be recommended. The reason is that no amount of patches are going to be able to save this first attempt at a video game. The devs need to move on to their next project and stop clinging to the past.

Bad Pad, developed by Headbang Games in collaboration with Oray Studios, is a platformer that immediately separates itself from the crowd through sheer personality. While it sits within the familiar framework of a 2D precision platformer, it layers that foundation with a loud, unapologetic heavy metal identity that influences everything from its visuals to its pacing. What emerges is not just a game about jumping and avoiding hazards, but an experience that feels closer to an interactive musical performance, constantly pushing energy and style to the forefront. At its core, the gameplay revolves around tight, skill-based platforming. You control a small, square character navigating a series of obstacle-filled levels, each designed to test timing, reflexes, and pattern recognition. The controls are responsive and reliable, which is essential given the level of precision required. Mistakes are frequent, especially in later stages, but they rarely feel unfair. Instead, the game leans heavily into a trial-and-error approach, encouraging players to learn through repetition. Each failed attempt becomes part of the process, gradually building familiarity with the level until success feel…

I'm sorry to the devs, but this game is terrible. It hides poor game design and janky hitboxes behind this illusion of difficulty, when it really comes down to throwing ♥♥♥♥ at the wall until you get past something. This game has difficulty options but as far as I can tell all that changes is that you die in a few hits in hard mode. So many parts of this game just involve throwing yourself through a gauntlet or an awful boss fight until you win by pure happenstance. If for whatever reason you do decide to play this game be prepared to get carpel tunnel, because almost every single boss fight involves you mashing the shift key hundreds of times on a successful fight. I genuinely had to install a program to mash the key for me towards the end because there was so much bs in the final fight and my wrists were cramping from it. The final boss also lasts WAYYYYYYYY too long, there is no reason I need to fight three final bosses and go through two escape sequences. This is 100% top 5 worst games I've ever played, I did not have a single iota of fun completing this game and only did it to boost my average completion percentage. Save yourself the $12 or whatever it costs and spent it on so…

First of all, I want to thank devs for updating the game in an hour after I presented a minor problem Bad pad is one the metroidvanias ever made, but as game (MV+Precision platformer), it's one of the best I have played. Mastering the controls early is rewarding, and makes last map segment easier as there it's mandatory.

I've played less than an hour, early thoughts: I wish I could give a neutral review. From what I have seen so far, it is not a metroidvania (Exploration has been pretty much linear, and opening new areas just consists of flipping switches to open doors). This might change later of course, but I would describe what I've experienced thus far as more a precision platformer with some adventure elements. The music/sound effects are.. at times i like them, at times I chuckle, other times I find it annoying. Not sure the grunts while wall jumping were a good idea. Ultimately the art and production is probably what's keeping me from playing further, I wasn't immersed in this world like I was with super meat boy.