Bzzzt
A retro jumper with 1.25 million hand-drawn pixels.
Bzzzt is a 2023 platform game from developer Karel Matějka, working under the name KO.DLL, and published by CINEMAX s.r.o. for macOS, Linux, Windows, and Nintendo Switch. Players guide a small robot through a futuristic world that recalls 8-bit arcade games.
The story takes place in the year 4096. Scientists Emma and Robert have created an artificial intelligence called ZX8000. Their plan is to transfer this consciousness into a small, toaster-sized robot to test its abilities, but the villain Badbert interrupts the process. The robot, ZX8000, must then rescue the scientists and save the world.
The game offers three difficulty levels. On the easiest setting, players get three lives per level; on the hardest, only seven lives for the entire game. A normal difficulty is also available. Players can compare times and scores in global rankings, collect screws for points, and aim to complete each level with a full score. As the robot gains abilities, it can chain double jumps to overcome tougher obstacles. Completing all 52 levels takes roughly 2.5 to 3.5 hours, and the multiple difficulty options make it accessible to beginners. The game supports nine languages, including Czech.
Control is from a side-view perspective, using either a gamepad or keyboard. Because the robot can transform into a spark of ones and zeros to fly, the sensitive controls make keyboard arrows impractical; a gamepad is recommended.
Development was handled by Matějka, who also created the pixel art graphics. The music was composed by Martin Linda, using his own Rytmik program, in collaboration with Matějka. The static pixel art background contains 1.25 million hand-drawn pixels and took four years to complete. The game was released on 13 November 2023.
Bzzzt holds a 91% score on Metacritic, indicating "Universal Acclaim." It received several awards: 1st in INDIE OF THE YEAR on IndianTV (Community Vote), 6th place on IndieDB's INDIE OF THE YEAR 2023 (Player Vote), Best Design GDS 2022, Indie Community Vote GDS 2022, and Czech Game of the Year Awards: Audiovisual Execution of 2023.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Bzzzt
- Developer
- KO.DLL
- Publisher
- Cinemax
- Composer
- Martin Linda
- Released
- 13 November 2023 / - / 19 September 2024 (NS)
- Genre
- Platform
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Windows / Linux / MacOS / Nintendo Switch
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game is set in the year 4096. Scientists Emma and Robert dedicated their lives to working on new technologies, resulting in the artificial intelligence ZX8000. All that remains is to transfer consciousness into the body of a small robot and test its functions. Testing is interrupted by the villain Badbert, and the robot ZX8000 must save the scientists and the whole world. The robot is controlled in a side-view perspective on either a gamepad or keyboard; a gamepad is recommended due to sensitive controls. The robot can gradually chain double jumps and overcome increasingly difficult obstacles and traps. The game can be played in three difficulty levels: easiest gives three lives per level, crazy difficulty gives only seven lives for the entire game, and normal difficulty is also available. Players can compare results in global rankings or beat time records for individual levels. Another challenge is collecting screws and completing each level with the full number. The game is available in nine languages, including Czech.
Reader's Guide
Bzzzt was created in the workshop of developer Karel Matějka, under the name Ko.dll, who also created the pixel art graphic processing for which he has been known for a long time. The music was provided by Martin Linda in collaboration with Matějka, using the Rytmik program that Linda developed himself. The static pixel art background features 1.25 million hand-drawn pixels that took four years to create. The game has received generally positive reviews, holding 91% on Metacritic indicating 'Universal Acclaim.' It earned several accolades: 1st in INDIE OF THE YEAR on IndianTV – Community Vote; 6th place on IndieDB's INDIE OF THE YEAR 2023 – Player Vote; Best Design GDS 2022; Indie Community Vote GDS 2022; and Czech Game of the Year Awards: Audiovisual Execution of 2023. The game is suitable for beginners due to the different difficulties, and completing all 52 levels takes an average of 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
Did You Know?
- The background took four years to create.
- The villain is named Badbert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bzzzt?
Bzzzt is a 2023 retro platformer created by Karel Matějka under the studio name KO.DLL and published by CINEMAX s.r.o. It launched on 13 November 2023 for macOS, Linux, Windows, and Nintendo Switch, and is often described as a retro jumper built around 1.25 million hand-drawn pixels.
What does the player actually do in Bzzzt?
You guide a small, toaster-sized robot through 52 side-scrolling levels in a futuristic world that evokes classic 8-bit arcade aesthetics. The core loop is a straightforward jump-and-run, with an average playthrough lasting roughly 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
What is the story of Bzzzt?
Set in the year 4096, scientists Emma and Robert build an artificial intelligence called ZX8000 and plan to upload it into a tiny robot to test its abilities. Their antagonist, Badbert, crashes the transfer mid-process, forcing the newly awakened robot to rescue both scientists and save the world.
Who is Badbert in Bzzzt?
Badbert is the villain who interrupts the scientists' consciousness-transfer experiment, turning a routine test into a full rescue mission. He serves as the primary narrative obstacle the player's robot must confront across the campaign.
Why is Bzzzt notable among 2020s platformers?
It stands out for its dedication to hand-drawn pixel art—1.25 million individual pixels—while delivering a tight, short 52-level run that captures the feel of early arcade jumpers. Its cross-platform availability and modest length make it an accessible entry point for fans of retro platforming.
More in Platform Games of the 2020s, Part 1 1-24
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