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When I Was Young Header Image
When I Was Young
Game
(released 5 years ago)
WallRus Group
Art Games Studio S.A.
TL;DR

It is a 2D action-adventure game set during the Vietnam War, where players search for a missing brother. Players engage in combat and explore a storyline inspired by historical events. Prepare for pixel graphics and a soundtrack that might make you feel a bit nostalgic for the '60s—if you ignore the war part.

View on Steam

Genres:
Exploration
Platformer
Wargame
Tags:
Action
Indie
Exploration
Adventure
War
Platformer
Wargame
Singleplayer
Atmospheric
Pixel Graphics
2D
Retro
Story Rich
Historical
Narration
Great Soundtrack
Difficult
Military
Cold War
America
Likely Inspirations:
Broforce
Contra
Metal Slug
Soldier of Fortune
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Steam Review Analysis – Total (updated Jul 25, 2025, 3:58 AM)
Disclaimer: This analysis is independently conducted and is not affiliated with Valve or Steam.
Review Summary - 152
71%
Mostly Positive

105

41

96%

Purchased on Steam

3

3

4%

Purchased Elsewhere

1% Primarily Play on Deck

Playtime Statistics
Playtime Overview
Estimated Playthrough Time

8.98 hrs

Min Playtime
0.08 hrs
15th Percentile
1.68 hrs
Median Playtime
6.85 hrs
85th Percentile
13.57 hrs
Max Playtime
52.62 hrs
Conclusion

Overall, players are divided on 'When I Was Young', praising its interesting story and pixel art graphics while expressing significant frustration with controls, bugs, and combat mechanics. The developers' responsiveness is a positive note amidst the critiques, but many players feel the game lacks polish and has a steep difficulty curve that detracts from the experience. Despite the challenges, the game's narrative and artistic style resonate well with a portion of the player base.

Strongly Positive
Interesting Story

Players appreciate the engaging narrative that captures the essence of the Vietnam War.

~15%
Positive
Pixel Art Graphics

The pixel art style is well-received, adding a unique charm to the game.

~7%
Challenging Gameplay

The game is noted for its difficulty, which some players find rewarding despite the frustration.

~7%
Responsive Developers

Players commend the developers for their quick responses to bugs and issues.

~3%
Soundtrack

The game's soundtrack is appreciated for enhancing the overall experience.

~3%
Neutral / Mixed Opinions
Negative
Frustrating Controls

Many players express dissatisfaction with the controls, particularly during combat.

~9%
Bugs and Glitches

Players report various bugs that detract from the gameplay experience.

~9%
Tedious Boot Camp

The boot camp section is criticized for being overly long and frustrating.

~3%
Strongly Negative
Combat Mechanics

The combat mechanics are often described as poor, leading to a frustrating experience.

~5%
Lack of Polish

Players feel the game lacks polish, with many aspects needing refinement.

~3%
This analysis is powered by OpenAI’s language models and may occasionally contain inaccuracies. For the most precise details, please consult the reviews directly on the official Steam store page.

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Updated on Aug 2, 2025, 6:49 AM