Displaying items by tag: Platformer

After nearly three decades since the original release comes Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, a worthy remake. Developer Lizardcube created an engaging universe, partly thanks to beautifully hand-drawn graphics and a fleshed out storyline. If you’re a fan of the timeless classics, this one is a worthy addition to your library: Wonder Boy stays true to its predecessor but successfully takes the title into the modern era of indie gaming.

Dead Cells is not only for those who yearn for a Castlevania-esque side-scroller, but also for any who love rogue-lites or side-scrollers with RPG elements. Dead Cells holds its own; it’s great, and it’s certainly promising with the content already offered. The developers have plans to introduce even more content down the line after release, such as more levels, bosses, and a stats feature. Although there are some hiccups in its current state, it’s dubious that these could become issues down the line, given the active developers. The difficulty, combined with the upgrade system, makes this release a solid choice for both the most experienced and novice players alike.

With a limited character pool, no story mode, and very few people that own the game due to its current release state, it is hard to stay online and interested for long periods of time. But, there is no doubt that as this game gains traction in the competitive community, and with piles of kids looking to beat the crap out of each other in a colorful way, Brawlout will find success.

The Disney Afternoon Collection is well polished, and a solid collection piece. Each title is ported over well, with tight controls and fluid responsiveness, but there’s also plenty of extra features to enhance gameplay. For those who have been interested in playing any of the titles included or want to replay them on a newer system, this is a strong choice for you.

Yooka-Laylee is a wacky 3D-platformer and the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, after nineteen long years. Ultimately, nostalgia alone should never be the reason behind a purchase; nor should it ever overshadow gameplay and mechanics so much that care about how the release actually plays falls by the wayside. It definitely brings the 1990s era to the modern day, but some things just should be left in the past.

The neon-clad, Japanese-themed platformer Slime-san is a cute 2D puzzler with simplistic yet endearing design. Requiring all of the skills and reflexes of Super Meat Boy, Slime-san is not a challenge to take lightly. While the intricate levels and fast-paced gameplay have an initial appeal for speedrunners, Slime-san lacks enough substance to keep the player’s attention for long.

With bursts of pressure, ethereal atmosphere, and engaging soundtrack, Blink brings style and originality to your standard design in puzzle-platforming. If you’re a fan of the genre and are equipped with a controller, its cheaper price point makes it worth a buy.

XenonValkyrie is a project that held many promising ideals.  It sought to be the synchronized combination of a platforming shooter, rogue-like, and Metroidvania game, but couldn't quite live up to its potential.  It had too much on its plate, and the result was a disjointed and buggy mash of disconnected aspects of many genres.  Pile that on top of balance, design, and control issues and you get a game that is unfairly difficult and lacks truly elaborate content.  Nevertheless, the game is still somewhat enjoyable, if you have a knack for the brutally challenging and are willing to invest a lot of time and tolerance to unravel what it does have to offer.

Cursed Castilla is, objectively speaking, a good game, even if you are not a fan of the genre. I would recommend one thing, however, much to the chagrin of OPNoobs Executive Producer Shane Gamez: play this game with a controller. "That's one of the things that really pisses me off… If I'm on a PC…" fumed Shane, "…I want my keyboard, I want my mouse," chimed Fred (Brizzi), capping off Shane's sentiment.

Super Rad Raygun has many things and is a great reminder of the old days, for those old enough to have had a Nintendo Gameboy during the 90’s. Slick retro style. Easy mechanics. Great references, if you're capable of picking them up, and a nice soundtrack. Expect mix ups with downloads, which would probably be fixed in a future update. Yet even with the nostalgia, it's hard to decide if I like it - or not.

While I wouldn’t say Kyurinaga’s Revenge is top-notch, it is good for people that are simply looking for a platform game and don’t need any background whatsoever on why they are being chased by giant cauliflowers or attacked by a crazy cucumber overlord. In the end, I was even impressed by the accurate use of Japanese language and culture during dialogues, specifically regarding the names of the vegetables. However, if RECO Technology could fix some of the flaws listed, incorporated the story better, and improved battling modes, I believe Kyurinaga’s Revenge could be great.

A great game and a must-have for any fan of the Mega Man series who wants to try something new. It does have its hiccups, mainly its story and lack of customization, but with its graphics, sound, and gameplay, it’s clear that the developers put their hearts into it.

Tight, responsive controls, an addictive, high energy chiptune soundtrack, and a visually vibrant and attractive art style all culminate in one of the hardest platformers I’ve played this year.

INSIDE is a wonderful experience and I would recommend it if you can see yourself enjoying a sacrifice in gameplay for a memorable journey, with a bit of “WTF did I just do” thrown in for good measure.

Mighty No. 9. A few years ago, just hearing the name would make Mega Man fanboys squeal with delight. Now it only reminds them of a failed attempt at reviving their beloved series. Perhaps the disappointment with Mighty No. 9 stems from high expectations held by 67,225 Kickstarter backers. You can’t blame them, but outright saying Mighty No. 9 is a horrible game may be an exaggeration. However, while I think the reviews for the game are harsh, the overall goal to create a spiritual successor to Mega Man failed.

Hyposphere, overall, was an underwhelming experience.It touts itself as an Unreal Engine 4 game, but aside from offering screen resolutions more than double normal HD and benefiting from the engines powerful lighting system, the title is surprisingly somewhat lackluster from a visual standpoint.

Black & White Bushido is an arena fighting game between light and shadow samurai. Battle for control of the light or the dark in multiple arenas, hiding from your foes and striking when they least expect it.