Tag: platformer

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Game Ramblings #84 – Unravel Two

More Info from EA

  • Genre: Puzzle/Platformer
  • Platform: PS4
  • Also Available On: Origin, Xbox One, Switch

TL;DR

  • Mechanically fantastic puzzle platformer that works just as well in single player or co-op
  • Not as big an emotional impact as the first game, but is mechanically far better as a game

It’s worth noting that I pretty much did a marathon of both the Unravel games in a few sittings. Where the first game was a solid puzzle platformer with a fantastic emotional arc straight out of Journey, the second was a much more laid back affair. However, it added a few mechanics that made it a much more solid game experience and added on a great implementation for couch co-op, so I decided that this one was the one I would ramble about. Really though, both are absolutely worth playing.

Most of the core mechanics of the game are present in this one screenshot, so it’s a good place to start.

Unravel is entirely a game about yarn, it’s the core visual feature of the main characters, it represents the binding of the two background story characters, and it’s the core limitation that keeps the players from being separated throughout the game. Like the first game, it’s also the big core physics piece that allows most of the puzzles in the game to work. Where the first game gave you limited yarn between checkpoints, this game gives you limited yarn between the two characters, which is also why this game works so well whether in single player or co-op.

The big physics mechanic that you gain with the yarn is swinging. You can hook up to points in the world and swing from them. Like the screenshot above, you can also create points by wrapping your yarn around objects that block the yarn. However, the swinging in the sequel feels a bit less physically realistic, and the game is much better off for it. The first game was generally alright for swinging, but there were a number of points where it definitely felt like I was battling the physics engine for just the right swing. In the sequel, swings feel much more set on perfect arcs (although they definitely massage this visually), so my swings and especially my jump releases were far more accurate. This move away from super physics realism also extended to some core movement. Running was distinctly faster and jumps were more rigid, giving the game a much more distinctly typical platformer feel in practice. It was definitely to the benefit of the game for them to go this direction.

The yarn can also be used just to hang, and like the screenshot above this can be used for other sorts of maneuvering. Since the two characters are independent, one can hang and move around on the rope while the second player physically swings them along. It’s a clever use of the typical platformer moving rope mechanic in a way that the player has significantly more control over the result. Done in co-op, it also means that the two players work together in a way that gives great instant feedback to what they’re doing.

The other big game mechanic added for the sequel is wall jumping. It may sound weird for something so simple, but this tremendously improved the pace of the game. The first game had a lot of sections where there wasn’t really a whole lot going on between puzzles. By simply adding wall jumps, the design toolbox was allowed to expand in a way that encouraged more simply fun platforming set pieces between puzzle areas, so the overall fun factor of the entire game improved as a result.

Puzzles definitely require both players to be doing something, which really makes co-op work well.

It’s also worth noting how literal the Two in the game title is. The entire game is playable in single player where the player switches between the two characters, or in co-op where each character is controlled separately. This co-op extends to the entire game, and the puzzles really take advantage of this. The screenshot above is a pretty simple example, where the players take turns distracting the bird to move to the end of the puzzle. However, these extend to areas where the co-op players activate weights to move set pieces around, to puzzles where the players have to heavily use the yarn rope physics to swing themselves to the right spots and help each other up, and more. This is as good of a couch co-op experience as I’ve ever seen in a platformer, and unlike New Super Mario Bros U, this is definitely designed to make co-op fun instead of frustrating.

I can’t leave this without mentioning the visuals – this game looks fantastic throughout.

The two Unravel games are pretty damn special. The first is an emotional gut punch that follows a similar arc to Journey, and in doing so gives a really strong puzzle/platformer game. The second makes the game mechanically far better, and at the same time adds one of the best platformer co-op experiences I’ve ever seen. This is on top of great visuals, great audio, and a phenomenal soundtrack backing it all up. These two games have been pretty easy to miss, especially on PC where they’re relegated to Origin, but it’s absolutely worth putting in the effort to seek these out, especially the sequel.

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Game Ramblings #74 – Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

More Info from WayForward

  • Genre: Platformer
  • Platform: Switch
  • Also Available On: Windows, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One

TL;DR

  • Strong continuation of the Shantae series.
  • Action/platformer gameplay is as strong as ever, and the DLC brings in interesting new gameplay styles in smaller segments.

The Shantae series has been one that’s always focused more on the action side of platformers, and this one is no different.  While it has little bits that read of Metroidvanias, its focus is still tightly constructed levels, use of different powers to traverse obstacles, and really big three cycle boss fights to cap a level.  Its all here like past games, but the quality is better than ever.  The introduction of DLC campaigns for other characters only enhances the total package, giving new gameplay styles within the framework of the Shantae universe to enjoy.

Powerups are definitely out in force in this game, once again tied to Shantae’s ability to use genie dances.

While the last game got rid of dances for story reasons, the core of the Shantae games has always been the use of power ups to get through levels.  The core platforming elements have always been there, but powerups are the driving force behind getting through the world.  In Half-Genie Hero, we’re back to using the genie belly dancing to activate these power ups.  These can range from the bat power above to fly over gaps to an elephant that can charge through walls to a spider that can walk on ceilings.  As you gain these powers, new areas in old levels become traverseable, and you go back through levels multiple times to both find story items, as well as find additional power ups.

If this is reading a lot like a Metroidvania, it’s because it definitely is to some extent.  Previous games in the series have definitely been fully open Metroidvanias, but Pirate’s Curse and this one both followed a more linear single-level experience, with the ability to go back to levels through a world map for quicker access.  What this really gains for the game over a typical Metroidvania experience is really speed of access.  You can hop into any unlocked level at any time, get to the power up or item you need, then immediately hop back into the world map to go to the next place.  There’s no slog of going back and forth through the same areas repeatedly to get to a specific area of the world.  It also means that the first-time entry into a level is really tailored to the story.  You get cutscenes about what’s going on, mini boss fights as a way to slow progress, and ultimately a big story boss at the end of each level.

The bosses are all universally a lot of fun, and generally speaking also huge.

The boss fights are also where some of the more interesting gameplay mechanics end up happening.  While there’s definitely simple bosses (it wouldn’t be Shantae without an appearance by the Squid Baron), you get a lot more experimental stuff going on in these fights.  The one above takes place in a circular arena that the player will wrap around, lobbing cannonballs back at the boss.  Another one of the bosses involves fighting against a giant mermaid, using hooks to make your way towards the boss’ face to land hits, a lot like old Donkey Kong Country gameplay.  By and large it is these segments that show some of the best growth in the core gameplay of the series.

The DLCs really start to change the gameplay in interesting ways, even if the level themes are shared.

The biggest change with Half-Genie Hero though has to be the inclusion of support for DLC campaigns, which are all now included in the ultimate edition release of the game.  These are fun mini-campaigns using other characters from the series.  One has you running around doing the Risky Boots story in a very tight platforming-focused campaign.  One has you playing as the three friends Sky, Bolo, and Rottytops using their unique abilities to get through heavy puzzle-focused levels.  There are even a few mini aracde campaigns with things like a gun-based police campaign or a stealth-based ninja campaign.

The end result of all this DLC is that you have a really solid main campaign that is really less than half of the experience at this point.  While you then go through and play through the same core level themes, the experience is always completely unique in each of the DLC packs, so you’re always learning fun new ways to replay the same content.  From a sheer value standpoint, the ultimate edition released recently with all DLC really can’t be beat.

There’s a lot to enjoy in this release, particularly if you wanted more variety than previous games.

The previous Shantae games were always really high quality examples of action platformer gameplay, and this one is no different.  The biggest difference here is that they simply went with the motto of “more”.   There’s more powers to use, more gameplay variety due to DLC, and more total overall time to spend in the game.  Despite all of the variety, the core gameplay hasn’t suffered at all.  This is still a really mechanically tight game, and one that fans of the genre really shouldn’t miss.

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Game Ramblings #71 – Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

More Info From Nintendo

  • Genre: Platformer
  • Platform: Switch
  • Also Available On: Wii U

TL;DR

  • Solid entry to the DKC series.  Doesn’t necessarily do new things, but does most things to a high level.
  • Difficulty takes awkward swings depending on whether or not you have a secondary character available.
  • One of the better pure 2D platformers available on any platform, and a great one to have on the go now that it’s moved to Switch

Admittedly, this isn’t the first time I played this one.  I got through a lot of it back on the Wii  U, but ultimately rage quit due to some of the weird difficulty swings.  This time around, I took a bit more measured approach to how I was playing the game, and realistically took advantage of knowing the sticking points, and got through it.  Ultimately this is a great game and a leading example of how classic platformers can move into modern times, even if it’s not without its share of balance issues.

DKC fans will recognize a lot, including your occasional old rhino friend.

The obvious thing to start with is the fact that this is very much a Donkey Kong Country game.  It doesn’t really do much new, does what is expected really well, and is a lot of fun.  Your move set is pretty basic, with roll jumps really being the only semi-advanced feature.  The only real addition on the newer games is the ground pound to stun enemies.  If there is any problem I’d point out there, having ground pound and roll on the same button led me to roll to my death by accident more times than I care to admit.  Given the Switch has 4 face buttons, it’s weird that they only use two of them (A/B for jump, X/Y for pound+roll).

However, beyond that input is as expected.  Movement is really tight, even with analog movement available.  Jumping is really predictable and as expected allows for some variance in height based on hold time.  Rolling off the edge of a platform and late jumping still works and is still crucial for speed runs, just as it has since DKC1.  That set of core functionality just feels good the entire time, and allows for the difficulty focus to be on not dying, rather than fighting mechanics.

Rockets are the start of things that look different from the past, with some of the changes working better than others.

By and large the things that are different still work just as well though.  On the ride front you still have your mine cart levels, but you also have levels with rockets that are just as fun, and provide nice distractions from straight platforming.  However, the biggest difference is that the secondary characters in the game aren’t playable.  They’re there to work as a backpack with a second ability, and it’s here that things start to work a bit less well.

On the secondary front, you’ve got Diddy with a short time jetpack, Dixie with her hair flip hover, and Cranky that acts as a pogo stick to avoid damage on some traps and allow for killing enemies with head protection.  There’s no easy way around this – Dixie is by far the most useful and should be the default option.  Cranky’s ability works fine but is extremely niche.  It’s just not that useful in situations where the additional jump protection provides a measure of safety.  Between Diddy and Dixie, Dixie is easily the obvious choice.  They both provide a built in amount of horizontal hovering, but Dixie’s provides the secondary help of either gaining height at the top of the jump, or allowing the player to jump under an enemy, then hover up to a platform.  It’s simply more versatile to do the same end action.

Difficulty can be rough if you don’t have a secondary character, but bosses really emphasize this issue.

However, it really feels like the game was balanced around having the secondary character at all times, and losing them is a punishing penalty.  While it’s not ideal in normal levels to lose a secondary, it will happen often and you’ll deal with it.  Most of the levels have fairly rare barrels available to get a new character, so you learn to deal with the limitations in Donkey Kong’s movement and simply slow down.  However, bosses exacerbate the issue.

The bosses are by and large 90s-era fights for better or worse.  They’re multi-phase fights, all 9 hits to win, and generally simple mechanics.  They’re definitely favoring a showcase of skill over spectacle.  However, they’re also full of one-shot death mechanics, questionable hit boxes, and having to learn untelegraphed attack patterns through repeated deaths.  For the most part it’s as expected, but it’s fairly frustrating.  Losing your secondary character just means that you go from a low threshold of danger to almost no threshold for danger.  Given how quick you can exit and re-enter the boss fights, it generally makes more sense to do just that when getting hit, and that’s probably not what the design team was going for.

This game is basically what the DKC series pulled straight into this era should be expected to be, visuals, gameplay, and all.

So end of the day this is a game that lives by the fact that it’s very much a 90s game.  Building off a series that was so mechanically fantastic as DKC puts you at a point where that will generally work fine, and Tropical Freeze doesn’t falter.  There’s definitely warts here because it doesn’t try to be something overtly modern, but at the same time I played and enjoyed it BECAUSE of that.  Do I think people that aren’t fans of 90s platformers will enjoy this? Not really.  However, that makes it pretty obvious who the target market is, and those folks will be happy again.