Claire a la Mode

Fantastic soundtrack and cute characters. Platforming is smooth and snappy. The games is kind of a sequel to their other games, especially curse crackers. So some part of the lore might be a bit confusing and hard to resonate with if you're new to the series. But I think fun can still be had if you're just vibing. And if you want to dive deep into the lore, just buy and play curse crackers and their other games as well. They're all good games. I've played all the major titles from colorgrave. I think they are an underrated hidden gem. The devs are apparently very talented. They just lack recognition.

A crazy fast paced arcade platformer with a ton of unlockables and replayabliity!

As a follow up game to Curse Crackers this one continues to be a excellent 2D platformer that anyone should play The gameplay is still fast paced so even if you are lose a life there is no delay in respawn to continue immediately and the movement allows you to not lose much time from when you lost it Having multiple characters to replay levels levels gives it some value to check how to clear them that way or get missing collectables, that some dialogues changes depending of which characters of the main group you choose is also nice All in all, it was a very fun experience

Claire a la Mode is frenetic, colorful, and content-filled enough to give players a good time, even with some flaws. The game may look like an "arcade platformer" in marketing, and it certainly does play like one, but it's more about a story-driven campaign and more standard platformer progression than racking up a huge score. I'm not even sure what the score is for, although the game certainly makes it feel good to make it go up. It took me a while to adjust to how the game expected me to play, but once you reach a rhythm, you find yourself blazing a trail of destruction and score counters through these levels. It can be quite satisfying to do. That being said, the levels can feel a bit mindless half of the time as a result, especially if you're working with a particularly overpowered character. Still, they throw in enough twists and mechanics here and there to keep you on your toes and add variety. And while you can pretty easily blaze through the campaign, there is a lot of replayability with different playable characters and collectibles. While I've beaten the game, I still have some post-game content to dig into. The only other thing I think is important to note is the story. While it seems simple on the surface, the plot digs deep into Colorgrave's expansive lore. I've always found their lore relatively confusing/poorly explained in the past, and while not as bad as in other games they have, I think that continues a bit here. The relatively straightforward story can feel bogged down a bit by a lot of references to a larger, more complex world that might leave newcomers confused. I understood about half of these references as someone who has played previous Colorgrave games (especially Curse Crackers), but for some it might feel like tuning into a random late season episode of a show you've never watched before. Still, your level of understanding of the plot shouldn't effect the more energetic fun you can get from the gameplay.

Arcade style, side scrolling action, a cute pixel style and a cast of characters connected to a much bigger universe of games. This is Claire A La Mode. This game starts off with a straight forward intro involving a comedic cast of villains and a trio of heroes. Easing you into a world that's a much bigger than its first impression. Which is perfect for a newcomer like me. The villain Queen Bee's plots to foreclose on your friend's homes, the goal is clear. Stop that Dastardly Debt Collector. From here I'm introduced to the gameplay. It feels fantastic & is designed with controllers in mind. Character movement is fast and stops on a dime for precise platforming at high speeds. Jump height is tied directly to how long you press the jump button & you descend immediately when let go. Sprinting is just as responsive too. Only sacrificing speed and delay if you change direction mid sprint. It's the perfect balance of precision and speed. The universal gameplay mechanic of lifting and throwing items is versatile. Catch objects, throw them, hit enemies, grab items, you name it, you can yeet it. An interact button allows you to operate machines and other gimmicks for extra variety. Each character also has a unique action skill. From Claire's Bread (And bomb!) throwing, to Resolve's extra air jump and many more. Each Skill will add a little bit more flair to your combat and movement and gives each character different advantages and plenty of reason to master them (and secret techniques for some too!) Using this moveset, a variety of challenges are thrown at you in entertaining and creative ways. Especially in the boss battles. Of which I was pleasantly surprised. Some go above and beyond the dodge pattern to hit formula to do some cool things I won't spoil. if you're a fan of 2D Action Platformers you owe it to yourself to give this game a try. It's full of unlockables, whimsical writing, and some charming character designs pulled me right in. I'm also curious about the entire story universe this game is set in. Which covers multiple games in a variety of Colorgrave titles. If you're looking for something lighthearted in tone and writing but still challenging and fun. Give this game a try, you won't be disappointed.

Very fun arcade-style platformer with great art and music. Runs well on Steam Deck, I'd say it's best played on handhelds in general.

Honestly, one of their weaker games in their lineup. It's kind of a glorified setup game for their next mainline curse crackers game (the dawnthief one). Game is really short, really easy, and generally not as interesting as it could be. The character interactions are fantastic, and the lore/world building is awesome as always, but it doesn't carry the [b]two hour[/b] experience that far. I'm excited for their next game, and I'm glad they experimented with this one, but I would've been reaaaaal mad if I didn't buy this one on sale.

This game takes me back to being snuggled on the couch, playing on my game boy color. The art and music are irresistably charming. The game isn't oppressively hard, which is something I appreciate. I had a fun time enjoying the banter between characters, and the challenge was tuned well to my (admittedly lack of) skill.