Claire a la Mode

A little delayed writing this but, genuinely a wonderful experience, the movement with each character feels satisfying and rewarding to get down. Everything from the art to the music has such refreshing whimsy to it and if you're a fan of 2D platformers then this game is more than worth a try.

Sakuraaaiiiiii...!!! Okay, I didn't expect the next Colorgrave game would be a love letter to Kirby and Smash Bros, with several deep cuts from other games. The formula here is spastic but [i]very[/i] refined, with somehow more arcadey refinement than Curse Crackers had going for it. Overall, it feels great to play. The not-insubstantial lore expansions to the main Colorgrave continuity are also greatly appreciated here. I really dig the universe they've been spinning since Prodigal, and having that alongside the action is wonderful. I do strongly recommend playing Curse Crackers first (and if possible, Prodigal) to get the most out of this game, as the lore and setting directly follow from it. But otherwise: recommended.

its baller its sick its gas its peak

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

Before the game's release, I was worried it would be just a bunch of cooking minigames, but it turned out to be a good story-driven sequel to Curse Crackers with a ton of playable characters. I suddenly loved the minimalist style.

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.

Fun and fast-paced platforming bliss! It's a short game, but there are more than 10 playable characters, each with their own unique abilities that significantly change how you approach the levels and enemies, so there's a lot of replay value. There's also a lot of fun mini-games and well-hidden secrets, and the boss fights are creative, several of them even completely shifting the genre of gameplay! Lastly, the character designs are very cute and clean. Resolve was my favorite, loved her facial expressions. I wasn't able to try co-op, but it was good fun for me solo. Definitely give this game a shot if you've got a hankering for a fast and "pure" platforming experience!

Very fun and cute game! The movement feels so good when ya get good at it...

Another banger from Colorgrave, short but deeper than it initially seems. Fun exploration and platforming makes for a great experience while the background lore for this series is as interesting and confusing as ever.