Truly excellent action platformer. 100% stable frame pacing, looks great, perfectly precise controls that are fully re-bindable, lovely graphics and gameplay. A straightforward part collectathon, part action title, that really emphasises speed runs. It's NOT a metroidvania but you have to search around each level (one example hint, on very first level, go immediately straight up with the basic punch and jetpack and you'll find something you need to 100% the stage, whereas normally you would see the stage and just think to go to the right) to find hidden bonuses, but it never feels like a chore. I don't think I am going to chase the gold level speed times, but I am definitely going to 100% the item collection side on each level.
The only thing that there is no hint for is the nitro (default on left trigger), which is finite per level, so as far as I can tell it's just a little bit faster than the rocket glove, which is the one that auto refills between uses. You can upgrade the time length of the nitro in the upgrade shop and also upgrade other stats as you collect currency in game, and I think the key for speed runners is judicious use of nitro, rocket glove and basic punch (which is infinite in the air and propels you but has a very short cooldown between punches). Basically, this is a very easy game to pick up and play but will be incredibly tough to master, as the brain and hand eye coordination will need to adapt to using nitro in the rocket punch cooldown period, and also the basic punch when nitro runs out. So you need to know WHEN to waste your nitro, which means playing a level multiple times, and have to get the timing down of using the basic punch in the cooldown periods of the other two. Conversely, you need to use the other two in the cooldown period of the basic punch LOL.
Although it might seem redundant, in actual fact, the game has been specifically designed to flex this element, where you have 3 main attacks/moves but ALL have cooldowns. So this is about timing, and level memorisation.
There's enough meat here to want to become flawless at it, if that's your sort of thing, and I know speed runners will just love it, but this guy is just going to finish the main campaign and make sure I have all the pickups and have upgraded as far as I can, rather than chase the gold time star on each and every level (btw, you can grind for upgrade currency by repeating levels - the secret pickups are a one and done, but currency resets each time you do the level).
Re grinding, you do need to progress further to open up more upgrades in the shop to begin with, therefore, it's a very nice balance and not TOO much grinding.
My only complaint is the music, as I REALLY don't like it. it is not anywhere near energetic enough IMO for the blistering action on offer, and I got very close to just not playing it further as the music feels so mismatched to me, and outright unpleasant in some ways. Don't get me wrong, it's been composed with love and is high quality, but the style does not fit the gameplay at all, as if it's totally disconnected from the cartoonish story and fast paced action. Besides that, for me personally, I don't like the actual songs either, so it's sort of a double whammy. I decided, since the gameplay is so good, to mute the music and put a YouTube playlist in the background. Thanks to modern tech, that's very easy to do on the same PC - just start your playlist in a browser in the background and done! No disrespect meant to the devs re not liking the music itself, as that's personal opinion, and you may just LOVE it (and I am absolutely certain many of you really will love it). What I don't think is so subjective however is the music energy levels not feeling connected to the frenetic gameplay, and I am pretty sure many of you *will* agree with me on that.
Still, of course I recommend it, because it PLAYS so well, is dirt cheap, looks great, and is CODED properly. Full resolution control in borderless mode? - Check. Control remapping? - Check. 100% Stutter free? - Check. Unlocked FPS? - Check. Proper sound FX/ambience/music level control? - - Check. Super responsive low lag controls? Great dev who replies to questions? - Check.
This is a fun one! Enjoy:)
