Not much to say about this one Robot Exploration Squad is a metroid-vania that while not bad, doesn't really add anything, nor does anything particularly well.
The aesthetic is, as you may imagine from the screenshots, serviceable, but not really... focused? The areas and atmosphere (along with the music) don't really push the game toward a certainly feeling or idea. It's just there.
The power-ups weren't anything special (they were either statistical upgrades (+armor/damage), or keys to acess new areas), but they were very one-dimensional. A counter-example would be Guacamelee, in which the abilities you gain are important in both combat and platforming in major ways.
The level design is alright, nothing wrong there either. Yet, again, it wasn't particularly meaningful or well done. It's solid, for sure! The areas connect well, there are a few secrets, your progress is fairly controlled, etc. etc.
There were some details in the game feel that I liked (the way the vegetation flew all over when you cut it was cool), and the jump, while floaty, had some fine control to it.
One thing I really disliked was the last boss-fight not having a checkpoint close to it. Fortunately, I only died once. But having to go through several challenging rooms and spending minutes before being able to get to the boss is really not a good way of doing things. At least not in this context. It was inconsistent (never in the game was this a thing) and artificially makes the boss harder.
EDIT: There is a save-point, according to the developer, it's just not explicit!
If you just want a very simple metroidvania to pass the time, sure, this can do the job. But there's a general lack of purpose in it... nothing seems to be there for any particular reason. It's a metroidvania for the sake of being a metroidvania, and never really tries to add or excell anywhere.
For the developer: please, don't be discouraged by this. The game is certainly functional. And it's complete, which is already something. But I'd rather play a game that has more to say, instead of being yet another one in the crowd.
