Side Scape

Despite what the top tag says, this is not a metroidvania at all, this is a zelda-like. Having said this, this is surprisingly original. In fact it's one of the most original games I've seen since I checked out vision soft reset. Having said that, this has a lot of issues that ultimately prevent me from giving this game a recommendation. Namely that, the map is bad, the music is often bad, sprites can be really primitive, some sound effects are bad. combat with the knight is frustrating. Got stuck in the second dungeon and decided to drop this. I recommend playing Xanthiom Zero instead. It's made by the same developer who clearly learned from the mistakes of this game when he made that. Perhaps someday sidescape can get a remaster.

This game is such a treat! It is 100% as if Samus and Link had a baby, and the game approaches it with an amazing sense of humor. The game mechanics are unique and inventive, as you explore rooms switching between side-scrolling platforming and top-down navigation (within the same room!) It has REALLY good dungeon design, unique character abilities, interesting meta narratives, and funny yet endearing dialogue. Exploration is excellent, and the boss fights are varied and thrilling. I don’t have many critiques, but the last boss is a little bit of a nightmare. I also really would’ve liked a dedicated map page with better detail - the current one is too small to decipher, and detracts from the experience. I whole-heartedly recommend this for either 2D Zelda or Metroid fans. It deserves way more recognition!

Great little Metroidvania & Zelda-like. Plays as it looks.

Don't get fooled by the very old-school graphics and soundtrack: Side Scape is a really clever game, that not only mixes top-down combat and exploration a la NES Legend of Zelda with platforming action, but it also has several interesting puzzles based on both switching the protagonists at the appropriate moments and using weapons and items according to the environment clues. It also has some meta humour, with the 2 protagonists being aware of being in a game and some banter about the different genres they inhabit. My only problem is that the top-down combat is not that great, and some bosses in the beginning of the adventure (when you have just a few weapons and life bars) may be too tough, especially when you're not used to the character switching. For the rest I generally enjoyed it. Also, it is the prequel for the dev's other title [i]Xanthiom Zero[/i], which is still good but much less original, being a heavily Metroid-inspired exploration game.

Very well thought out metroidvania with a twist

Very cool blend of 2 genres.

Side Scape has truly surprised me! It is a uniquely inspired throw-back to the past era of video games! It combines stunning pixel art with smooth game play! This game offers a well-needed refresh to our modern market. I highly recommend this title for any vintage game enthusiast!

The first impression is extremely rough, due to the terrible default keyboard scheme (change it immediately), and the graphics that try to pretend to be "retro" while they are just amateur stuff. If you manage such a rocky start, however, the game starts showing its qualities and gets increasingly better. The very concept is something rarely used. The two characters don't merely have different weapons and abilities as one is a sci-fi guy with power suit and guns and the other a fantasy knight: they play on literally different planes and perspectives. Captain Grisham is a side-view metrodvania hero, subjected to gravity towards the bottom of the screen, while Sir Knight plays like in a top-view classic Zelda game, he can walk anywhere on the screen where there is something solid. At first the use of one or the other is scripted but it doesn't take long before they can be changed at will, opening up many possibilities further extended by upgrades, special weapons and accessories. The map design is certainly the best aspect of the game, as it has to accommodate both gameplay styles and make obstacles for both characters, while also offering many interesting and, during the last part, really complex, puzzles. You may have to use one character's power to alter the environment so the other can get a platform to jump or walk on, and that's just for starters. Even so, there is still roughness around the edges, as the visuals can get even unpleasant at times, the collisions can be iffy, and the story would have deserved better development and dialogue to make full use of such a great idea. The first boss can be really difficult because it is confronted early, with only a few upgrades, but the latter ones are often damage sponges because by then Grisham is even a bit overpowered. It would need and deserve more polish, but under the ugly surface, it is actually well thought out, and with 6 hours or so of gameplay, doesn't overstay its welcome. The developer has talked about ideas for a sequel, which could be the chance to fully realize this great concept.

will that was fun! the idea if the game It is so unique I will not say it you need to see it, All in all i had a lot of fun.