Teslagrad Remastered

[b]My score: 5.5/10[/b] [b]⭐TL;DR:[/b] A classic Metroidvania with some genuinely original ideas, but its clunky physics, one-hit deaths and excessive trial and error make the short adventure far more frustrating than it needs to be. [h2]Overview[/h2] This is a remaster of a genre classic, although it's hard to tell exactly what has been remastered. The graphics remain largely unchanged, while the mechanics are still just as clunky and awkward as they presumably were back then. It's a short Metroidvania with some genuinely original ideas, but they're held back by an approximate and unpredictable physics system that doesn't always play nicely with the powers you're given. And since every mistake means death, the experience can become frustrating very quickly. [h2]One Thing I Liked / One Thing I Didn't[/h2] ✔️ [b]Liked:[/b] The atmosphere. There's something both dark and comforting about it, a combination you don't see very often in modern games. ✖️ [b]Didn't:[/b] The artificial length created by excessive trial and error. Dying over and over doesn't make a short adventure feel more substantial; it just makes it take longer. [h2]Key Points[/h2] [list] [*][h3]DIFFICULTY:[/h3] The one-hit K.O. system means every mistake can be fatal, and some of the optional platforming sections are downright diabolical. Tying every achievement to these secrets is especially discouraging, since the extra levels require near-perfect reflexes and almost pixel-perfect timing. [*][h3]PRESENTATION:[/h3] Charming, hand-drawn-looking visuals with a somewhat amateurish touch in places. Some assets clearly have different resolutions, making it look like certain elements were drawn small and then enlarged. There's solid competence here, but not much of a distinctive artistic vision. The sound design is fairly standard. [*][h3]STORY:[/h3] An interesting metaphor for a dictatorship wrapped in a vaguely Soviet-inspired aesthetic. There are virtually no cutscenes, though, and the story wisely never gets in the way of the gameplay. [*][h3]GAMEPLAY:[/h3] A very short and fairly linear Metroidvania. You'll need to backtrack to find all the secrets, but the reward is a series of extra levels that are even more infuriatingly difficult. After already putting in the effort to find everything, being rewarded with almost impossible platforming wasn't particularly appealing to me. [*][h3]TECHNICAL POLISH:[/h3] Aside from a few questionable collision issues, I didn't encounter any major glitches or bugs. [*][h3]MONEYxCONTENT VALUE:[/h3] There are more modern and better-made examples of the genre that can satisfy your Metroidvania cravings. If this one's aesthetic and overall imagery appeal to you, though, I'd recommend checking it out on sale or grabbing it in a bundle with the other games in the series. [/list]