The Future Project

The game functions like one should and it is not an asset flip at least. It surely felt like a future project at times. I give this one a middle thumb as it tries to be somethin' but there is still some work to be done. Gameplay here: https://youtu.be/xZOixaJ93HI

It's an inspired and fun game from just one developer. My main issue with indie games like this is that the movement tends to feel off, but fortunately that is not the case with The Future Project. Traversal and combat feel responsive and satisfying. The game is quite challenging in a retro way, especially the bosses. This can be both frustrating and very rewarding. The visuals may turn people off initially, but when combined with the soundtrack, story and gameplay, the presentation is actually very consistent and charming. It's not for everyone, but especially Metroid fans should be able to appreciate what has been done here. Most of all you should try the demo and judge for yourself! (My time spent with pre-release test versions isn't counted in my playtime)

Works flawlessly on a Steam Deck. Picked this up on a whim and glad I did, great game and a fun Metroid Prime style game. Needs polish here and there but amazing work for one developer. Bosses can be pretty difficult and offer a nice challenge. Fun exploration and large environments. Definitely recommend!

It's a cool, independent Metroid type game. The maps are large with a ton to explore and re-explore as you get more powers. The achievements are nice and varied (albeit, not a big concern for most Steam gamers but I appreciate). All around, an enjoyable experience, front to back.

A fun call back to the Metroid Prime style of game. Lots of areas to explore and power ups to get! A little rough around the edges, but worth a playthrough. I found this game through a YouTuber who talked about it. The game has some pretty expansive areas to explore and a bunch of power ups to collect. It felt good to get new power ups and go back and explore for the next path forward! This solo dev has really put their heart into this game and it shows. Aside from a few issues/gripes there is a lot to like about this game. It's honestly amazing that it was all done by one person. Here are a few things I thought the game got right, or little details I really appreciated. - The final boss was actually fun! Final bosses are always hard to make enjoyable it seems, and I liked the final boss - felt like a good conclusion to the game to test your skills. - Each element makes your other hand glow a different color, but also the hand has a different pose for each element. It makes it really easy to tell what element you have equipped just by seeing it in the corner of your eye. - For the most part the movement felt really good, and as you got some upgrades it really lets you zoom around, making going back for things you missed a breeze. Looking forward to more from this dev!

Don't play this game if you're prone to motion sickness. Don't play this game if you have an awful sense of direction, either - despite having a compass and map, it's too easy to get turned around and lost on which way is which (the compass UX being as complex as it is doesn't help whatsoever). Mechanically, its Okay Enough, [i]except[/i] when it comes time to play Platformer. [i]platforming sucks because very often you can't tell if you're going to undershoot a platform and slide off it's lack of clear corners, or if you're going to overshoot it because it's small enough that dashing throws you wildly over it.[/i] Add that mobile platforms [i]CAN MOVE YOUR CAMERA AS THEY TURN[/i] and it's a miserable time. [spoiler]The aether ability is just flat out impossible to tell distance with, which is egregious when you need it to be soundly behind something. The down-line it has is ABSOLUTELY USELESS because [i]it's locked to the camera instead of functionally pointing down[/i]. It would've been better at that point to have given it some form of dropshadow from it to give you a clear idea on if it's above a platform - not that [i]that'd[/i] be as helpful as it should, given some platforming asks you to use it to extend your jump. on top of that, the Slow Time ability being set on a delayed activation makes it so much worse than it has any right to be for lining up tight squeezes.[/spoiler] add in colorblind-unfriendliness in form of the pickups all being the exact same particle but in slightly different colors, and the jank crosses the line past "charming" to "frustrating".

It's a good time

It's very difficult to get immersed in a world with the amateur mish-mash of art.

This game was a pleasant surprise. It was a functional and fun metroidvania, that didn't overstay its welcome. You can tell this game was made with passion. It is definitely a little rough around the edges, but has loads of charm. It would have been easy to dump a bunch of unity assets in and call it a day, but the dev went the extra mile and modeled everything themself. Some Positives: The various worlds are pretty fun to explore with lots of upgrades and rewards. The different power-ups you receive are interesting and fun. They can be used in a variety of ways to traverse the environment or fight enemies. There are some pretty challenging platforming sections, especially in the latter half of the game. The story is interesting enough to keep you going, but the exploration is the main draw. Some Negatives: There is no way to mark on your map, so if you see something you can't reach yet, you better have a good memory. The default fall damage feels a little too unforgiving. This does get better later in the game though. Sometimes if you fall into a death pit, you get respawned in very precarious places (or just in mid air) causing an inescapable death loop. Overall, I enjoyed my time, and would recommend this game.

Very good for what is clearly a solo devs first attempt at a 3d game, its far from perfect and i had to give up because i got super duper lost but it shows promise and a lot of passion it feels very heartfelt in the best way