20240802

Primal Light

Developer: Fat Gem
Publisher: Fat Gem
Release: 2020
Platform: PC (played), Switch, XOne, Mac, Linux
Genre: Action

Being Primal Light a game so deeply rooted in the past, it’s baffling to see gameplay mechanics elegantly nailed 30 years ago being convolutedly (unnecessarily so too) implemented in it: dashing, slipping down ladders, hanging from hooks, all need additional d-pad inputs here--never required in their original forms (e.g. Mega Man X, Aero the Acrobat, Darkwing Duck respectively); even sliding can get you stuck middle-action--despite its original flawless implementation in 1990’s Mega Man III setting the standard right off the bat. The aggravating fact that such moves can’t be canceled into others pile up against the game’s overall light-metroidvania feel too, and hidden passive charms aren’t game changers either--to the point they would’ve off-put exploration if extra lives and health/cure upgrades weren’t worth the trouble.

Getting stuck in ladders like it's 1986.

Besides the beautiful (even if uneven and not cohesive at times) pixel art, the game shines when it comes to boss battles though. The contained arenas make for a better opportunity for such custom movesets being fully explored, and the puzzle patterns emerging from that mix pose a decent challenge without being unfair or feeling like a slog.

Primal Light can be a good 16-bit retro fix for some players, but it works best as a reminder that aesthetics alone can only scratch the surface of what's frequently overlooked as a deeper nostalgia itch.




20240525

Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition

Developer: DrinkBox Studios
Publisher: DrinkBox Studios
Release: 2014
Platform: PC (played), PS3/4, X360/One, WiiU, Vita, Switch
Genre: Metroidvania

As a cross of platformer and beat ‘em up, Guacamelee doesn’t quite shine in either front: in the platforming side it’s floaty and sticky–more so when lucha moves are mandatory for traversing a level section or solving an environment puzzle; on the brawler hand it’s a bit too stiff and convoluted (crowd control can get very annoying as colored barriers and shifting dimensions pile up against the player) for its own good.

Good thing then it’s a delicious game to inhabit. The “día de muertos” setting is exquisitely realized through some top notch presentation (both in sound and visual arts, even if some vfx don’t connect properly in fights), interesting characters (side quest NPCs included) and terrific dialogue, while also lending the metroidvania aspect of the game a crucial hand–shifting between “alive” and “dead” worlds makes wonders for keeping the backtracking fatigue present in so many titles in the genre away for the most part of it.

Worldbuilding is the name of the game.

The addition of “Intenso” (a temporary superpower) in the updated iteration of the game, brings in a welcome extra layer of balance to its flow besides expanding the player’s agency on how to tackle the game’s challenges (specially when coupled with the not-only-cosmetic skins already there from the start).

Imperfect as it is, Guacamelee conjures a too-good-to-pass-up world dead/alive for a metroidvania buff who’s in for something beyond pure mechanics shenanigans.