hotdogcoder

UPDATE: I'm now on level 376. I love this game. I came back here to change my rating from a 9 to a 10. Original Review: The best way I can describe this game is "snappy". The controls are incredibly responsive and just feel perfectly made for the switch. I love the 8 bit graphics, the effects when you move, the explosion when you die. It reminds me of downwell except this is more addictive. The tired-and-true maze formula might not be super original to some folks but the snappy controls bring it to life in a way I've never experienced before and I immediately fell in love with it. I'm already on level 45 after a multi-hour grinding session and have no intention of slowing down. I have no idea how this game's original format on the iOS was playable - I guess with little arrow buttons on the screen? Regardless using the joystick on the switch or changing it up and using the directional arrow keys on difficult sections just "feels" right and so natural. I downloaded the free demo (which I HIGHLY recommend) and within the first 3 lightning-fast stages, I knew I wanted the full game. This game is a GEM, a total diamond in the rough. Finding games like these is why I trawl Metacritic ratings. The screenshots on **** don't do it any justice, just download the demo already! The only reason I'm not giving it a full 10 stars is because I wish it had more variation in the background music. It only has one background song that I've encountered so far and even though it's not intrusive or annoying, it does get old after a while.

I bought this on sale and was quickly disappointed. The controls just seem slow and unresponsive to me. I only played it twice and never went back - it just didn't capture me in a way that left me wanting to keep playing it.

Fantastic game and EXTREMELY challenging. Probably the most difficult game I have ever played. It tracks how many times you die and cumulatively I'm at 2000+ deaths now. Somehow the quick reset of the screen when you die keeps you retrying the same screen for 20, 30 or even 50 times to get past it. Even with the insane difficulty you can make just enough progress that you can eke your way to the top of the mountain. For some people I think this extreme level of challenge is going to kill their joy of the game but for others it will light them up and be satisfying & rewarding.

Quirky puzzler with gentle background music and some very challenging parts. Despite the relaxing vibe, I did get frustrated several times, but it offered just enough escape to keep me coming back for more until I finally reached the end, probably around 8-10 hours in. Once I completed the game, there were many islands I left unreached but I find I no longer have the motivation to go back and figure out how to get there. Fun, beautiful, (mostly) relaxing little game - just don't be in a hurry to finish the final island!

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

I tried the demo first, which I highly recommend. The demo completely sold me on the game, then I played it on multiplayer with my daughter which took it up another level entirely. Basically the developers took "Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past", improved the basic game mechanics like movement speed and fighting, gave it some basic world-building elements, then slapped multiplayer on top. If you loved Link to the Past, you will love this. Sure there are some gotchas with multiplayer but this game is a gem. Plus you can sometimes get it on sale on **** (I got it for $12 which is a steal). Highly, highly recommend. 9/10

Good game but it is just way too hard. Any initial joy of playing this game has now been replaced by dismay at the fact that I will never get any further than where I currently am. I have been slaving away for at least 10 hours at this thing so I figure I've given it a good shot. I'm now finally able to beat the first 2 stages and get to the major boss fight against a wizard. I have NEVER come close to beating a single wizard-level boss (they randomize - I've lost to them all). This game is just too difficult. At this point, it's **** the joy out of playing and it's just not fun anymore. I'm also scared that - even if I beat the first boss - I'll immediately die shortly after (because health is so SO scarce in the game) and it won't save my progress, which will totally crush my spirit.

Beautifully haunting and atmospheric. Chilling, artful, dramatic and suspenseful. At one point my entire family of 5 was shouting at the screen collectively when I died. If this game was a movie it would win the Oscar for Best Cinematography. I will remember this game for many years to come. Multiple plot twists and just so refreshing. It took me about 3 hours to play the game through the first time, then I returned to it a week later and played through a second time in about an hour. This might seem too short for some people. There are also places where the puzzles were very frustrating and I got stuck several times, having to take a break and come back to the game later with a fresh approach. To me this is simply the hallmark of a challenging puzzle game and not necessarily a negative at all - I merely mention it here in case it might be for others. I created an account here on MetaCritic for the first time just to leave this review. Absolutely loved it and will play it again.