SPLICED GAMES /
PLATFORMS PC
GENRE
Platformer
DEVELOPER
Droqen
AGE RATING
N/A
Starseed Pilgrim
I
t’s easy to bounce off of Starseed Pilgrim. Upon first entering
its minimalist world, it offers only basic, cryptic information
about how it’s played. You’re a cosmic gardener, acquiring
“seeds” which can be planted in the game’s blocky soil. Those
seeds will then grow outwards as blocks with their own
characteristics, emitting careful sound effects that add to your
cosmic symphony. You’re outrunning a void of some kind,
empty space containing a world within a world.
First, you’ll wonder why you’re playing it, where exactly its
purpose lies. You may decide you hate it and quit the game
forever, and I wouldn’t blame you. But if you keep growing
outwards, keep pushing the boundaries of that seemingly
pointless space and manipulating its nuances, Starseed
Pilgrim will reveal more. It’s like having a conversation directly
with its mechanics, the game slowly teaching you its workings
as you experiment with its world. It’s an incredibly effective
piece of game design, one which will no doubt hold you
captive if you persist. I can’t stress this enough though: not
everyone will be drawn in by its distinct hook,
and so I can’t wholeheartedly recommend that
everyone play it, much as I want to.
Dane Remendes
9
ISSUE 04
MINI REVIEWS
PLATFORMS
GENRE
DEVELOPER
AGE RATING
360 / PC / PS3 / PS4 / PSV / Wii U / XBO
Action platformer
DrinkBox Studios
12
Guacamelee!
Gold Edition
Y
ou are Juan Aguacate, agave farmer turned luchador,
who must battle an evil skeleton lord and his minions
to rescue his lost love from the claws of evil. Draped in
a wonderfully lighthearted Mexican aesthetic, Guacamelee!
is incredibly charming, with visuals, audio and humour that
give it a personality that’s attractively unique in gaming.
At first it’s a fairly simple platformer, giving you access to
basic jumps and rolls and attacks with which to traverse the
world and defeat foes. Gradually you’re introduced to new
luchador abilities that’ll give you the edge in combat zones,
and traversal powers that let you access new areas in the
game’s expansive map.
Combat is fluid and satisfying, requiring precise
timing to string together melee attacks and abilities to
maximum effect. When you’re not punching things in the
face, the platforming bits are great fun, often requiring
that you flip between the worlds of the living and the
dead (platforms and obstacles that appear in one world
don’t appear in the other) to solve movement puzzles.
It’s deviously challenging at times, and the whole
package is addictively rewarding. It’s highly
recommended if you’ve got a Metroidvania
itch you’re looking to scratch.
Dane Remendes
9
93