So if you guys are like me, you love “Metroidvania” style games. For those of you who don’t know what that means, its a game with an open world structure with various types of obstacles that require certain abilities to bypass, often requiring you to progress and explore to discover where you can and can’t go yet. I love this style of gameplay, the perfect blend of exploration and item collection. So this game is a “metroidvania” game, so what? Aside from this (which is enough to at least try the game out) it sports a unique and compelling HUD system. You watch your character through a series of cameras, punctuated by tilted views, screen tearing and some slight distortion at times. Overall, its a cool effect. You start out incomplete or broken, however you interpret it, and the game shows it. You wobble forth, vision blurry, receiving messages from your “mother” egging you forward to complete yourself.
The entire game you are constantly communicating (scripted, mind you) with your “mother”. You get a very eerie vibe from her, which definitely helps set the somber mood of the game. The combination of her attitude and the melancholy music create a very unique atmosphere, much like Metroid itself did. There is a small minimap in the corner, displaying the basic shapes of each room so that you never get too lost. There are a plethora of upgrades and collectibles, some being optional to give a bit of an easter egg at the end.
For a flash game, this is incredible. Admittedly, it is fairly short, taking 20-30 minutes to complete. At the end you are given a score based on various parameters, allowing you the option to even track your friend’s scores. This is a step in the right direction for flash games, providing meaningful and enjoyable content with a great deal of polish. If you have some free time, try this gem out!
