If you’re a fan of PS2-era action-platformers, you won’t be able to go wrong with this. As a once-renowned bounty hunter, Exe now finds himself on the wrong side of the law, paired with his wisecracking drone companion, Shipset, as they navigate treacherous levels fraught with peril. While its tone and gameplay clearly draw inspiration from PlayStation 2-era platformers like Exe’s, a quick glance at DNAT’s working animation is all it takes to grasp the PS2 platforming type that makes up this nostalgic gem. Despite harbouring official grievances with several aspects, my ‘retro’ gaming affinity remains intact, thanks to the clever level design and effortless charm.
As the camera pans out, the adrenaline-fueled world of racing is introduced with two protagonists sitting in the backseat of a police car? The instant reveal of a snarky tone telegraphs its departure from a Saturday morning cartoon’s typical lightheartedness, setting the stage for a humorous exploration? While sharing some notable components with its apparent PS2 inspiration, Shipset unfortunately cannot hold a candle to Clank, whose more endearing personality makes him a far more likable character. The opening cinematic thoroughly marred my initial perception of those characters, and Shipset’s constant presence only further irritated me with each subsequent iteration. His condescending attitude is exacerbated by the grating, nasally timbre of his voice, rendering him even more insufferable. Luckily, the solitary bounty hunter, Exe, proves to be a far more endurable character throughout the entire gaming experience.
Despite their constant bickering, Exe and Shipset maintained a playful banter throughout the entire journey. Whether humour lands successfully hinges directly on one’s ability to cultivate a humorous persona.
Wears its tone and humor with unapologetic abandon, proudly donning them like a badge of honor, never once attempting to conceal or temper them. As the dynamic duo navigates perilous terrain and conquers foes, their constant banter and bickering create a humorous undercurrent, punctuated by the frequent cutscenes that overflow with witty one-liners. Humor being a deeply personal and culturally influenced phenomenon, I’ll offer my professional insight. I was previously ambivalent about achieving a consistent comedic voice in my writing. While there’s an abundance of humor woven throughout the sport, ensuring some will undoubtedly resonate with gamers, others await discovery in the third quarter’s nuances. If you’re significantly keen on referential humor and fourth-wall breaking, you’ll likely be delighted.
I quickly noticed something odd after getting used to the game’s humorous tone: annoying screen tearing persists. As a professional editor and reviewer, I would suggest that the text should be rewritten in a more concise and descriptive manner, such as:
“Lacking any discernible graphics settings, I found myself struggling with the camera’s tendency to reduce visual clarity on screen each time I panned vertically.” I experienced display screen tearing issues when playing on my PS5, but I’m confident that the same problem affects the PC version as well. The persistent issue that mars an otherwise enjoyable experience; at least, the framerate remains relatively robust unless the game is loading between areas.
Once participants overcome the initial hurdles of humorless gameplay and distracting screen tearing, the game transforms into an exhilarating platformer that rivals its classic counterparts in terms of engagement? Not unlike many games, this one features a strictly linear narrative with zero opportunities to explore alternative paths or revisit previous locations. Beware: this tutorial merely serves as a warm-up before the game ignites, propelling players through a thrilling ride of cleverly crafted levels that seamlessly blend challenging gameplay with addictive selection options.
The camera controls motion smoothly, and snapping into place feels effortless; animations impress with their fluidity.
Effective decision-making is facilitated by the array of tools and resources available to Exe. As the game unfolds, your arsenal evolves from humble beginnings with a melee knife, gradually elevating to a computerized rifle, then a precision sniper, before culminating in the explosive capabilities of a rocket launcher. One key aspect where you’ll have the ability to enhance is your specific weapon sets, comprising four distinct options. Throughout each level, you acquire and purchase upgrades strategically through carefully located vendors. The game’s arsenal is typical of its genre, but I was impressed by the harmonious marriage between its combat options and control scheme, which perfectly complemented the gameplay experience.
With effortless ease, swapping between every weapon becomes a seamless process thanks to intuitive hotkeys assigned to each directional button on the controller. In “world”, diverse enemy types thrive, with many exhibiting vulnerabilities to specific weapons within your arsenal; effectively, the game’s design encourages strategic weapon switching across its various maps, mitigating the risk of overreliance on a single tool and preserving combat excitement. Since you’ll inevitably switch weapons due to ammo replenishment following a cooldown period, Drones operating in flight mode serve as a means of replenishing health points (HP), with the benefits distributed uniformly across various ranges. The introduction of these drones fosters a more aggressive gameplay experience as players must simultaneously aim and fire at them while evading enemy gunfire, leading to a thrilling and dynamic encounter.
The weapon’s own management performs sufficiently well. With each weapon, there’s a pleasing tactile sensation and auditory feedback that enhances the gaming experience, further amplified by the option to engage in precise over-the-shoulder zoom-ins for pinpoint accuracy. Unfortunately, the intention behind aiming for sensitivity is hindered by a lack of smooth progression when using a controller. Although the game is a motion platformer, it features an abundance of jumping, complementing the overall capturing experience seamlessly. The sports controls truly come alive here. Motion unfolds with astonishing precision and a silky smoothness. By adjusting the size of your dodge and jumps accordingly, you’ll achieve confident and steady platforming. However, Execute’s mechanical ledge grab feature effectively compensates for minor missteps, ensuring a seamless transition between platforms. I found platforming to be neither challenging nor unfair, a testament to the game’s precise controls and well-designed level layout.
There exist numerous enigmas scattered throughout Akimbot’s expanse.
While you may not be satisfied with the gear selection in question, numerous alternative gameplay styles are available beyond the standard run-and-gun combination, offering a wealth of options for players seeking variety. This innovative platform offers a robust traversal system, empowering players to effortlessly navigate all aspects of the game world through seamless transitions of leaping, wall-running, and grappling hook mechanics. As Exe and Shipset execute their dazzling jumps and spins, they elevate the overall production value of this otherwise budget-conscious endeavour. Doorways are occasionally locked by one of three challenging hacking minigames or cryptic puzzle codes, requiring players to demonstrate their problem-solving skills before proceeding. Some codes feature complex mathematical problems and analytical exploration aimed at deciphering cryptic symbols.
And the gameplay selection process doesn’t end there, either. The total range encompasses shoot-em-up sequences that diverge from conventional topics discussed to date within the evaluation. These intergalactic sequences offering a delightful Star Fox-inspired respite from the primary gameplay inject a welcome burst of variety into the experience. The boss battles showcase meticulous design, combining the thrill of area-of-effect attacks with dynamic terrain that cleverly leverages Exe’s equipment and agility. Delivers innovative gameplay nuances consistently, revitalizing its repertoire with modern twists, particularly the visually stunning 2D sprite-based combat sequences that shine brightly. While I won’t spoil the game, the conclusion is cleverly crafted with innovative stage design and engaging gimmicks.
“Spacecraft sequences offer a welcome respite from the standard first-person shooter fare, delivering a charmingly retro gaming experience.”
While the initial design may lack distinctiveness, its generic aesthetic and structural simplicity are evident throughout the early stages. The aesthetic and visual elements typically don’t stand out as a distinguishing characteristic. I’m not particularly fond of perpetual mist lingering at environmental peripheries. The game’s draw distance is woefully inadequate, evoking memories of early PlayStation 1 era platformers with its limited visual scope. The lack of creative flair and uninspiring environment do little to compensate for the murky visuals throughout. While initially reminiscent of a project built on Media Molecule’s engine, my curiosity persists.
As I approached the culmination of my experience with it, I discovered that despite its glaring imperfections, I genuinely developed an affinity for the sport. The engaging pace skillfully compensates for the grating dialogue and minor visual defects. Similarly, the predictable yet engaging narrative maintained my interest throughout and left me with a lasting smile. Like a vintage motion platformer, but with impressive moments that exceeded my nostalgic expectations.
