Ryan wrote:I'm currently playing through the massive action-platformer
Iji, from
Daniel's Base, which is simply superb.
Thanks for pointing me towards this game, Ryan. I just finished it.
Well, what can I say? Probably a ton and some bonus ranting. But let's just say this is a very worthy (albeit unorthodoxly action-laden) addition to the catalog of cinematic/action-adventure hybrid platformers (à la Prince of Persia, Oddworld, Flashback, Another World, Heart of Darkness), a genre I've come to hold in
very high regard since the day I stumbled across Yahtzees 1213.
Iji puts itself at the very top of casual indie games, having an elaborate (if a bit bumpy and not always convincing) backstory, lovely albeit amateurish cutscenes, a touch of puzzles, lots and lots of features including RPG-like skill stats, very immersive gameplay and of course all the other stuff every good game needs (most importantly passion for detail and soulful design), yet remaining very accessible. If you want a more capacious story or a larger selection of puzzles, well, you'll have to play an adventure. If you want a more elaborate skill system, you'll have to opt for a full-fledged RPG. If you want more moves and special features, you can but head to the hardcore beat-em-up and duelling department. All four rarely the kind of genres you can jump in and get an instant satisfactory experience from, especially if you're looking for some serious pacing (well, except from the hc b'em'up in some cases). That's why I hold this kind of platformer so dear, they give you so much in terms of experience, immersion and action, and ask you for so little in return, proportionally at least.
And as for the flaws, quirks and rough edges, I think they give the game that unmistakable and simply lovely "out of my garage, but hey, dynamite comes in small packages, doesn't it?" charm (though the term "garage" is somewhat insulting considering the quality of the music, visual design (not necessarily sprite quality) and some other features.)
My biggest gripe with the classic cinematic platformers was the sometimes ludicrous level of difficulty, entailing a frequent and large build-up of frustration. With very playable standard/normal difficulties nowadays, this high toll seems to have vanished since the reincarnation of the genre, tearing down the last(?) wall possibly preventing players from experiencing their intense, fully equipped goodness. I hope there's many more to come.
Err, yeah. Sorry for spamming. Had that tickle, y'know
. Here's a dinky coffee break platformer:
The Power
