PEGBRJE: Kubyx and Super HelmKnight
Welcome to the new page, starting with platformers.
Kubyx is a puzzling 2D platformer made by Kronbits, the indie name for David Masia of Spain, which brings the total number of his games included in the bundle to three. So what is this retro-esque looking title doing here? Well, the usefulness of cubes returns, but instead of rampaging across a map we are instead playing a clone of a very familiar yet brutal platformer; Super Meat Boy.
As it is with SMB, Kubyx is a platformer emphasizing on fluid movement and the need to constantly restart due to death. As a cube players have the ability to double jump to clear great heights and wall jump effortlessly along the walls through constant back and forth motions along them (jump off, return to wall, continue). Simplicity masks the difficulty as touching anything of the neon variety will instantly send players back to where the level started, no matter how close they were to the strange square shape that signifies the end. As it is with platformers, new mechanics are introduced to help further test the resolve and abilities of the players, with two being immediately on display. The first are blocks that are striped instead of solid, allowing for players to pass through them from above with no resistance yet land on them as if solid. To pass through them, pressing ‘M’ allows for the cube to be blasted through so players can continue onwards (seriously blasted, like a gunshot sound and all it was great). The second is a neon green strip which allows players to hold on to the jump button and remain on that surface until release or players run off the strip itself. It’s all about creating new means of maneuverability so that there are more ways to construct the levels and give players different challenges, from the relatively easy ‘avoid spikes’ to the frustrating ‘perfectly timed jumps or die’.
This rinse and repeat gameplay only works if the levels are tight and short, which Kubyx ensures quite nicely through each level. Sure they may take 5–10 minutes thanks to constant deaths, but completing a level without dying rarely takes over a minute until later on when taking a break in a safe area might be wise to ensure the finish. Just like in Cube Rampage there are 30 levels to try out — and I’ll admit now I definitely couldn’t reach the end. I couldn’t beat SMB thanks to my aversion to platformers, and difficult platformers are just that; difficult. However, if you absolutely loved Super Meat Boy and other short yet brutal platformers, this might be one worth checking out.
Super HelmKnight is a retro arcade platformer made by sralbertooo, an indie dev out of the United States. Within this title, players will be following the path of Walt the HelmKnight as he attempts to save the kingdom from an evil group of knights who are also helmet-like.
Players have a plethora of levels to choose from as they jump in to help out Walt on his adventure, from grasslands to deserts to castles as he rids the lands of these evil knights. In typical retro fashion, players are stripped back down to the barebones of interactions, as Walt is able to double jump around, wall jump and slash at the enemies in front of him. Enemies aimlessly wander across their platform’s width, and Walt only takes damage if they run in to him. This sounds easy to avoid, but as the sword is quite short lining up the proper timing to get the attack in can sometimes lead to a double whammy as the enemy dies and Walt takes a hit. Enemies just don’t die, however; they go flying across the stage, bouncing a bit before disappearing and possibly leaving money lying on the ground that translates in to points. They disappear quickly, so if points are the player’s primary objective then grab them quick. Otherwise, defeating every enemy allows for the exit to be available, and players can move on to the next level to continue the process until met with a sinister boss. Each boss has a slight gimmick that needs figuring out, and since they have more health than Walt players need to be patient and figuring things out before diving in headlong. That isn’t to say that caution is the best strategy, especially if points are not one’s aim; players who die can restart at the level they died to try again, worrying little about the loss of points. Those that do will need to start at the beginning of the zone.
It’s a simple game from a simple era, allowing for anyone of all ages to be able to play and interact with the adorable Walt and his helmet. There’s even local multiplayer in which players compete to see who can get the high score of each level to entice more to come and join. With strong GBA vibes, I’d recommend this to anyone looking for something that can either bring back those nostalgic years of the retro platformer or anyone just wanting a simplistic title to enjoy with anyone.
