Nostalgia is one of the strongest, over-weaponized forces in the online game business. Nevertheless it additionally opens up avenues for cool takes on traditional concepts. Hearkening again to PS2-era motion platformers, Akimbot already looks as if a fantastic instance of nostalgia achieved proper. Full of homage to classics from that period like Ratchet and Clank, I had a lot enjoyable leaping, taking pictures, and air-dashing by means of an early model of Akimbot’s first degree.
Because it seems, action-platformers are French indie studio Evil Raptor’s bread and butter. 2021’s Pumpkin Jack was a cult hit amongst platforming followers when it hit again in 2020, and if my half-hour demo with Akimbot is any indication, it looks as if it’s poised to scratch the similar itch with a captivating world, responsive platforming controls, fascinating character designs, and well-designed ranges. I simply want my demo was longer.
You’ll play as Exe, a tacit, mysterious robotic with some platforming and fight chops. Shipset, your significantly extra talkative, floating companion, used to work as an accounting bot who grew drained of his job and broke out, seemingly throwing a grenade behind him and angering all the improper folks. Beginning in a spaceship, imprisoned by intergalactic mobsters, our lead duo breaks out after their touring jail crash-lands on a tropical seaside planet.
This opening cutscene did a fantastic job of organising each the odd couple-like dynamic between the leads and Akimbot’s general tone. The quippy and charming cutscenes felt like watching a favourite Saturday morning cartoon that by no means was. Exe and Shipset continued chatting after I set out, persevering with to flesh out the characters. Fortunately, their bickering advanced rapidly sufficient that it by no means received annoying.
Whereas Akimbot nails the look and aesthetic of the PS2 period, it’s undoubtedly a contemporary recreation. Attractive lighting and particle results paint the seaside planet with ray-traced heat, chill, inviting vibes. From what I may inform, the high quality of life is all there too; I didn’t discover any of the often irritating clunkiness that so typically retains platformers from that period from ageing nicely.
Exe, in the meantime, controls like a dream. He deftly jumped from platform to platform, with motion choices that felt instantly pure to me as an enormous fan of 3D platformers. I had a lot enjoyable simply messing round together with his moveset – like the double bounce and air sprint he’s received from the get go – as I realized make the most of a bounce. His air sprint ends with just a little further air time and top, and as soon as I discovered completely time my second bounce at the apex of that sprint, I began actually cooking with Exe’s moveset. Quickly, I used to be clearing a number of platforms at a time with relative ease.
Even his melee talents give some further oomph to his motion. Whereas utilizing his slashing melee assault on the floor is satisfying sufficient in its personal proper, doing it midair lets him carry out a spinning, rising assault that provides one more means of catching some further top. The motion was far and away my favourite and the most enjoyable half of Akimbot. In truth, based mostly on what I’ve performed to this point, I’ve a sense Evil Raptor goes to actually stretch what’s doable with Exe’s moveset as the recreation progresses. Even in Akimbot’s first degree, which is fairly simple by most requirements, I discovered methods to have enjoyable and push my very own talents. To me, that’s the hallmark of an excellent 3D platformer.
Don’t get me improper, although, the taking pictures additionally feels actually good. When you get a grasp of Exe’s motion, Akimbot presents you with a selection between 4 totally different weapons. I went with the all-around possibility: a pair of semi-automatic pistols that crack with simply the correct quantity of punch as their bullets linked with my mechanical foes. I additionally picked up a extra conventional machine gun alongside the method, which additionally felt nice as I dispatched far-off foes throughout an on-rails sequence. I additionally discovered choices to improve and degree up every of these particular beginning weapons. I didn’t get to dive too deep into that, sadly, but it surely’s good to see that there’s going to be some tangible development for every gun.
Akimbot’s motion and taking pictures each get excessive marks based mostly on the demo I performed. Now we simply have to see what Evil Raptor manages to perform with the moveset it’s created. But when the first degree is any indication, Akimbot’s positive to be successful with 3D platforming followers.