base > play News
It takes a lot to get me to enjoy a platforming game , especially one from a 2D linear perspective . I ’ve often said that I ’m not a huge fan of the Metroidvania genre , which I ’ve credited as a vas through which developers fork out interesting stories and unbelievable visuals at the disbursement of memorable or innovative gameplay . move into Bionic Bay , an forthcoming time - deform puzzle platformer that I was apply the hazard to try out forwards of time . Though Bionic Bay is n’t a Metroidvania itself , it surprise me by offering both unbelievable visuals and unequalled storytelling , alongside extremely fun gameplay , create something that I soundly enjoyed , even in the plot ’s early , unfinished country .
Bionic Bay is an dead fun , utterly weird teaser platformer that uses some simple yet visceral mechanic to gainsay both your brain and your platforming skills across incredibly unequalled levels . A great deal of this singularity arrive from the secret plan ’s breathtaking art style , featuring beautiful hand - drawn background that find immense in scale leaf , make masterful use of lighting , and do a neat Book of Job of ocular storytelling . The story they tell is of the surreal world of Bionic Bay .
From what I ’ve been able to gather , Bionic Bay accompany our protagonist , a nameless scientist , who uses a unequaled teleportation machine and some biologic modification to get out an ancient biomechanical factory world . This human beings is as surreal as it is beautiful , yet also kind of terrific and revolting , with much of it feeling like an industrial hellscape designed to defeat you , coquette you up , and reuse your piece for whatever is being raise here . As much as I love admiring the background in each level , I ca n’t help but feel disgusted every time my grapheme is splurge down a narrow , filthy pipe , only to land in a fleshy mass that , in the good case scenario , is the recycled biomass of other hold up beings , and , in the worst shell scenario , a mammoth pile of ninny .
And yes , I did describe the admirer as being “ flung down narrow , dirty pipes . ” This is due to what is credibly the good — and my favorite — feature of Bionic Bay : its incredibly runny and reactive movement and physics system , which lend themselves to immediate movements and the overall creative vibe of the game . More specifically , your type has something of elastic biology , with basic platforming shop mechanic like jumping have extensive range , and your “ dash ” being the ability to throw away yourself a majuscule distance at will , including in the middle of a jump . The salutary way I can describe it is that the apparent movement in Bionic Bay feels as though your character is a Stretch Armstrong pattern , one that you are constantly pulling back and cast away around . It is incredibly square to leap forward at the apex of the sun’s way of a jump or fling your part down a ramp and watch him roll and sloping trough until he hits the bottom .
This visceral front and physics system pairs incredibly well with the game ’s platforming , which use movement , physics , and other machinist to deliver an experience that can be mentally and mechanically challenge without feeling cheap or unnecessarily difficult . Each platforming challenge is design around a automobile mechanic that you are given peck of time to learn . While nothing in the game necessarily reckon like it was plan to be used for platforming — a feature I greatly sanction of , as it adds to the overall look and submergence of the secret plan — once you understand how the mechanics work , the path forward always becomes obvious , and it never really takes more than two or three tries to get past a challenge .
My favorite of these grease monkey — besides , of path , the Stretch Armstrong physics system — is definitely the biz ’s “ poster grease monkey , ” which is the ability to mark and then swap place with inanimate aim at will . This fun trivial teleportation machinist is used cleverly throughout the secret plan ’s platforming segments , often to obstruct a deadly optical maser , create a platform for yourself , or for other such interesting economic consumption of this power . It ’s one that feels like a clever combination of wits and reflexes , as not only do you have to conceive creatively to make right use of this machinist , but you also often need to be fast on the haulage with your barter , as do proper use of goods and services of the teleportation usually imply throwing yourself into risk and swapping out right before you play your end .
While I did n’t get a chance to act as with this feature , due to my copy of the biz being an former prevue build , Bionic Bay also promise an online mode have a unique version of competitive multiplayer in the manakin of player - versus - player speed running . This is something I personally would like to keep an eye on , and plan to try out myself as soon as I get the chance ; Competitive flexible platforming seems like something I could absolutely have a ton of fun with .
It ’s hard to fully judge a biz before it ’s finish up ; There are still constituent , like the multiplayer , I want to see first hand . However , I can say that my first impression of Bionic Bay is implausibly positive , and I would absolutely recommend the biz just from what I ’ve had the chance to run with so far . Its very clear to me , after playing , why Bionic Bay won so many indie plot awards , which are proudly displayed on the game ’s Steam profile ; Its a game that , given a chance , I ’m trusted most player will thoroughly enjoy and have very small to plain about in the mental process .
Bionic Bay is n’t pose to release until April 17th , but a demo drops on the game ’s Steam page soon to give player a chance to act around with some of this game ’s pliable outlandishness . If I were you , I would give the demo a effort and take the chance to jump into this unique mystifier platformer for your ; Just try not to get stuck in the moving cogwheel or prime up into sarcoid meat slews .