Almost There

Does this lovingly-crafted throwback game measure up to the old Capcom classics? Read on to find out.

Name: Almost There: The Platformer
Developer: Bony Yousuf
Publisher:  The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild
Genre: Hardcore Platformer
Price: $9.99
Availability: JNintendo eShop

Gameplay

Everything about Almost There is designed to appeal to those who love hardcore platforming challenges. There are tons of levels to master with a varying degree of challenge. You’ll need fast reflexes to master every level of the game.

Controls

The controls for Almost There are very simple. The left stick controls the square and can be used to perform wall jumps with no jump button input needed. A jump button and a suicide button make traversing the levels quick even if you fail.

The controls are tight enough, but it took my platforming muscle memory a bit to understand I only needed to use the joystick to control the square. When playing hardcore platformers I’m used to the platforming controls from Super Meat Boy and similar games.

Graphics

The simplistic style of Almost There is very reminiscent of The Impossible Game. In fact, the first game world features many of the same puzzle concepts in that game. It’s obvious the game is an homage to that type of hardcore platforming gameplay.

Each of the three worlds has a distinct level style, but the aesthetic of the game never evolves beyond blocky squares jumping places and over spikes.

Music

Usually I like to include a Bandcamp embed in my reviews to give you an idea of what the music sounds like in-game. Unfortunately, the composer Gryzor87 has not made the music available for listening.

The soundtrack is a modern take on retro game audio. Anyone who has played the old Ghosts n’ Goblins or Castlevania will instantly recognize the orchestrated music. There are 27 different tracks and around 4 hours of unique music for the game.

It’s serviceable and certainly fits the theme of the game, but it doesn’t have the impact that music from Danny Baranowski or Ben Prunty would.

The Good
  • Simple controls that are easy to understand, difficult to master
  • Inspired by hardcore platformers like Super Meat Boy, N++, and The Impossible Game
The Not So Good
  • Lots of the beginner levels are very easy to complete
  • Difficulty spikes can be frustrating

Publisher provided the key for our review.

Verdict – Buy And Enjoy
Hardcore platformer fans


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