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If you’re looking for a whimsical, beautifully crafted, bite-sized masterpiece on Switch, look no further buzz. It’s an action-platformer starring a lovable robot tasked with navigating one mischievous death trap after another. it scratches the same itch as astronomy robotThe most challenging levelI’ve been interested in it since it launched on the Nintendo hybrid handheld earlier this month.
if buzz It looks familiar, as the game was released on PC last November. It’s one person’s job Czech developer Karel “KO.DLL” Matějka It punches well above its weight. Adhering to the gorgeous pixel art aesthetic and minimalist gameplay of ’80s arcade classics, it’s a great palate cleanser between larger, more complex games. imagine Super Meat Boy if it looks like Mega Man And shorter.
Your mission is to guide the robot ZX8000 through challenges filled with sci-fi dangers in a futuristic testing facility, while battling the minions of a Dr. Wily-esque villain trying to take over the world. The game is divided into 52 compact stages, and the ZX8000 can be navigated through an ever-expanding library of upgrades, starting with sprinting and double jumping. Completing levels is enough to progress, but collecting all collectibles and finishing within the time limit is the ultimate goal. There are plenty of secrets to discover, and there are plenty of nods to old 8-bit games.
Some of the stages I flew through. Others stopped me like a puzzle platforming meat grinder. The controls feel very tight, the music is a catchy chip tune, and the game looks electronic on the Switch OLED. What to put buzz What matters most, however, are the well-designed levels. They require drawing a mental map of your actions on the fly, then adjusting them with each death until you’re ready to put together the commands needed to hit every collectible, avoid every hazard, and do it all within 30 seconds Reach the target.
Even though it’s as hard as nails, it’s fun. buzz It’s also short—only two to three hours to complete—but that’s part of the charm. It’s great for playing for 5 minutes here or 10 minutes there, jumping out before you feel like rage quitting, and then jumping back in when things have cooled down a bit and your fingers are ready to make the magic happen again. For true platformer fanatics, buzz There’s even a permadeath mode. Immortal running isn’t for me, but I like it Watch this guy try.
