Speedollama is on a little bit of a sticky wicket from minute one, to be sincere, as llamas should be amongst the animals I don’t like probably the most. My aversion to those furry hooligans stems from once I took my son to a petting zoo, the place it was doable to purchase meals to feed the varied animals. As I approached a llama, I put my hand into the bag to seize some meals for it, and it leant over the fence and closed its large tooth on the bag, full with my knuckle. As I stated “Ow!” or phrases to that impact, it took exception to this and spat at me.
As you’ll be able to think about, when a sport got here alongside that required me to play as a llama, I used to be initially hesitant about placing my hand up. Nonetheless, coming from Chaosmonger Studio, Speedollama is about as bonkers because the identify would counsel. And in my e book, bonkers is an efficient factor.
So, let’s go to a world the place llamas are the nice guys, as onerous as that’s to imagine, and fluffy alpacas are our sworn enemies. Lets get speedy!
The story of the sport is as previous as time, the place a sensible previous llama guru has enlisted the assistance of a gaggle of llama mercenaries to avoid wasting their entire species. You see, the alpacas have engaged in a quest for world domination, and to ensure that this to occur, they need to see the again of all llamas. Fortunately, we’ve a hi-tech drilling machine that may permit us to take the combat to the alpacas proper the place they don’t count on it. Alongside the way in which we should accumulate varied issues and get out. What may probably go improper?
Effectively, so far as the presentation goes, not a large quantity, it seems. Speedollama takes its inspiration from video games of the late 80’s and early 90’s, and it apparently “options pixel artwork to seize a retro-arcade aesthetic”. Couldn’t have stated it higher myself!
The degrees that we’ve to run by are procedurally generated, so no two makes an attempt at a stage are the identical, and this actually provides to the longevity of the sport. The fundamental premise is a aspect scrolling platformer, with closely armed quadrupeds of each description (and chickens!), and the animation of not solely the three llamas we are able to play as, however the enemies that appear to abound is superb certainly. The bosses we’ve to face are additionally properly designed with lots of character, and all in all, the way in which the sport appears to be like may be very good certainly.
The sound can also be fairly good, with a pounding soundtrack accompanying the sound of heavy weapon fireplace and plaintive squeaks from varied nefarious alpacas and their mates. Every of the weapons we are able to use has its personal distinct sound, and every little thing appears to be hunky dory on this space. Thus far so good!
Gameplay is the subsequent port of name on our voyage by Speedollama, and right here the information can also be fairly good.
Because the identify may counsel, pace is a big a part of this sport’s raison d’etre, and so we spend most of our time charging headlong by the ever altering ranges, looking down not solely alpacas, but additionally the collectibles that we want from every set of ranges. These could be discovered everywhere in the stage, and so exploration is admittedly very important.
The degrees are giant in scale, not solely horizontally but additionally vertically, and fortuitously our llama has not solely a double leap to name upon, however can cling to partitions and leap once more for these lengthy ascents. Scouring each nook of a stage is critical, as we have to not solely recover from 75% of the overall quantity of issues on the extent to open the gate to the subsequent space (as a result of online game logic) however we even have to seek out the exit, and get out earlier than operating out of time.
Fortunately, there are numerous containers on the degrees that may assist us out right here. These can comprise extra highly effective weapons, or first support kits and even, if we’re fortunate, a time extension, so it’s at all times price taking pictures the barrels and crates you see dotted round.
Killing enemies can also be a spotlight, not solely as it’ll make your life simpler as you discover, however doing so offers cash. And as everyone knows, cash are utilized in retailers to purchase new skills. With the ability to run sooner, leap larger and even have extra well being (alongside many extra skills) will make your subsequent try simpler.
On the flip, typically having the ability to run sooner will not be the blessing that you simply assume, because the leaping in Speedollama is quite fussy. And pace is the enemy of precision…
Unleashing your mighty weapon on the alpacas is fairly satisfying, however I’d be mendacity if I didn’t say that it doesn’t get a bit samey after some time. I imply, certain, the degrees are totally different every time, however the gameplay isn’t, and I’ve discovered myself choosing this up when I’ve a couple of minutes spare to rapidly blast by a stage or two, then going again to one thing with slightly extra substance.
Speedollama is much from a foul sport, and the motion can actually be enjoyable and frantic, but it surely isn’t essentially a sport that may seize you and refuse to let go.
Speedollama: Llama-Fueled Mayhem on All Platforms! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/speedollama-llama-fueled-mayhem-on-all-platforms/
Purchase Speedollama on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/speedollama/9mxthr0nhprm
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