| paleface [sys=PCE; cat=Platformer; reg=JPN] |
| | | As a man in primitive times, you expect to have to face things like pits, angry eagles, ogres, a pissed-off bear or two, a pissed-off boulder or two, even giant spiders. Fortunately, you have your trusty axe along for the ride. "Say hello to my axe!" you scream as you crush their skulls like nuts. "YAR!"
But don't get to thinkin' that primitive man didn't have to use his noggin'. Oh no. See, he faced some wily foes back then--foes we don't have to fight these days, because he eradicated them for us. So your eagles circle a few times before flying RIGHT AT YOU, and your ogres may bound over your head, then poke you in the back with their own axe, and the bears may double team you and... jump over your head and poke you in the back. See? You've always go to adjust your strategy.
You can't go flailing away, neither. You've got a power meter, right, and it's gotta recharge between swings. So get some patience and some rhythm brother--slaying rock golems ain't like choppin' wood.
The enemies do not respawn and are surprisingly persistent in following you across the level, which gives them a nice feeling of individuality. I also like the slower, deliberate pace of the game where you plan your moves. The music and sprites and stuff are pretty good too.
I don't like the jumping. It's all fine until late in the third stage, where suddenly you've got to jump across this long thread of little irregular floating ledges while frog men pop up and shoot fireballs at you. Air control and landing is a bit slidy, and I always nudge back just a bit because the spacing of the ledges is a bit too short and whoops, down I go.
The animation doesn't help, either. You'll notice it most when going from on to off of a ladder or rope: your dude changes size! He gets bigger! Now, I know that I get bigger when jumping off a rope, but not that much. It's out of control! So that kind of thing I think makes timing your landing a bit difficult.
Up until that point I was rather enjoying it. Maybe I'll come back and try that bit again someday. Hm. |
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