Game Review: Guacamelee! Gold Edition

Developer: Drinkbox Studios

Publisher: Drinkbox Studios

Genre: Platform Adventure

Platforms: PC, PS3, Vita

Website: http://guacamelee.com/

Age Rating: 12+ (PEGI)

The current indie game craze has been picking up a hell of a lot of steam since Minecraft hit it big. Smaller, more imaginative games are giving big budget, ‘AAA’ studios and publishers more than a run for their money and even embarrassing them on a regular basis.

Of course, with so much money pumped into these ‘AAA’ titles the execs who look to profit are always nervous so fewer indie developers can take are taken. After all, could you see Activision or EA making a 2D ‘Metroid-Vania’ game based on Mexican folklore with a complex and challenging beat ‘em up combat system?

Love them or hate them, Sony has had the right idea about how to handle indie devs this generation. They’ve been happy to help Thatgamecompany push their unique games Flower and Journey and now they’ve given Drinkbox Studios a chance with their latest game, Guacamelee (also available through Steam now).

You take on the role of Juan Aguacate, an agave farmer who, shortly after being reunited with his childhood sweetheart, has to go and rescue her from the clutches of the evil, skeletal Carlos Calaca. After getting killed in their first confrontation, Juan is resurrected by a mystical mask that turns him into a Luchador and he continues on his quest to rescue ‘El Presidente's Daughter’ and stop Calaca merging the worlds of the living and the dead.

I’m going to try avoiding using some of the Mexican terms as I’ve got no idea what they mean. The game itself, however, is chock full of references to the games that inspired it, namely the Metroid series. The game presents you with an expansive environment to explore, areas opening up as you acquire new power ups from statues that bare more than a passing resemblance for the Chozo statues in Metroid.

Guacamelee isn’t all Metroid love letter, however, frequently striding off in its own direction and none more so than in its combat. The game features a simple yet surprisingly deep and complex beat ‘em up style fighting system, mixing punches with special moves and grabs that enable you to pile drive enemies into the floor or throw them at other enemies in a manner that never gets old. The variety of enemies keep the game challenging throughout, especially when confronted with multiple different types and the boss battles will tear you apart before you work out what you have to do.

Another one of your major powers is the ability to switch between the lands of the living and the dead in order to progress, some platforms and obstacles in one land or the other and forcing you to switch between the two on the fly in a challenging and inventive manner. Jokes and references are worked seamlessly into the mechanic with a graveyard suddenly turning into a party as you switch worlds.

The stylised graphics are very pleasing to look at, hammering along at a smooth pace while amusing references dot the landscape. The text based dialogue can occasionally be extremely funny as well, Flameface being the most amusing as he keeps making the same mistake in your first few meetings with him.

I’ve just realized this is going to be a short review and to be honest it’s quite apt as Guacamelee isn’t the longest game in the world. While there are seven environments to explore with plenty of secrets to discover, the game can be finished within four hours (my first run being completed in four and a quarter hours). Exploring for 100% of the items will bump that total up by a few hours but the game isn’t overly long, though it does feel paced well and isn’t padded at all as many longer games feel. A challenge area opens up once you’ve finished the game as well, tasking you with navigating a room in a set amount of time or defeating a number of enemies without using a particular ability.

For those who absolutely insist on co-op in games (and I know you people exist), there’s a two player mode where the second player can drop in and out at will, though the game isn’t really designed for it with already tricky platforming sections becoming near impossible unless both players are perfectly in tune with what the other is doing.

Before this turns into babbling, I’ll just say that I really recommend Guacamelee. While it isn’t the longest game in the world (though, to be honest, it’s perfectly reasonable considering it’s around £10) there’s still plenty to see, do and track down. The Indie game renaissance is in full swing; we might as well dive in and enjoy it.

Verdict: Buy Now!!