Flynn: Son of Crimson

I had this recommended to me by a few friends who are huge metroidvania fans like me. Even though this game isn't a metroidvania, which they told me in advance, i was still blown away by it. I do think that if this game had been a proper metroidvania it would have been even more amazing but it was still great as is. This game just hits all the marks for me, smooth controls, fun combat, great visuals and amazing music all wrapped in a deviously addictive & short package. Since this is a linear action platformer though i would say the focus is definately on combat which starts out simple but effective. You initially have a basic attack combo with 3 hits and a range spell that you can quickfire or charge, suplemented by a heal and dodge which also works mid air. It doesn't stay that way though since you have a multitude of unlockable attacks in your skilltree which notably increase your arsenal. They are very powerful tool but come at the cost of energy which you can recharge with basic attacks. On a full bar you can unleash a rage mode for a while that's both incredibly overpowered and satisfying to use. Most enemies don't require much of this though as the game is pretty easy but it's still fun to go ham on enemies. Speaking of enemies there were unfortunately not that many different kinds to fight but each one was still fun and engaging. The bosses were the real highlights though but they didn't pose much of a challenge either. This is fine for me though as not every game has to be brutally difficult as is seemingly the norm nowadays. You won't struggle with platforming too much either as it's all pretty straightforward which didn't get boring as the game manages to keep platforming engaging throughout. The excellent level design uses many level specific mechanics that keep the game fresh during exploration. The controls also feel very smooth although the wall jump you unlock in the final few levels does feel a tad clunky. Not a dealbreaker though as there's no particularly difficult sections that push this mechanic. On a final note in regards to exploration, most levels have one collectible to find which is well telegraphed and gives a bunch of currency which you can use to unlock the aforementioned new moves. This created a satisfying progression loop and made exploration feel rewarding. If anything you wanna keep going just to see all the sights as this game has absolutely beautiful pixel art and a wide range of environments. The visuals really pop and it's super colourfull even in the darker environments, i took many screenshots while playing but even more beautiful than the art was the music. The music in Flynn is simply amazing, it felt so upbeat and melodic which made it all feel very heroic in a nostalgic sort of way. I'll be picking up the OST later for sure. In terms of story it was a pretty standard affair, nothing incredible but not bad either. It was just okay but performance and degree of polish were great. The real reason to play this though is the fun gameplay and incredible visuals & music. Worth the price of admission despite the lenght, but certainly worth it on a sale!