Blast From the Past- Explodemon Review

Anyone who has ever played Prey, Too Human, or Alpha Protocol can confirm the effects of a sustained stint in development purgatory. Typically, titles with a protracted production cycle divulge their plight with a few unmistakable quirks. Yet, while the previously-mentioned games were delayed by the scope of their own ambitions, Explodemon’s half-decade long journey was spurred on by sheer misfortune. With hesitation hailing from Twisted Pixel’s serendipitously-themed diversion , the inclusion of Japanese-inspired quirk, and the concept of a self-detonating hero, over twenty firms passed on publishing the title. Now that the self-financed release is available for download on the Playstation Network, at least a few execs must be experiencing regret.

Mirroring its volatile protagonist, Curve Studio’s (Fluidity, Buzz: Master Quiz) game has endured through the whole ordeal miraculously unscathed. As the title begins, the peace-loving planet of Nibia is under fierce attack. Survival exists in the form of the game’s eponymous robot, who was deactivated due to his fits of fiery malfunction. Yet, this idiosyncrasy is more than a mere plot contrivance- Explodemon detonates if he isn’t discharged periodically. Most of the time, unintentional ignition isn’t much of a worry- players will be busy methodically blowing themselves up all sorts of obstacles, enemies, and even switches which require color-coded blocks to activate.

Recalling the gilded age of sixteen-bit classics, Explodemon endows players with a handful of abilities to navigate the game’s  dozen environments. Supplementing the capacity to cling onto ledges, wall leap, and dash is the ability to combust, which has the ability to catapult players high into the air. By finding collectables in each level, our hero’s recharge time is shortened- allowing players to exploit a repeating jump-explode cycle which can reach lofty alcoves. By collecting currency from exploded enemies and boxes, players can even augment Explodemon‘s capabilities even further, increasing his armor, potency,  or even duration for automatic ignition.
 
Smartly, the title gives plenty of opportunities for its blast-cloud based combat. With the intensity of an explosions linked to the proximity of enemies, the game rewards risk takers who dive head-first into clusters of foes. For those who prefer a more cautious play style, Explodemon provides an ample supply of unstable containers, which can be launched into enemies with predictably lethal results.  Later, the title throws rockets and homing missiles at players, which can be deflecting into fragile walls or sent right back at turrets. Of course, there’s also the reoccurring boss encounter, which too often relies on a similar tactic. If our hero is ever granted a sequel, these clashes should be given a some serious revision. The game goes for the sporadic puzzles which require players to blast blocks into corresponding areas; too often these segments just slow down Explodemon‘s nippy pace.

At least many of these simplistic block bits can be skipped thanks to the title’s clever level design. While the game hides an ample supply of collectables and loot in shrewdly hidden recesses, most of the these items aren’t required to complete each stage. Of course, Explodemon is happy to oblige players seeking “S” ranking or second-shaving speed runs, which offer a bit of challenge to complement the game easygoing early levels. Overall, there’s a equitable amount of content for the title’s ten dollar price tag.

Explodemon‘s visuals are bound to draw comparison to the Mega Man X series, as the plucky protagonist recalls the Blue Bomber’s profile and determined stride. Each of the game’s three planets have their own aesthetic and color palette, and are varied enough to gratify  gamers who recall the halcyon era of tile-based graphics. Sonically, trembling chiptunes evoke the type of handiwork created by 90’s European demo scene, while the game’s faux-Engrish banter will delight any player who has suffered through an incompetent Japanese translation.