Pixel art stylized games have had quite the resurgence over the past several years with indie darlings like Shovel Knight and Fez proving that old-school inspired games can still feel fresh. Both of those titles put a unique twist on the formula, without straying too far from the source material. Indie developer Pixelatto’s latest 2D action-adventure game Reventure puts an incredibly unique twist on the tried and true platforming genre.
Reventure was initially conceived as a much smaller game. Known as Lonk’s Greedy Adventure, the game was created as part of an itch.io game jam contest. The game was so well received that Pixelatto decided to make it into a full game. Reventure plays like a traditional 2D platformer where the player moves left and right, jumps, and attacks foes. The controls are snappy and responsive; a must for platformers. Fortunately, that’s where the similarities with other games of the genre end. The main character starts out with no weapons and a high jump. As items are picked up, the jump continues to shorten. This will greatly affect how and where the player is able to traverse.
The story begins with our protagonist Tim, setting off on his adventure to save a recently captured princess. From there, the outcome of the story is extremely non-linear. Interacting with an NPC or an object can even cause the game to end outright. These can vary from “accidentally” murdering a guard, falling down a pit, or just going back to bed. There are 100 different endings, each riddled with comedy. Right away, the tone reminded me a lot of The Stanley Parable, a game that also shared the idea of various endings. The majority of these endings feel incredibly different from each other, giving our hero many variables.
Not all endings were created equally, however, as some feel similar and repetitious. For example, one ending could involve the hero falling off a cliff, where-as another has them falling into spikes. The actual ending is similar, ultimately ending with Tim’s demise. Although, the game really shines with how it progresses the storyline. Sometimes, Tim is able to survive and return to his journey. Yet, more often than not someone else fills in. This can range from his long-lost brother Tom, a cat, Santa Claus, or a Zombie. These additional “characters” essentially act as an alternative skin and are unlocked by completing endings.
There are also 41 different costumes to unlock. Some are comedic, while others are far too similar to truly notice much difference. The Steam version of the game also has workshop support. This means users can create and/or download their own playable skins. My favorite downloadable skin turns our hero into the one, and only, Pac-Man!
Visually, Reventure may appear to be just another retro-inspired 2D platformer, this is likely due to its incredibly minimalistic art style, but it reminds me a lot of Studio Pixel’s 2014 title Kero Blaster, which shares a limited NES-inspired look. The simplistic sprites are paired with a warm color palette. I initially wasn’t too keen on the sprites, as it made differentiating the playable skins somewhat difficult. However, after I began playing, the graphics slowly started to grow on me. Reventure‘s soundtrack is filled with 8-bit inspired chiptunes. Not only do these tunes match the aesthetics, but they are also catchy. Players will likely find themselves humming those tracks, long after walking away from Reventure.
All in all, Reventure offers a fresh take on the traditional 2D action-adventure platforming genre. The gameplay is familiar and it is easy to jump right into. The storyline essentially restarts after every ending, making this the perfect game to pick up and play. One can play for hours or minutes and still find enjoyment.
As a connoisseur of platformers, I knew I was going to like Reventure. What I didn’t know, was that I would constantly be thinking about it. All I want to do is continue my quest, and find all 100 endings.
More information on Reventure can be found on the official website. A digital copy of the game was provided for the purposes of this review.
