Speedollama is on a little bit of a sticky wicket from minute one, to be sincere, as llamas must be amongst the animals I don’t like essentially the most. My aversion to those furry hooligans stems from after I took my son to a petting zoo, the place it was attainable to purchase meals to feed the assorted animals. As I approached a llama, I put my hand into the bag to seize some meals for it, and it leant over the fence and closed its large enamel on the bag, full with my knuckle. As I mentioned “Ow!” or phrases to that impact, it took exception to this and spat at me.
As you possibly can think about, when a sport got here alongside that required me to play as a llama, I used to be initially hesitant about placing my hand up. Nonetheless, coming from Chaosmonger Studio, Speedollama is about as bonkers because the identify would recommend. And in my ebook, bonkers is an efficient factor.
So, let’s go to a world the place llamas are the great guys, as arduous as that’s to consider, and fluffy alpacas are our sworn enemies. Lets get speedy!
The story of the sport is as outdated as time, the place a sensible outdated llama guru has enlisted the assistance of a gaggle of llama mercenaries to save lots of their complete species. You see, the alpacas have engaged in a quest for world domination, and to ensure that this to occur, they need to see the again of all llamas. Fortunately, we’ve a hi-tech drilling machine that may enable us to take the struggle to the alpacas proper the place they don’t count on it. Alongside the way in which we should acquire varied issues and get out. What might presumably go fallacious?
Nicely, so far as the presentation goes, not a large quantity, it seems. Speedollama takes its inspiration from video games of the late 80’s and early 90’s, and it apparently “options pixel artwork to seize a retro-arcade aesthetic”. Couldn’t have mentioned it higher myself!
The degrees that we’ve to run by way of are procedurally generated, so no two makes an attempt at a stage are the identical, and this definitely provides to the longevity of the sport. The fundamental premise is a facet scrolling platformer, with closely armed quadrupeds of each description (and chickens!), and the animation of not solely the three llamas we are able to play as, however the enemies that appear to abound is superb certainly. The bosses we’ve to face are additionally nicely designed with a whole lot of character, and all in all, the way in which the sport appears to be like may be very good certainly.
The sound can also be fairly good, with a pounding soundtrack accompanying the sound of heavy weapon fireplace and plaintive squeaks from varied nefarious alpacas and their mates. Every of the weapons we are able to use has its personal distinct sound, and every thing appears to be hunky dory on this space. To this point so good!
Gameplay is the following port of name on our voyage by way of Speedollama, and right here the information can also be fairly good.
Because the identify may recommend, velocity is a big a part of this sport’s raison d’etre, and so we spend most of our time charging headlong by way of the ever altering ranges, searching down not solely alpacas, but in addition the collectibles that we want from every set of ranges. These may be discovered all around the stage, and so exploration is absolutely very important.
The degrees are massive in scale, not solely horizontally but in addition vertically, and by chance our llama has not solely a double soar to name upon, however can cling to partitions and soar once more for these lengthy ascents. Scouring each nook of a stage is critical, as we have to not solely recover from 75% of the entire quantity of issues on the extent to open the gate to the following space (as a result of online game logic) however we even have to search out the exit, and get out earlier than working out of time.
Fortunately, there are numerous containers on the degrees that may assist us out right here. These can include extra highly effective weapons, or first help kits and even, if we’re fortunate, a time extension, so it’s all the time price taking pictures the barrels and crates you see dotted round.
Killing enemies can also be a spotlight, not solely as it should make your life simpler as you discover, however doing so gives cash. And as everyone knows, cash are utilized in outlets to purchase new skills. Having the ability to run sooner, soar larger and even have extra well being (alongside many extra skills) will make your subsequent try simpler.
On the flip, generally with the ability to run sooner shouldn’t be the blessing that you just suppose, because the leaping in Speedollama is somewhat fussy. And velocity is the enemy of precision…
Unleashing your mighty weapon on the alpacas is fairly satisfying, however I’d be mendacity if I didn’t say that it doesn’t get a bit samey after some time. I imply, certain, the degrees are totally different every time, however the gameplay isn’t, and I’ve discovered myself choosing this up when I’ve a couple of minutes spare to shortly blast by way of a stage or two, then going again to one thing with a bit of extra substance.
Speedollama is way from a nasty sport, and the motion can definitely be enjoyable and frantic, but it surely isn’t essentially a sport that may seize you and refuse to let go.
Speedollama: Llama-Fueled Mayhem on All Platforms! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/speedollama-llama-fueled-mayhem-on-all-platforms/
Purchase Speedollama on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/video games/retailer/speedollama/9mxthr0nhprm
