There’s a motive you subscribe to some builders’ Itch.io feeds. Ismael Rodriguez is a superb instance, who launched the fantastic Under The Ocean final yr. Into my emails pinged an replace for a brand new, free sport, Toy Cavers, and I’m simply so happy it did.
Created for the continuing Itch sport jam, Misplaced Relic Video games, Toy Cavers takes the physicsy swinging ropes of Under The Ocean (which you must get proper now!), and as a substitute of making use of them as oxygen tubes, this time makes use of them as a tether between two pixel characters, working collectively to discover a system of caves.
Don’t be fooled by the extremely simplistic-looking presentation. (Not lease as a result of it’s additionally bloomin’ beautiful.) It is a sport to take pleasure in immediately, however grasp as you play. Every clockwork character has a choose, and you turn between them by their alternating swings. When you’re answerable for one, you may then transfer them round platform-style, together with leaping them up partitions on account of what I’ve determined are very spikey sneakers. The opposite will get tugged alongside behind by the tether.
Nevertheless, pin one in place with their choose, and the opposite can then considerably improbably swing on the tether, permitting them to fling concerning the caves, and jab a choose into one other wall. Thus you start having the 2 characters work collectively to navigate their method throughout pits, avoiding spikes, and majestically negotiating their method by the cave chambers.
It’s within the artwork of the swing the place the mastery comes. It’s technically playable on controller, however I’ve had some actual points getting the soar to work correctly, so I counsel sticking to the mouse/keyboard controls. Right here, you progress them about with WASD, and it’ll take a little bit of practise to get the rope-swinging controls excellent. When you do, wow, what a pleasure it’s to play, deftly switching between the 2 to clear obstacles, climb pillars, and keep away from these pesky pink spikes.
A lot of the sport’s ranges are set in dimly lit caves, however brighten within the space wherein your toy explores are stood. This creates some pretty results on the six-color scenes, and likewise provides an additional factor of exploration, as you wish to ensure to know what you’re leaping towards. (Nevertheless, the sport is extraordinarily forgiving, with infinite lives, and a checkpoint on each display.) Doing so pushes you towards experimenting with the tether, and a few actually pretty moments of success.
Every space additionally has an elective coin to gather, positioned in a spot that requires extra-tricky maneuvers. I used to be so damned happy with myself once I labored out how to decrease one of many characters down a gap above a pit of spikes to collect one golden trinket.
It is a ridiculously stable sport for a week-long sport jam entry! Additionally for one which’s free. Nevertheless, this being Itch.io, you may in fact select to pay for it should you can. I’d advocate doing so. There’s a great hour of enjoyable right here, should you take your time and get all of the cash. I’m more than happy to have found this.
