Bad Pad Demo

Most old video games relied on tough gameplay mechanics to keep the players engaged, because frustration was not a reason to stop playing back in the day. In fact, the harder the levels, the more determined the players were, given the fact that passing them felt very rewarding. There are still games like that nowadays as well, but you have to look for them in the right places.

Bad Pad is a retro action-platformer with a bit of exploration and pixel graphics, in which the goal is to overcome traps, explore interesting locations and fight the occasional boss. It’s a classic formula retold in a new environment, and most veterans of the genre should recognize many familiar elements from games like Metroid, Castlevania or similar titles.

The story is not very complex, but it is pretty funny and engaging, even if you can ignore it completely and still make it to the end. In short, it all revolves around gamepad buttons that come to life and go on a rampage, trying to overcome a variety of dangers along the way. The journey takes you through a variety of environments, including castles and sci-fi landscapes.

Enjoyable gameplay mechanics are very important in a platformer, and they are spot on in the case of Bad Pad. You can jump, climb walls, as well as perform a variety of special moves when the situation requires it, and everything behaves exactly as you would expect. The controls are very polished and responsive, so you have only yourself to blame when things do not go according to plan.

The graphics deserve some praise as well, because they truly make you believe you are back in the NES era, especially when it comes to level design. Sometimes there are multiple routes you can take, which encourages exploration and rewards your patience. On top of that, the soundtrack is great too, and it helps a lot with the overall atmosphere.

Bad Pad is exactly what it needs to be, and it’s great to see an indie production with such high standards in terms of gameplay quality, graphics and level design. Thus, it’s a great way to dust off your rusty reflexes and maybe remember what it’s like to deal with rage quits.