Until I Have You Demo

The retro current is pretty strong in the video games industry, given the fact that there already are hundreds of titles out there that feature pixel graphics and old gameplay mechanics brought back to full-HD LED screens. However, the simple use of the term retro does not excuse the lack of gameplay polish and decent pixel graphics, so even such games need to adhere to certain modern standards.

Until I Have You is about as retro as it gets in every regard, which includes graphics, gameplay and even the soundtrack. In essence, it’s a fast-paced platformer that plays like a classic run ‘n’ gun, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Moreover, it features a pretty interesting story and a thick atmosphere that has the power to change your mood almost instantly.

Speaking of which, the story takes place in a cyberpunk settings, namely a depraved city full of violence and mostly lowlives. You play the role of an ex-assassin who gave up the violent life in exchange for the love of his wife, but everything goes wrong when she is kidnapped. Thus, you must go to her rescue and punish everyone responsible in the process.

The gameplay is mostly based on your ability to sprint, jump and shoot as accurately as possible at high speeds. You have to reach the end of each stage before the timer runs out, and there are many obstacles and enemies blocking your way. Thankfully, your character has a fancy exoskeleton that provides him with a few special abilities, so he’s more than ready to take a whole crime syndicate on his own.

As for the graphics, the retro style goes incredibly well with the noir atmosphere, even if there are a few annoyances and bad design choices along the way, not to mention the terrible interface in some cases. On the other hand, the soundtrack is great, even if it might sound a tad generic every now and again, at least if you are a fan of the genre in question.

When it’s all said and done, Until I Have You is definitely a “must-play” for every platformer fan, but it’s by no means perfect yet. However, it has the potential to become great, at least if the gameplay is refined a little bit and the interface issues are fixed.