WaveLand Demo

Although one would think the platformer genre is exhausted at this point, there are dozens being developed every week, some of which are quite good. In essence, even if the gameplay mechanics don’t change all that much, it’s the level design and the difficulty that keeps the players engaged. On the other hand, it’s not easy at all to design a good platformer.

WaveLand is a fast-paced platformer in which you play as a square that must navigate a series of tough environments as quickly as possible. In fact, there’s a time limit you have to respect in order to pass the levels, otherwise they are not counted as complete. On the other hand, nothing stops you from just moving on and tackling the next levels without worrying about your score at all.

As you might have guessed, there’s no story at all, which means that you can focus on the gameplay entirely. Your square has a few classic abilities that come in handy when you have to deal with gaps and other traps. Hence, you can jump, dash, wall-jump, as well as a variety of combinations of these skills that allow you to get out of sticky situations.

Each level is progressively more difficult than the last, but don’t expect anything too simple in the beginning. Most of the jumps you have to perform need to be calculated, otherwise you end up falling or right on top of a deadly saw blade. It’s also worth noting that you have to move quickly in order to make good time, which adds another layer of difficulty and stress on top of it all.

As for the graphics, the game looks very colorful and relaxing, which is great for a platformer that inevitably ends up annoying you. The level design is not very complex, given the fact that all you see are some platforms and the occasional environmental hazard, but the overall mood is pretty pleasant. The soundtrack is decent as well, although it’s not yet complete.

In the end, WaveLand is not a revolutionary game, but it’s pleasant enough for that not to matter. Hence, it can easily provide you with a few hours of fun when it’s completed, and you can help the developer by backing the game on Kickstarter.