Drop Alive

Platformers are designed to challenge your reflexes and put your ingenuity to the test, although some are just simple adventure games with a bit of jumping in the mix. An original concept usually features some new gameplay mechanics, even if they are inspired by something else. Hence, people are more than eager to try new things if they are given the opportunity.

Drop Alive is a 2D platformer in which you play as a courageous drop of water trying to escape from the house that traps him. The road ahead is full of obstacles, some of which are harder to overcome by water than you may imagine. Thus, the interesting mechanics can keep you busy for a while, especially since the levels get more complex later on.

There’s not much of a story to talk about, since everything you need to know is explained in the span of a few seconds in the introduction. Hence, the water droplet is trying to find a way out of the house, and he must navigate a variety of rooms in order to get there. Each level poses a unique challenge, and sometimes the mechanics change significantly along the way.

Water is not able to overcome certain obstacles, as is the case with materials that absorb it. Hence, you have to move quickly in some sections, as well as avoid certain objects entirely. However, there’s also the possibility to be evaporated and turn into gas, which allows you to float away and reach otherwise inaccessible areas.

The graphics are nothing to write home about, but they are not ugly either. The hand-drawn artwork is more than decent most of the time, and each level is unique when it comes to the backdrops. Even the soundtrack is pretty nice, depending on how patient you are, or how caught up you happen to be in the game, because it can get repetitive after a while.

All things considered, Drop Alive is not exactly a shining example of originality, but the few interesting ideas make it worth your time. The challenge can be enough to keep you busy for an hour or so, especially if you do not enjoy giving up.