Papyrus's Big Christmas Adventure

Tough platformers quite the conundrum, because you would expect people to be mad at the fact that they paid for something they cannot enjoy properly because they are constantly dying. Even the free games would suffer if this were the case, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Gamers flock to difficult games and enjoy being tricked, trapped and cheated by pixelated characters.

Papyrus's Big Christmas Adventure is a funny platformer that’s bound to cause a bit distress and frustration to the players that are brave enough to give it a try, but it is also quite rewarding in a way. There are no new mechanics when it comes to the gameplay, since all you have to do is jump and dash, but the actual levels and the traps they are riddled with are tough enough to keep you wanting to persevere.

There is even a story to explain the events, and it’s quite funny. As it happens, you are a skeleton who’s invited to dinner by his brother. However, you have to make it there in under ten minutes, otherwise he starts eating alone. While this indeed means that you only have ten minutes of gameplay in total, it’s definitely going to take you a lot longer than that.

Although the traps themselves are not inherently complex, given the fact that it’s a couple of bombs, spikes and moving platforms, their placement is the key. As such, you need to jump, dash and avoid the traps as quickly as possible, and it’s not always possible to do so on the first try. Good reflexes are a must, but there are times when you cannot see what’s coming up, so trial and error is the only way to go.

As far as the graphics are concerned, it’s all pixels and low-resolution sprites, although that’s probably to maintain the whole retro vibe. The environments actually look pretty decent, even if the levels are quite barren when it comes to background detail. The music is decent as well, and the sound effects contribute nicely to the overall atmosphere.

In the end, Papyrus's Big Christmas Adventure is clearly not for everyone, because it’s quite punishing and unforgiving. However, if you enjoy a challenge and have good reflexes, this can be the perfect way to have some fun.