Pyramid Raid

Arcade platformers are fun to play and struggle with, but even more so if you can compete with someone else at the same time. The online movement on the video games scene is still in full force, since everyone is eager to implement co-op modes and multiplayer capabilities for almost any kind of game. Platformers can be a bit tougher to work with, but if BattleBlock Theater did it, so can someone else.

Pyramid Raid is a pretty neat idea in theory, although it’s still rather early to tell how it’s going to turn out in the end. As such, the entire goal of the game is for players to raid each other’s pyramids and build their own levels filled with traps, in order to stop others from taking their loot. Technically, this should allow for infinite amounts of content, but everything rests in the hands of the community.

The levels you can create are pretty classic for the genre, since you can place all sorts of traps and tricky sections to try and make the other players give up. However, it should be noted that there are limits to how difficult you build your levels. In essence, you cannot make it public unless you complete it yourself at least once, which is to make sure that it is not impossible to do so. Unfortunately, this still leaves room for some nasty practices that take advantage of glitches and exploits.

Pyramid Raid tries to please everyone at once in the long run, which is why no one is actually the loser. If your level is well-designed and difficult, the ratings given by other players turn into currency and points for you. On the other hand, you can also gain points by raiding other pyramids, so you are earning no matter which approach you happen to choose.

Visually, the game uses a forced 2.5D perspective to emulate the platformer look we all know and love. There are many issues and glitches you have to get accustomed to at the moment, but that is only natural, given the early build of game. However, the gameplay can get pretty annoying as well, mainly due to imprecise controls and some issues with controllers, even if it theoretically supports them.

In the end, Pyramid Raid is nothing to get excited about right now, because the developers have a lot of work in front of them. However, as long as they keep improving the mechanics, refining the controls and making sure that it is difficult to cheat, the game has the potential to become a fan favorite.