Parasite Demo

Parasites are creatures that cannot survive unless they attach to another creature in order to gain nutrients. They are not very well liked in general, but they have a few useful properties sometimes. Given the fact that parasites usually display total disregard for the host it inhabits, it’s usually a good idea to detect and eliminate it as soon as possible.

Parasite is an interesting platformer with puzzle elements in which you play the role of an alien trying to reclaim its planet from the invading humans. However, it’s not like in Alien vs. Predator, because there are no bloodbaths or giant teeth to worry about. Instead, you are a tiny worm that can take over people and control their actions, which comes in handy if you want to infiltrate a human colony.

Your main goals throughout the game are to find access keycards, navigate treacherous levels and use disguises to your advantage in order to pass by unnoticed. It’s not always possible to do so, but conflict can be avoided most of the time. Each character you infect has a different ability that comes in handy at certain points throughout the levels, but they all have cooldowns as well.

One of the most interesting aspects found in the game is the fact that you’ll have to backtrack a lot, given the fact that the stages are not linear at all. Some items are located in certain parts of the colony, while others are in the exact opposite corner. This makes the experience that much more dynamic, but the truth is that you are not actually free to tackle the levels any way you want, at least not at first.

In the technical department, everything is pretty much as you would expect from a retro platformer with pixel graphics. The level design is on point, even if the backgrounds are a tad barren sometimes. You shouldn’t have too much trouble with the controls, unless you happen to use a keyboard. It’s mandatory that you change the default key mapping, otherwise you won’t be able to enjoy the game at all.

In the end, there are a few things that could be improved in Parasite, but the overall experience is quite enjoyable. Hence, if you are up for some platforming puzzles and you do not mind repetition, this can keep you occupied for a while.