Splinter Zone Prototype

Arcade platformers are designed to be tough and frustrating, and no one objects to that, because that’s how things go. Some are tougher than others, but it’s important that they do not cause frustration due to awkward controls or unpolished gameplay mechanics, because the fun goes out the window. Hence, it’s not as easy as it may seem to design a good platformer.

Splinter Zone is a 2D action-platformer with a very fast pace and a classic set of gameplay mechanics, which means that old fans of the genre should feel right at home from the first few minutes. On the other hand, it may be a tad too challenging for new players, especially since you have to do five things at once sometimes and still manage to shoot enemies at the same time.

The story is inconsequential to the gameplay, which is why the main character does not even have a name. However, there is a short and simple background tale to explain a few things, and it tells you that the main character has amnesia and he doesn’t remember who he is. Not just that, but he also finds himself in some sort of hell, which means that he must endure a variety of punishments.

The levels you undertake seem to be in a random order every time, which makes it easier to keep playing after you die ten times in a row. There are no checkpoints or anything like that, so every death means a complete restart. Whether you fall into a pit, touch the sharp spikes or get shot by an enemy robot, everything can kill you in a matter of seconds. Thankfully, you can fight back as well using your gun.

Since the game aims to be as retro as possible, the graphics are old school as well, although it must be mentioned that they look pretty convincing. You can also change between different screen sizes, although it doesn’t really make a difference quality-wise. The music is decent as well, although it’s nothing to write home about, at least not right now.

When it’s all said and done, Splinter Zone is a pretty well-designed game with hardcore gameplay mechanics and a decent replayability rating. Hence, if you enjoy this prototype and would want to see more, you can vote for the game on Steam Greenlight and help the developer get his name out there.