Super Lynx Rush Demo

There’s something about platformers that just sucks you in from the first few minutes of gameplay, even if the underlying concept is almost the same in every game. To an outside observer, they seem to be the simplest games out there, but once you pick up a controller and try to make it to the end of a level without dying a few dozen times, things become much clearer.

Super Lynx Rush is a 2D platformer in which you have to move quickly and try not to fall into spike-filled pits. As per usual, enemies can be neutralized by jumping on top of their heads, a brave tactic considering the main character’s physique. There is no story whatsoever as of right now, so you can concentrate solely on survival and getting the best high score.

There are problems, however, and some are quite big. One of them is the fact that there are no checkpoints, nor can you save the game manually between stages. If at any point you lose all of your hit points, you have to retry from the beginning, which includes the tutorial. It’s nice when games challenge you with such hardcore mechanics, but it may be a bit too much in this case.

It is also mandatory that you keep collecting the additional time bonuses, otherwise you die when you run out of seconds to spare. The clocks are pretty evenly distributed throughout the levels, but you can sometimes miss them if you are not paying enough attention. It can also be impossible to go back in some situations, such as when shaky platforms collapse behind you.

Enemies come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well, each one of which requires a different strategy to deal with. Some can just be stomped with ease, while others fly around and make it more difficult to time your jumps. The graphics are decent too, especially if you are into the retro visual style. The controls are easy to learn and very responsive, even if you have to use the keyboard.

All things considered, Super Lynx Rush is not bad at all, it just lacks a few components at the moment. Checkpoints would be a terrific addition, and it would also be nice to know more about the main character and his background.