The PixelJunk games have provided some interesting and unique ideas over the past few years, none more so than the rather fun `Shooter` series of titles. Developers Q-Games aim to build upon that success with their latest, SideScroller, once again released on the PlayStation Network.
PixelJunk SideScroller (PJSS) is a retro-themed, horizontally scrolling shooter based on the super-secret final level found in PixelJunk Shooter 2, The Break of Dawn. The bold graphical style evokes memories of the earliest examples of the video gaming era, aping a style similar to the likes of Tempest with its vector graphics aesthetic, as well as more contemporary titles such as Geometry Wars, or even fellow PSN title Gravity Crash.
The game is split into three stages which are comprised of four individual levels, with the final one always consisting of a boss fight. On an aesthetic level PJ SS succeeds in paying homage to games of the past, even down to having the screen curve to replicate the look of an arcade CRT monitor. There’s even faux scan lines and tinny sound effects to complete the experience.
However the music that accompanies the game feels at odds with the onscreen action. With its mix of funky jazz, hip-hop and the occasional ambient soundtrack backing, it definitely doesn’t invoke the sense of urgency required when playing titles like this. In that respect it feels a bit too cool for school, more suited to hipsters sitting around wearing sunglasses indoors at night while comparing skinny jeans, instead of fending off waves of alien baddies.
The initial levels are also a tad ordinary and, it has to be said, tedious. Of course the argument can be made that the game is just saving itself for later on, but the absence of an initial hook means it can be hard to persevere that long. It’s something which is notably at odds with previous titles; both of the Shooter titles, and even Eden before them, felt fresh and interesting from the off. While the initial series of levels in PJ SS conform to staples of the genre, it feels like it spends far too much resources in trying to pay homage, instead of forcing the initiative and looking to break from its narrow confines (both literally and physically).
There was always a sense in the PixelJunk series of games of excitable energy, that it was always busy and keeping the player on the move. In SideScroller these early encounters feel far too pedestrian, even when starting on the normal difficulty (it should be noted that there seems to be little or no discernible difference between casual and normal difficulty, so dropping down to this level when stuck serves little to no purpose).
Undeniably it picks up and starts to flex its muscles as the player progresses to Area Two and beyond, introducing mechanics from the aforementioned Shooter titles where lava is to be avoided and water can be dropped into areas to aid in safe passage. Some of the layouts of levels are almost a puzzle in themselves and when requiring the player to dodge deadly traps while fending off enemies, the adrenaline finally starts to pump.
PixelJunk SideScroller is like a perfect copy of a Faberge Egg. It looks and feels like the real thing, but scratch beneath the surface and it starts to show imperfections. It doesn’t take too long for the realisation to dawn that none of the soul, craft or ingenuity apparent in the source of its inspiration has been replicated fully. If it had even half the imagination that is normally evident within Q Games titles’ then, without a doubt, it would be a better game.
As it stands it’s merely “ok”, which is the last thing you’d ever expect to have said about a game from this particular studio.
