Tiny Thor is the most recent in retro nostalgia video games that appears prefer it got here immediately from the Sega Genesis. Taking part in because the titular child Thor together with his mighty ricocheting Mjolnir is a refreshingly new tackle the character. Whereas it boasts some superbly crisp pixel artwork with a catchy chiptune soundtrack, be warned it additionally brings a excessive degree of problem, within the vein of a Celeste. In some instances to its detriment.
The sport begins with our hero, Tiny Thor, crashing to Earth whereas driving the rainbow bridge to his birthday celebration. From right here he’s tricked by an unassuming Loki into beginning the top of the world Ragnarok occasion, except he can discover the magical objects that may deter this disaster. The world is constructed equally to a Mario World for the SNES. A principally linear path, with ranges of various biomes, and bonus problem ranges to be unlocked. Progressing via the story unlocks new motion skills like a double soar, sprint and floor pound. All of the basic platformer tropes are right here.
Traversing the degrees, Thor comes outfitted together with his mighty Mjolnir hammer, which might be angled to bounce off of surfaces. When charging the hammer, an angle line is offered so you’ll be able to modify the trajectory for a number of hits or to activate onerous to achieve switches however might be recalled at a moments discover. That is used to nice impact, as these sorts of puzzles create that excellent feeling of feat. Sadly, when used on enemies, the hammer feels powerless, particularly towards transferring enemies. In later ranges, enemies take a number of hits, so you find yourself merely avoiding them.
You’d keep away from enemies as a result of Thor, while nonetheless a baby, may be very fragile so far as taking hits. You could have a coronary heart system that equates to solely a secondary hit. You will get hit as soon as, then a coronary heart flies out of you, however might be caught once more if gathered up fast sufficient. In any other case, you’re at a single hit kill. That is principally for enemies as environmental risks, resembling water, are insta-kills. The sheer quantity of prompt deaths is irritating to say the least, with a few of the deaths I skilled, feeling notably unfair.
The additional problem to the sport comes within the type of three rubies strewn about in every degree. These act as bonus collectables that may be spent to unlock additional problem ranges. The problem ranges are constructed round a selected mechanic just like the sprint or double soar however are extra for these completionists on the market who need that 100% run. Outdoors of that ,there is no such thing as a in sport reward for finishing these and left me little motivation on ending all of them.
Tiny Thors’ degree design is a fancy array of a number of pathways and leaping challenges which is effectively executed. The totally different locales all really feel totally different sufficient whereas nonetheless participating that 16 bit period. The puzzles are a few of the greatest components of the sport, however within the latter half, you might be anticipated to complete stated puzzles with added difficulties like being chased. Sadly, these puzzles don’t work as effectively with motion and mechanics that aren’t constructed for precision. Add into this far aside checkpoints, and also you’re caught redoing lengthy stretches of pin level accuracy jumps whereas firing your hammer at troublesome angles. It’s a tough proposition that pressured me to step away from the Change fairly a couple of instances out of frustration.
All of that being stated, Tiny Thor nonetheless manages to attraction and produce new mechanics to an old style style of sport. The boss battles are intelligent fights which can be possible with apply. The music and artwork fashion is high notch, and the primary mechanic of angling your photographs works rather well. It is when the sport ups the problem to a degree that the motion and skills aren’t essentially outfitted for. Instigating a quick paced timer based mostly wall soar problem, when the wall soar itself has a 1-2 second delay on it, is one particular instance. These sorts of situations do extra to level out the video games’ limitations as a substitute of spotlight them. Nonetheless, these fiending for a brand new throwback problem have gotten your work minimize out for you. I actually loved my time with the 30 some odd ranges of Tiny Thor, however extra so regardless of itself than due to it.