Splodey Review - A Precision Platformer Based On Explosive Momentum

Platformers are where many gamers got their start - Mario, Crash Bandicoot, LittleBigPlanet, Lucky - the list goes on. Graduating from that to the precision platformers like Super Meat Boy is the next step. Splodey from Send It Studios takes this a step further by creating a precision platformer with no jump button.

In Splodey the player takes on the role of a wizard with exploding potions. Traversing around normally the wizard has a pretty slow movement, and as I stated above, they can't jump. How the wizard gets around this though is by using their exploding potions to propel them.

Starting in a hub space the first challenge you'll face is trying to reach the first batch of levels…

Reverse Momentum Pixel Platforming

When I first heard of this game I was very interested in the idea of a "platformer without a jump button", after seeing some gameplay I thought it might play a bit like No Time To Explain but it is so much harder.

Unlike No Time To Explain, where at any point you can alter the trajectory of the gun that is pushing the player character the momentum of the wizard in Splodey is wholly dependent on the trajectory of your initial explosion.

If you want to fly high then you'll need to aim directly down, if you want to cross a great distance then you need to fire a potion at a very flat angle, or be against a wall. Once in the air firing another potion will do nothing to affect your flight path.

This is a tough movement style to learn, controller is definitely recommended, but as you are forced to chain jumps, and added momentum there are so many satisfying levels that you'll complete and watch the replay in awe of your own prowess.

Beat Levels, Unlock Worlds, Obtain New Challenges

The core gameplay is completing each individual level by reaching the portal at the end. In the beginning, the hurdles you face are just ledges and pits, forcing you to precisely make your way over or past them, but as you continue between the different worlds different obstacles will begin to appear.

Just when you start to feel you've gotten the hang of spikes a new world will introduce repeating turrets firing out arrows, or blocks that you can only stand on for a certain amount of time.

Playing this game was a constant uphill struggle, just when I felt I had started to understand a mechanic or had gotten good at precisely throwing a potion while parachuting so I didn't hit spikes the game would immediately put me in my place.

Lengths of levels were something that did begin to get on my nerves. As each level is so bite-sized it's understandable you could get through them in seconds before moving on. I found a lot of the levels would have a gimmick or plan to it but then would add one more step or two to the end that would make things especially frustrating.

One of the best examples of this is a room with low ceilings and arrows that you need to get through with short hops. To get through one corridor would be easy, two or three a bit more of a pain, but having to get through five corridors like this felt like a bit much.

That being said, those levels where the gimmick requires just that bit more perfection will be the ones that gamers looking for a difficult platformer will really eat up.

Extra Challenge On Top Of Your Challenge

While playing there are also Souls in the shapes of flying skulls for you to collect (normally in hard-to-reach places), gold coins that can be earned by completing levels in a certain time frame, and hidden bonus levels that turn the challenge up to eleven.

The two collectibles contribute to new character skins and potion colors respectively but don't alter gameplay, those challenge levels are not for the faint of heart.

Splodey Review | Final Thoughts

I'm a fan of a lot of precision platformers, like Super Meat Boy or Celeste, but the core mechanic of directed explosions to jump was a lot to wrap my head around. Splodey does a great job of taking something we have seen before but to a whole new level and if you're a fan of tough platformers this is one you should be looking into.

While the levels themselves are challenging, and sometimes a bit too long, done successfully it's a fast process. This lends the game to a pick-up-and-put-down kind of gameplay style, which is great for when you get a bit too fed up with a game and need to put it down for a bit.

Splodey was reviewed on PC via Steam, using a copy provided by the developer over the course of 5 hours of gameplay - all screenshots were taken during the process of review.