Preliminary: Like I mentioned when I briefly played it on the arcade machine months ago, such a cute Look and Sound and fun Play. As always I appreciate when you can attack back in a platformer, which seems to be the definite norm now in late 88. Hopefully the game isn't too long because I enjoyed the first two stages, was figuring things out intuitively (so far), and really liked a lot of cute features like the sprite when you jump :-p The camera feels a bit weird with how it follows you, but I don't remember noticing that on the actual arcade machine so it could just be playing it on a laptop screen. Aw omg and the water gear lol

On the downside, the mid-jump control is quite sluggish, which I realize is a part of the game but makes for slow maneuvering when I prefer last second dodging. Well, based on what I'm reading, there are a lot of bonus things and warps and secrets, but I like that I can just play it as is, but also could go for the more elaborate playthrough on the arcade machine whenever I'd like. There are also so many power ups and weapons and ah! A bit overwhelming. Like I kept wondering what this "E" powerup did for me and then I realized they're letter collectibles. Oh, and I like that when enemies run into spikes with their flying vehicles they, too, get popped like I would. Seems fair :-p

Day 1

Well, really Day 2. I think after my brief play session last night, I got to about 2-3? Or so. There are either 16 or 20 stages in total it seems. Very manageable--Nice and brief enough for my arcade taste, while still being robust, and the secrets and warps add replayability for speedruns and well just replaying and exploring. However, it was also extremely hard with one-hit deaths--butttt deliciously forgiving death mechanic. Also based on my readings, it's full of unique absurd ideas like the Heaven levels if you die a certain way on certain levels

Just finished Area 2's boss, the red devil came out because I had run out of the [invisible] timer! But luckily that was right before my final hit. I'm never a fan of time limits in action games, but that did put a nice fire under my bum :-p I was stoked because I had a staff that shot fireballs which bounced and could go through enemies, but it did make it a bit harder for the boss since only 2?ish fireballs can be out at a time. But I did it. On to Area 3. I like the New Zealand map in between stages too, cute touch. I'm liking the music, the fast-paced gameplay, and the multiple paths while still just being able to be picked up and played. Not in love but a good arcade action game so far. Note, as much as I like the music, I do hope we get some variety at some point >.> Not looking likely tho :-p And this would be just plain too hard to play legitimately, I will see how it goes on the arcade machine, since I have infinite coins technically, when I play it again at my parents'.

So much randomization and chaos/chance involved lol. Even with savestates, every playthrough of the levels turned out different when I'd (inevitably) have to reload after a one-hit kill. Luckily that helped keep it fresh. Like in one specific spot I had a different enemy/ies killed each time I played through it lol. And one of those times I got some sort of Mirror item that teleported me "to the end" and reset my timer (according to my research, that's super rare) but the problem was that I think I needed a flying vehicle and I quickly died there lol. And then the next time I managed to accidentally kill the guy riding the Duck flying vehicle, so I got that (er, I suppose it was vaguely on purpose lol). Annnnd the next time I got nothing.

I'm grateful that it's not infinite respawns with the enemy, allowing for retreat when what seemed like unavoidable damage, dodging the damage, and then moving on. Too many games from this game relished in unavoidable damage and infinite respawns. I prefer always a way out of damage and using retreat as a tool. Typically I like when the way out of damage is swift movements with tight controls and responsiveness, and tho that wasn't always the case in this one, at least it made since since you're a clunky bird with clunky vehicles :-p (quite literally a flightless bird, like in the It's Always Sunny gag :-p ). I got my first UFO where it can shoot lasers and move very easily but then the game forced me to give it up. Little taste of endgame I assume. It's time for music time, I am hoping to finish up Area 3 real quick and then return to this later tonight to finish it. Such a cute Look as shown below and as you can see, I got two of the first E argh. Just N and D to get a 1 up.

Omg right after I say cute Look, this scary boss at the end/my goal for the play session comes in (luckily this metal vehicle I'm on is indestructible but it's super slow... a lot of this game is getting to know the different vehicles, the duck fits through more things, some are faster, the UFO is the best, etc.)

Welp, I'm back at it later in the day. Area 4 is all water focused. Which shows its own gameplay quirks and manipulations with the lack/use of vehicles etc. I accidentally smacked an enemy out of the way from below for the big metal vehicle and now I am seeing the super cute kicking/swinging animation the main char does when using a vehicle from below :-p

Sheesh holy crap 4-4 was hard. And ok the maze/confusingness of 5-1 is just plain not fun. Yeahhhh, and on 5-2 I decided Imma take a break. I might call it quits here but maybe I will enjoy it more tomorrow/next play session if I'm not as tired. The challenge is wayyyyy too high but at least it's the last Area.

Welllll I couldn't just leave it at that and wound up revisiting it after some OSRS bossing and got back into it. Still found 5-1 and 5-2 frustrating. but the maze mechanic of 5-3 was actually more manageable imo. Let's see if I can hurry 5-4 before movie time and finish the game! Before I knew it, I was on the final boss!

And at last the ending! Odd that they give you the story at the end lol

Cute credits song and credits video

Look: 8.5/10 Thoroughly cute, with absurd bosses, cool swinging mace vehicles, cute laser beams, the list goes on.

Sound: 7.5/10 My husband would love the little "pew" sound of the bow :-p And even tho I wish they had more jingles, the fact I kept sound on and didn't put on a movie or anything says a lot (either about my mental health or the game's sound, not sure which :-p). The jump sound got a bit annoying at the end.

Play: 7.5/10 All the frustrating elements were intentional, not mistakes, but still frustrating nonetheless. Brutal enemy spawns with instant attacks, one hit deaths, and confusing mazes. Luckily it has a reasonable difficulty curve (except the enemy spawns are brutal from the start), and the insanely difficult maze elements aren't till the last area.

Feel: 8/10 Super cute vibes, difficult but forgiving death mechanic, all comes together to be a very replayable arcade action game.

Attachment: 8.5/10 I mean, I already returned to this and have an odd attachment to it and drive to explore it more. Plus, I have access to the arcade machine so that gives this a boost. This could go down in time, though, if the difficulty gets in the way of it being replayable with family and playing for fun. If, however, just seeing it as an infinite coin dump, fine-to-get-to-area-3-and-still-feel-satisfied works out then it could even go up!

Overall: 8/10

Completion: Main Story

Playtime: ~1h 45m