- X4: Timelines – X4: Foundations DLC – PC Review - July 9, 2024
- Scarlet Tower – PC Review - May 27, 2024
- Roguebook – PC Review - May 24, 2022
Genre: Indie action platformer
Developer: Batterystaple Games
Publisher: Batterystaple Games
Release Date: February 17th, 2021
Edited by AlexKnight2005
It feels like yesterday when I first played a little game called 20XX. This was a glorious fusion between classic games I grew up loving and new modern rogue-like mechanics. I loved every minute of it. You can imagine my surprise when I heard it was getting a sequel. This comes to us in the form of a brand new adventure called 30XX, but does it hold up to the original?
The two main protagonists from the first game are back. Nina fights with a long-range weapon that can charge up to fire more powerful shots, while Ace is your melee specialist with a range of different weapon choices to discover throughout your run. Much like the first game, this one is a rogue-lite, meaning each run is independent of the others. When you end a run, you return to the hub to buy upgrades and other goodies that will then afterward start appearing in future runs. This time around though, there’s a new mode on offer. Mega Mode still randomizes all the stages like usual, but once randomized, they stay the same every time you play one. You can even play them in any order you choose.
The controls feel smooth, and every misstep feels like it is your fault. Both Ace and Nina have access to a slide, wall jumps, making them quite mobile. This high mobility is very pleasing and is required navigating some of the trickier random chunks you may encounter. Each stage has its unique hazards to deal with, from spinning spikes to lava flows, or even the occasional laser beam, you’ll be navigating through a gauntlet of hazards. Most normal enemies go down easily in a rogue-like fashion, meaning the real danger is the environment itself.
Each boss gives unique weapons to each of the heroes. In the previous game, all characters would receive the same boss weaponry, but this time around, Ace and Nina have unique weapons to use as they see fit.
As the game is still in an early access period, there are only six-level themes at the time of writing, but everyone is beautifully made and has some awesome music. There are a few more stages planned for the final release, and I am looking forward to experiencing them all.
As mentioned above, this game is still early access, which brings with it the occasional bug. Most of these bugs are not game-breaking, and any time a critical issue pops up, it gets patched very quickly. Changes are flowing in with every update for both quality of life and the crushing of these bugs. Every patch brings the game closer to its complete stability.
Both standard mode and mega mode can be played solo or in cooperative play. Online co-op is supported as well as local couch co-op. Both players can even play as the same character, meaning you’ll never have to give up on playing as your favorite. On top of this, both players earn the same meta progression currency during each run and can gain access to all the perks that the host has purchased. Meaning you can join a friend who has a lot of bonuses for a few games to get a quick burst of currency to help you on your path.
The performance of the game is great, and even on low-end machines. The game also offers a full controller remapping menu for both keyboards and gamepads. Other options are what you’d expect. Some environments may be difficult to navigate for those with color blindness, but I’m sure that will be addressed in future patches as more people give their feedback to the devs.
I recommend giving this game a look, especially if you like the classic run-and-gun games of the past or good rogue-likes. This one will make waves when it finally reaches the end of early access, but I can understand if the early access title is too much right now. If this interests you, then get in now and help shape the future of the title. Though still in early access, this game is solid enough to earn a rating, so look below to find it.
Pros:
- Beautiful stage designs.
- Tight and fun movement options.
- Two distinct playable characters.
Cons:
- Some stages are tough to see due to the contrast.
- Only six stages at the current build at the time of writing.
