As we reported previously, Adventurous Slime is a new retro-style 2D pixel art platform game from the developer Light Up and the prolific indie retro publisher Ratalaika Games.
On the surface, Adventurous Slime is a 16-bit style 2D cutesy platform game, with appealing graphics, and an enjoyable chip tune soundtrack. Speaking of sound, the game’s weather sound effects are particularly atmospheric, helping to create a sense of danger for the titular Slime’s adventure.
Adding to the 16-bit aesthetic, upon disposing of enemies, they spin out of the screen in a similar fashion to that of the SNES’s famous Mode 7.
So, Adventurous Slime certainly looks and sounds the part, but how does it play? Very well, as it turns out. The game controls well, with moving your slime, jumping and firing projectiles all proving slick and intuitive.
The game plays well as a standard platformer, with all the requisite elements present and correct: an endearing protagonist, challenging jumps, and well-designed enemies, including tough boss battles. But as the word “Adventurous” in the title might suggest, there’s more to this game than just straightforward platforming. Indeed, many of the routes our hero has to take are blocked off until he flicks the necessary switches, learns the required spells, or bumps off the nearby enemies. This means that the game involves a considerable amount of retracing one’s steps, making it relatively easy to lose track of where you’re up to, and while this need for backtracking adds an extra layer of depth to the game, for some, it my also add an extra layer of frustration. This isn’t a criticism of the game as such, because many will no doubt enjoy the extra challenge of retracing their steps to inlock new areas. However, others may have preferred that the game was more of a traditional linear platformer, in which you simply have to make your way from A to B.
However, it would be churlish in the extreme to criticize Adventurous Slime for not being a simpler game, especially when it achieves what it sets out to do with such aplomb. Your slime can also learn and buy new abilities throughout the game, which helps the game feel less repetitive. My only other very very minor criticism of the game is that while the protagonist is certainly a charming character, perhaps more could have been made of his “sliminess,” as none of his abilities really take advantage of the fact he is a slime. Compare this with, say, the 16-bit platformer Putty, which was a similar game from the actual 16-bit era, and which used the main character’s putty-like texture to imbue him with abilities relating to his “puttiness”, such as the ability to stretch. This does not make the game any less fun, but it might have added an extra layer of depth to the game, and given a reason for the lead character to be a slime, but the game is a lot of fun regardless of this.
Overall, Adventurous Slime is a compelling, well-designed 2D platform adventure game thatthat is an absolute joy to play, and it’ll keep you playing as you unlock more and more of the game.
If you enjoy 16-bit platform games, and you’d also enjoy a light Metroidvania/adventure element along with the jumping and enemy disposing, then there’s really no excuse to not to pick up Adventurous Slime at its budget price of just $5.99 USD. Adventurous Slime is out now on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 4&5.
