Headlander

When the team previewed Headlander at EGX Rezzed they were justified in their excitement. Double Fine and Adult Swim have produced an immensely assured game that is highly recommended to any gamer. It’s a simple game in its approach: its mechanics are not over-wrought or complicated, but it’s top quality fun. Headlander is of the few games in recent memories to garner a true belly laugh. Now where did I leave those flares and dancing shoes? I’ve got a space disco to attend.

Headlander is an unexpectedly great take on Metroidviania-style action. Some of the objective design renders its flashier, body-endangering powers moot, but the quick and complex moment-to-moment gameplay carries it splendidly. It’s difficult but fair, and fast-paced but satisfying through to the end. And with a story so dangerously loaded with trope upon trope, it’s a joy to see Headlander sidestep some cliches with a beautiful setting, dark humor, and, well… a rocket-powered head. That’ll do the trick.

While the game does have a few slight irritations when it comes to its design, Headlander still manages to keep its head on its shoulders (or traveling through space via rocket propulsion) thanks to its eclectic blend of old-school, side-scrolling gameplay and its art direction that sci-fi fans will truly enjoy. Though it shares more similarities with the likes of Metroid, Logan's Run, and so many of its other influences than it may for something completely new, Double Fine and Adult Swim Games have still managed to make Headlander into an experience that's funny, delightfully weird, and might...

Flash, wit and ‘70s chic lift Double Fine’s Headlander above its familiar systems.

Double Fine was able to take a classic gaming genre and imbue new life into it with their trademark humor, and the resulting experience is solid. It could use some tweaks here and there, but fans of metroidvanias are sure to have a great time floating through the ridiculous world of Headlander.

Still for all the shortcomings addressed, Headlander is an enjoyable title. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, as evident by all of the tongue and cheek humor, nor is it really difficult (Not completely anyway). As a Double Fine Productions game, It’s right up there with some of their best, I just wish it was a tad longer and didn’t spend too much time focus on slapstick comedy and included more gameplay content. For the asking price for $20, Headlander is a great choice for enjoying 8-10 hours of gaming fun. Perhaps the game would have been a tad better if it didn’t stick too close to the ...

Imagine if those heads in the jars from Futurama could fly. Now imagine that not only can they fly, but they can attach to any robotic body or generic computer port. That’s the basis for Double Fine’s newest game Headlander, a Metroidvania style 2D side-scroller. In a world where everyone’s consciousness exists in the ethereal cloud and downloads into any body they want, you are what seems to be last flesh and blood human…or at least the head of one. As the silent protagonist (silent because you have no lungs) you must uncover the mystery of where all the bodies went and expose the AI overlord...

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Headlander is entertaining, looks and sounds excellent, and gives off a cool vibe, but this isn't quite a classic.

This ultimate head trip occasionally strays too far from its purpose. Here is our review of Headlander!

Headlander proves to be a nice distraction in the midst of the Summer drought season as I enjoyed its humor from start to finish. While its humor helped carry me to the end, the literal disconnect of the character's head from his body turned into a figurative disconnect as its story wasn’t engaging enough. It has some nice Metroidvania moments, although it sputters towards the end to only rely on its color-coded components to keep me out of certain areas, which felt like a cheap way to finish the game.

Without those lackluster diversions, it would be an amicable trifle. Even at its best, the game feels like an idea gestating in real-time, like a sponge dinosaur filling up with water. So much of Headlander teases you with the idea of what could have been; a shame, because the game we actually got is kind of a bummer.