Skelattack

Most metroidvania games are all about exploration and a slowly rising power level that eventually smacks of godhood. Skelattack is a slightly different beast. This game is in the business of killing you, and business is booming. There’s a death counter I stopped paying attention to after it hit 150, for example. But this grim veneer masks a terrific core, one built of tight controls and feats of incredible skill. You too will do amazing things in this game. You pretty much have to, in fact.

Skelattack is a fantastic platformer with a real sense of character and gorgeous aesthetics. Blending cutesy graphics with challenging platforming and some strategic boss fights, it manages to really stand out and deserves to do well. Here’s hoping for more adventures with Skully and Imber in future.

Konami is a big time publisher that has been around for decades. Mostly known for their more popular franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Pro Evolution Soccer, and Silent Hill. However, they haven’t focused their efforts on action platformers since the days of Castlevania. Until now, that is. In a surprise move, Konami just stealth published a new indie metroidvania by the name of Skelattack. The decision to quietly release a new title certainly gives one pause and begs the question, “is th...

Skeletons are cool but you don't often get to play as them so here's the charming Metroidvania Skelattack. No bones about it!

As with the rest of the game, outside of the more focussed platform sequences, I was boosted through by the breezy mood more than anything else. Skelattack is a masterpiece in the art of the pleasant.

A fun action platformer with plenty of charm and some great visuals, that’s only let down by an uneven difficulty level that seems unsure exactly how hard it wants to be.

Skelattack isn’t a very long game – most will complete it within 4-5 hours. There’s not really any reason to return to it once the credits have rolled, either. It is somewhat enjoyable while it lasts though, even if a little infuriating at times. That’s largely thanks to Skully and Imber, who are lovable every step of the way, and a surprisingly entertaining story. It’s just a shame that the gameplay isn’t a little deeper and more polished, then it could have been something special. As it is, Skelattack offers an evening of fun, with ample lashings of frustration along the way.

A strange little thing, Skelattack seems to lack confidence in itself, wanting to be one of those hard-as-nails "masocore" platformers while not really committing to the tight design that defines that subgenre. As a result, it's a game that'll make you seethe with frustration not from deliberate and challenging level design, but from sloppily-constructed traps that seem to think such things are excused by a multitude of checkpoints. It's definitely not a disaster, but Skelattack leaves a lot to be desired.

Skelattack’s greatest strength comes in its hand-drawn visuals. Skelly’s design is simple but very charming, as is the case with Imber and the many side-characters in the game. The environments are fun to explore and to look at as well, and the music can be catchy here and there.

Skelattack is a side-scrolling platformer with a lot of heart, but it ends too quickly and the obstacles it places in front of you are hampered because of it.