A bottomless fall to the origins of the arcade. Challenging as few but also tremendously addictive, Downwell debuts to demonstrate what can be done with three colors when fun prevails above all else. Doesn’t it catch your attention? We tell you in this Downwell review why you should at least give it a try.
It’s hard to imagine anyone going to pay attention to Downwell for its aesthetics or the quality of its graphics. Unlike. More likely, many will be shocked by the dark retro world in which this challenging arcade plunges us . But it has something that once you try it, you don’t want to stop playing; not at least for a good season. This is how addictive this video game is the work of Japanese creative Ojiro Fumoto, in which we see a deep inspiration in the vertical Shoot ‘Em Up that glorified the Japanese country especially in the 90s … with a particularity. Instead of being propelled by the engines of our ship like any Martian killer, here we are sucked in by the inevitable gravity, falling and falling into a dark abyss from which it is difficult to escape.
Ojiro Fumoto’s game can be basic in its premise: fall, fall and fall to the next level, with the only help of being able to go left, right, jump and shoot during the jump. But you don’t need more; the rules are built based on these movements and the combination of colors. At Downwell, color is important. Every time you land on a white platform or an enemy with its white top, there will be no danger; you will recharge and kill him. But attack any danger in the wrong direction and you will lose a life.
Downwell: Gameplay Trailer
Things get complicated at dangerously fast levels, like any roguelike worth its salt, and the progression of our character, capable of firing all kinds of artillery through his boots, will intensify as we find new weapons, overcome a level or let’s visit the store. Never mind, Downwell is so excruciatingly difficult that few will ever make it through even world 3.
The shooting sensation is perfect, with force and creating a halo of destruction that can be multiplied with the improvements.
Because here that component of randomness influences that so fashionable has been imposed with the procedural generation of each level. If we discussed the reminiscences of vertical shmups before, this is where Downwell takes a completely different path. We forget about the patterns, the step-by-step learning of the level and the exact position of the enemies. With randomness, the infinite game is created, yes, ideal for short games, but very difficult to master. For this, the key is rhythm. Whether you decide to clear each portion of the level to try to control the situation, or if you prefer to create a gigantic combo in direct fall, Downwell responds to the controls perfectly.
Downwell is an arcade that transports you to another era to offer you the purest and fastest funWe can only shoot while in the air, and if we waste all the ammo before we put our feet on the ground, we will be sold.
You do not need more than these three colors: red, black and white (although you can change palettes as you progress), but it is possible that your addiction will fade after the first days due to that component of randomness that you cannot reach. to control, especially in the most advanced worlds. You will gain experience with practice, you will learn to save bullets in long falls and to handle each situation according to the available improvements (also random), but you cannot predict one hundred percent when you will fall directly on an enemy that you do not see, while some hit boxes from some enemies can make you doubt who hit whom first.
But still, of all the great independent games that have arrived in recent times, Downwell is the arcade that transports you to another era and that offers you the purest and fastest fun of all.
In the end, it all depends on how much you will be able to be attracted by its increasing difficulty and constant challenge, but even if you don’t get to be as involved, you will always have a game to hang out better than Candy Crush. The hours that await us falling into the void with Downwell!
“Excellent”
Downwell
Downwell is one of those great little gems where everything works like clockwork, with simple to assimilate mechanics that engage and entertain from the first minute. It comes from another era, one where you didn’t need more than a handful of well-balanced colors and challenging programming and fast and efficient arcade fun. A great header game to throw a few fleeting games at any time.
- Fast and addictive – great for short games
- The weapons are very varied and they all work perfectly
- The music could further emphasize the frenzy of the games
- Some random situations impossible to predict and avoid
