I tend to find platformers and beat-em-up games to be a bit too twitchy for my taste. However, with the right gameplay style or setting it could still be fun to play. While I know little about FictionSphere, it does have the makings of something unique. For starters, it’s essentially two games in one. I’ll get to that in a moment. Anyway, I love the idea of having two playable characters with their own story.
That said, what exactly is FictionSphere about? Apparently it’s the tale about a world that’s been hit by a virulent plague turning ordinary people into monsters. And it’s up to our two heroes to fight them back for the good of humanity. Or something like that. A bit cliche, but for an action game it doesn’t really matter.
So, what was this about two game in one? Well, each playable character has their own play style. Ratio prefers a more traditional platformer action. Paradox likes to beat people up and stuff. Frankly, I’d probably end up playing the latter because I suck at platformers. That, and she’s pretty hot. Anyway, FictionSphere may not be my usual cup of Earl Grey, but I love the concept behind it.
All in all, FictionSphere looks to be a good game in the making. The artwork alone was enough to make me look at it after all. Also, being able to choose your path is a plus. It also adds to the replayability value to get both stories. With stretch goals, you can even play co-op.
Reminds me of Treasure’s old games, like Astro Boy: Omega Factors (they made dedicated brawlers earlier, but Astro Boy combined the platforming and brawling). And it looks like an old Dimps game (like Draglade) or Inti-Creates developed Mega Man X/Zero/ZX/Gunvolt game… which is what makes me not like it actually.
There’s just so many pixel art platformers out there, I can’t get excited for another one. And something about shooting for Game Boy Advance quality, apparently, is even less exciting next to something more ambitious like, say, Heart Forth Alicia or TimeSpinner. Something that at least wants to look like a modern pixel art game, I guess.
It looks good, but its not for me. I’m just… super burnt out when it comes to pixel art these days. Anyone making one nowadays when the visual style is so saturated is a brave, brave developer, imo.
Not trying to attack you but going with what Arc said, if you’re going to criticize the game at least do your homework. Those graphics are not even GBA related at all as a matter of fact if you see their sprites they are much larger than that of Zero/ZX sprites.
“There’s just so many pixel art platformers out there, I can’t get excited for another one.”
” ..even less exciting next to something more ambitious like, say, Heart Forth Alicia or TimeSpinner. Something that at least wants to look like a modern pixel art game”
You pretty much contradicted yourself… Those two pixel art styles are literally overdone and seen in EVERY “indie game” out there i can name a dozen of those similar pixel art styles, Alicia looks like a shantae game for the GBA, not to mention that those pixel art styles are not even modern, they resemble more towards the GBA than FictionSphere lol or even SNES.
32-bit type games are RARELY made in terms of indie games, they all go for the Ugly Vector Art, 8-bit, or 16bit like those 2 games that you mentioned.