Game: Meteorite
Developer: bauxite
Platform: PC/Mac/Linux
Download Link: https://bauxite.itch.io/meteorite
Metroidvanias are not uncommon in the world of indie games. Itch.io has a myriad of metroidvania demos and concepts on the platform it can sometimes make your head spin. But what happens when you try to make a 3D metroidvania? Well, you essentially get Metroid Prime. You also get a microgame such as Meteorite, which takes heavy inspiration from the Metroid Prime games. While I myself haven't played much of the aforementioned series, I am familiar with the mechanics: Exploring a futuristic, maze-like setting, picking up powerups along the way. Considering that's the criteria for the Metroid Prime series, in a nutshell, Meteorite certainly gets that down.
Meteorite has you exploring a mysterious facility on a distant planet, collecting powerups and navigating the labyrinth-like setting and defeating the boss at the end. An entry of Low Rez Jam 2018, the game is given a 64x64 resolution to give itself a low resolution, as the name implies. With the limitations set upon itself, visually, the game looks pretty great. I do believe it captures the feel of a Metroid Prime-like game, as far as exploration and graphics are concerned. The feeling of isolation, the alien-like setting on a faraway planet, the futuristic weaponry, the upgrades geared toward exploration, it's all here. Meteorite doesn't hide the fact that it wears its influences on its sleeve. Not like that's really a bad thing, all things considered.
Meteorite's main go is exploration, considering it is a metroidvania game (and a 3D one at that). Despite this, however, Meteorite's a fairly straightforward adventure, granted it is a microgame and all. If anything, the exploration of the facility feels akin to a dungeon in a Legend of Zelda game, where you find items to progress, just lacking in the puzzles and enemies (for the most part). Despite there lacking enemy variety, since your only enemy, not counting the boss, are turrets, combat isn't the main focus of the game. Unfortunately, even though combat isn't the main focus, it is hampered by the small resolution, which can't exactly fault too much, considering it was made for Low Rez Jam 2018. The resolution also impacts, exploration as well, unfortunately. It can be difficult to see where you're going at times because of the low resolution, where everything starts to blend into each other from a distance. It's like a nearsighted person wandering around without glasses.
Despite the resolution being a bit of an Achilles heel, I'm still impressed with what was accomplished for such a small game. Meteorite was still a fun experience despite its shortcomings. Looking at bauxite's resume, they have plenty of experience with the Godot engine, which the game was made with. For his first foray into this type of game, I was still overall impressed. I wish him great success and perhaps a sequel where the concept is expanded upon. Give this game a download and experience it for yourself.
Meteorite has you exploring a mysterious facility on a distant planet, collecting powerups and navigating the labyrinth-like setting and defeating the boss at the end. An entry of Low Rez Jam 2018, the game is given a 64x64 resolution to give itself a low resolution, as the name implies. With the limitations set upon itself, visually, the game looks pretty great. I do believe it captures the feel of a Metroid Prime-like game, as far as exploration and graphics are concerned. The feeling of isolation, the alien-like setting on a faraway planet, the futuristic weaponry, the upgrades geared toward exploration, it's all here. Meteorite doesn't hide the fact that it wears its influences on its sleeve. Not like that's really a bad thing, all things considered.
Meteorite's main go is exploration, considering it is a metroidvania game (and a 3D one at that). Despite this, however, Meteorite's a fairly straightforward adventure, granted it is a microgame and all. If anything, the exploration of the facility feels akin to a dungeon in a Legend of Zelda game, where you find items to progress, just lacking in the puzzles and enemies (for the most part). Despite there lacking enemy variety, since your only enemy, not counting the boss, are turrets, combat isn't the main focus of the game. Unfortunately, even though combat isn't the main focus, it is hampered by the small resolution, which can't exactly fault too much, considering it was made for Low Rez Jam 2018. The resolution also impacts, exploration as well, unfortunately. It can be difficult to see where you're going at times because of the low resolution, where everything starts to blend into each other from a distance. It's like a nearsighted person wandering around without glasses.
Despite the resolution being a bit of an Achilles heel, I'm still impressed with what was accomplished for such a small game. Meteorite was still a fun experience despite its shortcomings. Looking at bauxite's resume, they have plenty of experience with the Godot engine, which the game was made with. For his first foray into this type of game, I was still overall impressed. I wish him great success and perhaps a sequel where the concept is expanded upon. Give this game a download and experience it for yourself.
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