REVIEW | forma.8
Italy-based MixedBag Games lives up to it’s name with a wide variety of interesting gameplay styles and delivers a game that will soothe you one moment then have you clutching your controller in the next with it’s Metroidvania-styled sidescroller forma.8.
While not necessarily packed to the brim with the insane customization that we’ve seen with a lot in the genre in recent years, forma.8 offers plenty with it’s stunning mood-setting sounds and scenery. The premise is simple: you’re a probe on an alien planet on a mission to recover a lost and powerful energy source.
Apparently separated from the other probes, you’re alone in exploring this beautifully haunting world filled with dangers that lurk just around the corner. From little hopping orbs, to bug-spewing flowers, to electrifying jellyfish creatures, there is no shortage of things that pose a threat.
As you begin to explore, you discover very early on that some of your fellow probes have met less fortunate fates but some have left behind useful augmentations that help you traverse the world and uncover the secrets it holds.
The gameplay does not deviate much from what you would expect of a game that touts “Metroidvania” as a source of inspiration. On the PlayStation 4, you control the movement of the probe with the left stick and the face buttons give you access to different abilities as you unlock them. Some of these are offense abilities like a timed bomb or more utilities abilities like the forward dash.
But movement has a small but important detail to it: momentum. You’ll need to take that into consideration as you try to zip about the different areas of the world. After you’ve gained some momentum, it makes it harder to come to a full stop or complete turn. And overshooting can have you smack right into a lava ball or into the jaws of a probe-eating plant.
Exploring the world is a treat because it’s got some really breathtaking sights when you’re on your first round of exploring a lot new areas. The game knows when to pan out the camera to give you some pretty majestic shots and the accompanying ambient sounds add fuel to the fire for these moments. Playing this game with a headset is worthwhile if you’ve got a good pair.
There were moments when it felt a little bit dull though. Because of the way a lot of Metroidvania games work, there is backtracking to certain areas that you might not have been able to progress because you didn’t have a specific ability.
But because of the nature of the world’s design, it becomes easier to notice that you’re traversing the same areas again and again without that same awe when you first stumbled onto that area. Some of them just don’t have the same feeling after walking into it for the nth time. This is particularly true if you find yourself lost between boss fights.
When you’re not lost though, the game keeps you on edge as it adds new bits into the environment which in many cases can probably kill you one way or another. In some cases though, they can provide ways to heal your little-probe-that-could.
There are enough varieties of new enemies introduced in each new area that challenge you to use your limited set of abilities to new and sometimes surprising effects.
All in all, this is a great indie game you should pick up if you’ve got the chance. It’s got plenty to offer with a wonderful world to explore and a great accompanying audio as you traverse it’s depths. The controls are pretty tight and consistent once you manage to get accustomed to how the game handles momentum.
While forma.8 is probably not going to be for those looking for more frequent fast-paced action, the ones who don’t mind a more controlled pace and want a different take on Metroidvania will definitely find a lot of fun around every corner… along with some other mysterious critter waiting to destroy you.
FINAL VERDICT: 7.5/10
**Disclaimer: Review copy was provided by MixedBag Games.
