Lootbox Lyfe is a hardcore metroidvania platformer with idle game elements and satirical comedy.
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A short precision platformer with Metroidvania elements (exploration and ability gating). It uses some smart and effective design decisions to bolster platforming enjoyment -- mainly found in the locations where you learn abilities.
I really love this aspect of the game more than anything, as games will typically give you a new ability, give you a couple quick example moments where you might use your ability or might cleverly find a way around it and then call it a day and assume you've learned and understood the mechanic well. Lootbox Lyfe strips you of all of your other abilities aside from movement and basic jump when you enter one of these new locations, then asks you to use the one new ability it grants you in order to get through numerous perilous situations via a checkpoint / respawning system.
The checkpoint / respawn system is all over the place, but it really works for that one particular area, as you find yourself running a veritable gauntlet of death to ensure that you're going to use your abilities properly, take advantage of the mechanics as well as possible, AND ONLY THEN will it set you free and let you have fun mixing in the other abilities, so there's no worry that you're going to suddenly forget about an ability you have later.
Beyond that, progression through the game is largely without enemies (just hazards -- some of which can also be used to make progress) and Lootbox Lyfe asks you to simply explore, have fun, and work out where to find the next progression area on your own terms. You could call it relaxing if it wasn't for smashing yourself on spikes numerous times or drowning, or any other myriad ways of death. Still, it doesn't feel like enjoyment is inhibited by respawns, as that "try and try again" mentality actually feels pretty fun overall.
For $4.99 normally, I'd say it's worth a purchase at full price, but it does go on sale for upwards of 50% off, so if you're skeptical of precision platformers enough that five bucks seems risky, just wait for a sale on your appropriate platform (I played it on Steam, unsure if it's available in other formats).
I really love this aspect of the game more than anything, as games will typically give you a new ability, give you a couple quick example moments where you might use your ability or might cleverly find a way around it and then call it a day and assume you've learned and understood the mechanic well. Lootbox Lyfe strips you of all of your other abilities aside from movement and basic jump when you enter one of these new locations, then asks you to use the one new ability it grants you in order to get through numerous perilous situations via a checkpoint / respawning system.
The checkpoint / respawn system is all over the place, but it really works for that one particular area, as you find yourself running a veritable gauntlet of death to ensure that you're going to use your abilities properly, take advantage of the mechanics as well as possible, AND ONLY THEN will it set you free and let you have fun mixing in the other abilities, so there's no worry that you're going to suddenly forget about an ability you have later.
Beyond that, progression through the game is largely without enemies (just hazards -- some of which can also be used to make progress) and Lootbox Lyfe asks you to simply explore, have fun, and work out where to find the next progression area on your own terms. You could call it relaxing if it wasn't for smashing yourself on spikes numerous times or drowning, or any other myriad ways of death. Still, it doesn't feel like enjoyment is inhibited by respawns, as that "try and try again" mentality actually feels pretty fun overall.
For $4.99 normally, I'd say it's worth a purchase at full price, but it does go on sale for upwards of 50% off, so if you're skeptical of precision platformers enough that five bucks seems risky, just wait for a sale on your appropriate platform (I played it on Steam, unsure if it's available in other formats).