Back in 2009, Twisted Pixel unleashed their frantic platformer ‘Splosion Man on the world. Multiple plaudits and sales later, they’re back with a shinier sequel to further test gamers’ dexterity in the form of Ms ‘Splosion Man.
Like Mr ‘Splosion, Ms ‘Splosion is an escaped science experiment, but unlike her male counterpart rather than being confined to the labs of Big Science, Ms ‘S’s adventure takes her to the outside world. The game’s mechanics are largely the same as the original, meaning Ms ‘S’s chief weapon is surprise and fear, her ruthless efficiency and a fanatical dedication to the Pope. No, it’s her ‘splode’, which for newcomers is, to all intents and purposes, a jump, just given a much more on-point name. Ms ‘S can string up to three splodes together before she runs out of puff and needs a wee rest (basically touching terra firm for a couple of beats will do). Besides propelling her like an excitable long-jumper with shoes filled with rocket fuel, sploding also allows her to bounce off walls, demolish surroundings and wipe out enemies.
These mechanics are complimented by the addition of zip wire-esque, erm, wires and cannons, some of which are user controlled, some of which are not but both of which propel you closer towards a level’s end. Add all these together and you have a range of tools to navigate the game’s many levels. Use them wisely, young warrior.
The sequel also largely follows the styling of its predecessor, with garishly bright level design that makes Times Square look sober and monochrome. Be warned: as with the original game the cutesy facade belies the fiendish devil that lurks under Ms ‘Splosion Man’s skin although this time the difficulty is tougher than Charles Bronson’s week-old steak. This is not a game for the clumsy-thumbed or impatient.
When the gameplay does click, and you string together a seemingly impossible series of jumps and manoeuvres, the feeling of satisfaction is irresistibly moreish. Pumped with confidence upon completing a tricky level, you might swagger into the next thinking you’re le grande fromage only to be presented with an even more testing section that will take all the wind out of your sails, scuttle your ship and leave you helplessly clinging to a piece of driftwood. If this game were a parent and you brought home an A-graded test score, instead of pinning it on the fridge with pride, it would burn it with a gleeful cackle, dance in the ashes in front of your watering eyes and lick salty tears from your rosy cheeks.
To legitimately see the end credits, you’ll need dexterity and Zen-like calm in equal measure. Whilst it’s not a game that can be accused of being unfair, it is a game that’s punishing and inexperienced platform players may quickly find themselves feeling that levels are an insurmountable struggle in between bouts of tears and pained wailing. Such frustrations often aren’t helped by a main character that some might view as an irritation comparable to spending an evening in a dive bar with James Corden and Piers Morgan doing a Bruno Mars medley on karaoke. The pop-culture one-liners that Ms ‘S chirps in her high-pitched squeal every few seconds as she bounds and leaps towards a level’s end point can grate. Thankfully, volume controls exist and never have they been better utilised than when quietening this boomtastic devil-woman, particularly when you’re up against a particularly taxing section and really, really, really (wanna zig-a-zig ha) don’t need to hear another Spice Girls reference for the umpteenth time. Pity poor ‘Splosion Man and his annual ear-plug expenditure. Obviously, this criticism is a minor one, and if you have a tolerance for such relentless wackiness then you can gloss over the last paragraph, maybe even point and laugh at it for being as wrong as asking if Aussie Rules Football is played in New Zealand.
Other, less subjective, irks include frequent loading, but the load screens are at least complete with random bits of trivia about meat and game tips, as well as the sight of a silhouetted Ms ‘Splosion strutting her stuff like a demented Lady Gaga for no apparent reason other than she can. Groovy.
Elsewhere, the game’s humour is more amiable, with a few genuinely amusing cut-scenes and a fantastic end credits sequence that is worth the effort of reaching. It’s a finale that also suggests the possibility of Son of ‘Splosion Man is as likely as this season’s Premier League title being awarded to a club with Manchester in its name.
Besides the extensive single-player there is also an equally-extensive multiplayer mode that allows cooperative level play, and a wealth of unlockables that can be accessed using coins earned from the completion of levels. Judging by the various behind-the-scenes treats on offer, Team Pixel clearly had a lot of fun putting the game together. Veterans of the platform genre will match that enjoyment as they navigate the intricate and creative level design but more casual players will probably find the whole adventure a teeth-grinding struggle. Yes, this game is tricky; has that been mentioned?
Fear not though! Die enough times and a ‘Cheat the Game’ option opens, allowing cack-handed users to skip to the next checkpoint albeit at the expense of their level completion time and score. And cheating makes Ms ‘Splosion’s arse fat. Whammo! The willingness of Team Pixel to say, ‘hey, look, you’re not good enough for that bit of game but even though we’re going to snigger at you behind your back for being so useless later, we do really want you to see as much of our creation as possible, so here’s a helping hand,’ is admirable. Also, despite earlier nit-picking of the game’s audio, taking the cheater’s option makes the funktronic Badonkadonk, a profound and catchy ditty about sizeable derrières, kick-in. Turn the volume back up and dig that rump-shaking rhythm.
Played properly though, Ms ‘Splosion Man is a game for platforming purists. If you enjoyed the original or find titles like Ninja Gaiden a cakewalk, you’ll find just what you’re looking for here, namely a worthy sequel packed to the rafters with content and a more-than-decent test of your skills. As for everyone else, approach with caution: there is fun to be had with Ms ‘Splosion Man, and when the game is good it’s very good, but just when you start to smile and enjoy yourself, things might splode all up in your face.
