Helix: Descent N Ascent sounds prefer it must be a mascot platformer starring a jaunty DNA molecule with floating Rayman arms, whose particular energy is making stuff go up and down. Up and down the evolutionary ladder, even! A platform sport in which you’ll evolve and devolve your character at will, to resolve completely different puzzles? Good lord, we’ll make a million {dollars} out of this! Any individual get me the CEO of Halfway.
Alas for my profession prospects, Halfway is not any extra. And Helix will not be a mascot platformer, in all probability to its profit. As revealed by the brand new Steam demo, it’s a gradual and atmospheric puzzler through which you examine a fallen civilisation, whereas chasing your doppelganger. You being a lanky Space-51-looking lad, who acquires paranormal powers and should weave them into options for terrain puzzles of the Strain Plate N Lever selection.
All of it takes place in a monochrome world of scraped and sinuous thorns, pipes and spiral shells, whose touchstones span “Eighties black-and-white indie comics, Nineties manga, and Nineteen Seventies Franco-Belgian comics”. Don’t pressure your entorhinal cortex trying to visualise these entangled references. Take a look at the trailer as a substitute.
That is definitely far too swankypoo for Halfway – immortal creators of Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures, to say nothing of Jackie Chan Stuntmaster – however a few of your powers do in all probability qualify as telekinesis, which signifies that Helix could be talked about in the identical breath as Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy with out beginning a pub brawl (I patronise a really particular type of pub). The primary energy you get helps you to conjure blocks and shove them round. Then you definately get the power to fly a bit explodable drone that resembles your head. There are video games throughout the sport, together with an eerie little tribute to Donkey Kong.
The screenshots could counsel artists doodling at random, however these single display screen rooms be part of up into a bigger maze that has particular mystique, reminding me of Amanita’s creations right here and there. The puzzles aren’t that brain-fizzing to this point, however the Steam page means that issues will escalate. “Play in 25 distinctive methods, leaping between 3 ranges of complexity whilst you discover the barren lands of Helix.” The complete sport is out later this yr.
