The Metriodvannia genre has taken many different forms; ever since games like Metroid and Castlevania came into the limelight, many studios have been looking to make video games similar to the style made popular by the previously mentioned titles. Some of them would go on to be wildey successful, while others sadly get lost in the mix. Today’s review is about a game that is somewhere in between as it is not a forgotten game, but is not particularly well known among gamers. The Drinkbox studio’s game called “Guacamelee” is a Mexican inspired metriodvannia that has all the makings of a classic adventure and provides a challenging trail to keep gamers on their toes.
In the Mexican village of Pueblucho, a humble farmer named Juan goes to see his love interest Lupita, unfortunately Lupita is captured by an evil skeleton named Calaca. Juan tries to fight but ultimately dies leading him to the land of the dead. It is there where Juan is reserected into a Luchdor and gains the power to traverse the land of the living and the land of the dead to save Lupita from Calaca and his minions.
The Story takes much inspiration from mexican traditions and customs and wears all of those aspect on its sleeve. This is the kind of classic storytelling that feels timeless and almost like it could have taken place during any period of time. The characters you encounter will have many quirks which make them decently memorable. The ending of the story will depend on how much you complete the game itself. I had fun with the story’s many little side jokes and fun writing and it made my journey to finish the game all the more enticing.
The Gameplay is the bread and butter of the whole game because that is where the creativity in the mechanics really gets a chance to shine. Like most Metriodvannia’s, the game is a 2D Platformer and the challenge comes from navigating your way through obstacles to reach certain areas. Powers will be granted and learned by finding and destroying statues just like in Metriod and many powers will help you access areas that were previously unattainable. The game is very kind enough to give you multiple save states. At the same time, the levels will test your brain to use the right moves and combos to defeat large and small enemies as well as platforming in a way that will constantly challenge your brain in to figuring out what move is best to reach the next area. I died hundreds of times trying to get across certain areas, but that was okay because I never felt like the gameplay was unfair. One of the powerups the gameplay offers that’s quite unique is the ability to switch between the land of the living and the land of the dead by just a press of a button. Platforming with this feature requires patience and good timing but is very satisfying once you’ve mastered how to do it right. It’s also useful for finding hidden areas or defeating badies that are on the dead world as opposed to the living. Its gameplay mechanics like this that make this game stand out from others. Even three more players can join in the fun if your feel like your stuck on a certain level or just want some company. The gameplay is quite outstanding overall and will deliver a good amount to challenge to those who are looking for one.
The Graphics are splendid to look at and just like the story, the mexican themes and customs are present throughout the look and feel of how the game presents itself. Every inch of the visuals is drenching in mexican colors and decorations and the overall design of the characters and the backgrounds feels straight out of a great looking cartoon. The skeleton and albrie enemies look very cool and the level design is so beautiful yet effective for challenging platforming at the same time. Every place you visit has a unique color plattle to make sure the player does not get bored looking at the same area over and over again. These graphic are a true work of art and help to emphise the Mexican themes to great effect for a unique experience.
The Music may not be iconic, but the tunes are so fun for the ears and deliver the Mexican flair just like the story and visuals. Mariachi music fills the audio and helps to sell the theming of the game to great effect. Even on challenging levels, its always nice to hear the wonderful soundtrack to lift your spirits up high and keep you going when things get rough.
“Guacamelee” in my eyes is an instant gaming classic. It takes the tried and true Metriodvannia formula and gives its own identity thanks to its mexican theming and its expertly crafted gameplay that will keep you playing until the very end. Sure the mini battles can become a little repetitive, but the creative platforming more than makes up for it. If your a fan of Metriodvannia’s this is a game that should not be glanced over. Knowing that this game would get a sequel in the future shows how much love this game has gotten over the years. It's a game worthy of being in the ranks of similar games that has everything you could want out of a great Metriodvannia and even a little more.
(Final Grade: A-)