Brendan Jacques
Connector Staff
As weird as it may initially sound, it’s actually been a surprisingly long time since I’ve played a game solely for fun. As a gamer, I usually lean towards games that give me a sense of gratification at defeating its challenges, and as a result, most of the games I end up playing are more gratifying to complete then they are fun to play. I don’t consider this a bad thing since it’s my choice to play those types of games and I enjoy doing it, but it’s rare for me to find a game that is not only rewarding to complete, but also incredibly fun to play on a moment-to-moment basis. So I am incredibly happy to report that Drinkbox Studios’ most recent release, “Guacamelee!” fulfills that promise and then some, easily being one of the most energetic and fun games I’ve played in a while.
“Guacamelee!” is a 2D action-platformer that takes place in a small village in the heart of Mexico. The story follows Juan, a lowly agave farmer who is killed in an attempt to rescue El Presidente’s daughter from the evil Carlos Calaca, an undead bandito who plans to sacrifice her in a ritual that will grant him control over the lands of the living and the dead. However, upon arriving in the land of the dead, Juan is granted the power of an ancient luchador mask and is granted the ability to travel to the land of the living to save his beloved and stop Calaca’s plan before it’s too late. The plot is about as basic as you can get, essentially boiling down to Super Mario Bros: The Mexican Years, but it’s held up by well-written and witty character dialogue that actively plays around with and makes fun of video game conventions, while often playing homage to the games that inspired it. While I do feel like the Easter eggs and references littered throughout the game are a little too plentiful (probably three or four in every area, including the final level), the plot is enjoyable regardless.
The old-school sensibilities of “Guacamelee!” don’t just end with the references, however. The gameplay is very much in keeping with the classic “Metroid-vania” style, complete with a vast overworld to explore, platforming challenges that put mind over matter and plenty of enemies to test your mettle against. Where the game differentiates itself is in its consistently inventive combat system, which equips Juan with all the abilities you’d expect from a powerful luchador. Punches, kicks and combo attacks give way into powerful throws and super attacks capable of dealing massive damage to multiple enemies at a time, and the addition of a dodge mechanic give fights a level of finesse and style not normally seen in these types of games. Further increasing the complexity is Juan’s ability to swap between the lands of the living and the dead, leading to fights with enemies that can only be hurt on one plane or the other, and platforming challenges that involve constantly swapping sides in order to land on spiritual platforms.
When it comes to presentation, the game is something to behold for both the eyes and the ears. Every environment of the game pops thanks to vibrant art direction and excellent use of color while the soundtrack succeeds in keeping up a consistently energetic tone throughout the game’s runtime. Unfortunately, if there is one thing that holds “Guacamelee!” back is its runtime. I was able to complete the game in a little over four hours, and while completionists can extend that time by exploring the world map for secrets and replaying the game on harder difficulties, the short initial runtime for a $15 game may be a turnoff for some. Personally, the length doesn’t bother me too much considering I enjoyed almost every minute of those four hours, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing “Guacamelee!” Every facet of the game, from the beautiful presentation and witty character dialogue to the rewarding platforming and inventive combat system positively burst with creative energy in a way most modern games can only hope to match. While it doesn’t bring anything to its gameplay that hasn’t been done somewhere else before, it still manages to pull off every idea it attempts remarkably well. Even with an admittedly short runtime, the game makes every moment count, constantly redefining itself so that the experience never gets stale. But what’s most refreshing about “Guacamelee!” is that, unlike most games out on the market today, its only goal is to be about as fun as possible, and I couldn’t be happier with that. “Guacamelee!” is available for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 for $15, as well as the Xbox One and PS4 for $20.
