Overview – developed by Solluco and published by Eastasiasoft, Ratyrinth is a minimalistic side-scrolling platformer that uses a monochromatic pixel art style. As a small rodent that has been separated from his family, go on an adventure through 80 stages filled with deadly, but cute enemies. This title is available on all console platforms, with a link to each version of the game at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Eastasiasoft for providing the copy of Ratyrinth that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. There is little in terms of plot for this release, so I will be going straight into covering the gameplay.
Gameplay – Ratyrith is a side scrolling platformer, utilizing a precision style of play. Over the course of 80 stages, the goal for each stage is to reach the end goal, avoiding enemies and hazards along the way. When the player reaches set points in the adventure, there will be transitions that give a little story to the game. To make it through each stage, the player can run, jump, climb and swim through the labyrinthine layouts.
During the early stages, the challenge will be simple, with spikes and some enemies to avoid to ease the player into the game. However, the further the player gets into adventure, new mechanics will be introduced to increase the challenge. These start relatively simple, with wall jumping and swimming, but become more challenging when trying to juggle climbing, avoiding enemies and falling hazards all at the same time.
There is a moderate escalation of complexity with the stages, offering an approachable and accessible precision platforming experience. During the adventure to reunite the little rat with his family, there will be tense chase sequences where the player is chased by a large enemy. These are more challenging than the other stages, as there is increased pressure on the player. But death during a stage isn’t as punishing as it may seem.
The little rat is rather fragile, as he will die from any contact with enemy attacks and hazards. When this happens, they will be sent back to the start of the stage, with no checkpoints in the stages. If the player gets stuck or they want to retry, they can press the reset button. Players can also quickly return to any stage previously cleared, replaying previously cleared stages to clear them faster. Sadly there isn’t an option to enable a timer for speedrunning.
Last to cover are the hidden stage elements. In some of the stages, the player will be able to find special items that provide new color palette. These hidden palettes give the black and white monochrome style a little color. There is also a little ghost looking guy, hidden in some areas of the game. When this guy appears, they will pop in and then disappear in a silly way. These little appearances are an extra little easter egge for players to find.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to cover the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – the control method for this release has an old-school feel to it, with only two inputs needed for jumping and resetting the stage. There is a satisfying snappy response to movement, platforming and underwater movement. This gives the game a fun retro feel to the game, complimenting the visuals on show. It is recommended to play this game using a controller with a comfortable D-Pad, as it gives greater precision with platforming.
Difficulty – there is a moderate difficulty curve in Ratyrinth, offering players a beatable precision platforming adventure. The quick retry and relatively short stage lengths, make death less of a setback than in other games of the genre. Some of the later stages can be a little hit and miss, due to multiple hazards being thrown at you that can be frustrating. However, with a little practice and persistence, all of the challenges can be overcome.
Presentation – this title has a very cute retro feel, with a simple pixel art style, reminiscent of games from the days of early PC gaming. The animations are fluid, with the bold cutesy sprites standing out against the black background. The unlockable color palettes are a nice touch, with soft grey, pastel orange and watercolour blue to obtain. The sound for this adventure brings the experience together well, with chiptune music and effects that feel right.
Final Thoughts – this is a nice retro style platformer, with an experience that tries to capture the spirit of old-school PC games, which it succeeds at quite well. The general gameplay experience is pretty fun, offering an enjoyable platformer that everyone can enjoy. It feels nice in motion, with a cute aesthetic that compliments the action on screen. I had a good time playing this game, even with the more challenging sections of the game.
As a precision platformer, this isn’t of the level of titles like Super Meat Boy or Celeste, but it can have some frustrating sections and moments. This makes Ratyrinth a good introduction to the genre, especially for those looking for a way to dip their toes in, rather than diving into the more hardcore titles. I am more than happy to recommend this game, as it is a good time that is beatable by players of all skill levels, all at an affordable price point.
In the end, I give Ratyrinth a final score of 4/5. This is a fun and cutesy precision platformer, offering players a retro style experience with plenty of content to enjoy. There are some challenging segments, which may be a little frustrating, but can be overcome by all players. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to all versions of the game will be below.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to PlayStation version (HERE)
Link to Xbox version (HERE)
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