Super Squidlit

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1

.

Review:

Super Squidlit is a Platformer released in 2021 for Nintendo Switch and ported to PC in 2022. This game is the direct sequel to Squidlit, and once again puts players in the role of Plip, a squidlit (think… cute land-roving octopus?) now working with the first game’s antagonist Skwit Skwot to investigate a strange object falling from the sky due to the events of the first game.

Where the previous game was designed to imitate the look and sound of a game for the original Game Boy, Super Squidlit aims to reproduce the look and sound of a Game Boy Color game, with full-color 2D pixel art visuals and an improved chiptune soundtrack. And I would argue that the results this time around are far more successful. I say this not only because this game is no longer bound to the pea soup green monochrome color scheme of the first game, though that certainly doesn’t hurt. Rather, much of this improvement is because the upgrade means this game’s characters are no longer indistinguishable against the backgrounds, and scrolling is no longer painfully irritating to the eyes. Well, that the bright use of color is also nice too.

The gameplay is improved here as well, with Plip using a new dash move in addition to the double jump-ink attack move from the first game that gives this game a bit more depth and variety, though it’s still a pretty straightforward experience. The length has been expanded here as well, to about 3-4 hours, undoubtedly a part of the reason this game’s price is $10 when its predecessor was only $1. Although, even with the added length, the game still seems a bit too pricey.

Probably my biggest complaint here goes to another new addition here, with occasional sections of the game where players take the role of Skwit Skwot in a First-Person Shooter Action-RPG using extremely simple faux 3D like the original Wolfenstein 3D. These parts make for a nice diversion, but the controls are awkward, the gameplay a bit too repetitive, and the game doesn’t make it clear what you’re supposed to do about flying enemies.

However, while it’s not without its flaws, Super Squidlit is a huge improvement over its predecessor. While it’s still nothing truly exceptional, this game nevertheless manages to be a charming Platformer, and as long as you’re not put off by its First-Person Shooter sections, you may find it worth a look, though you may want to wait for a sale.

tl;dr – Super Squidlit is a retro-style Platformer where, much like the original Squidlit, players take the role of an adorable octopus creature. This is a huge improvement over the previous game, though the new First-Person Shooter sections are somewhat lacking and the $10 price tag seems a bit high for this game’s 3-4 hour length. Still, if you can get it on sale and look past the not-so-great parts, you may find this an enjoyable old-school take on the genre.

Grade: C+

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