Platformers are a tried and true format in gaming since its inception. The challenge is always what special twist you can bring that will differentiate your product from all its predecessors. This is an even greater challenge with such a common genre and plenty of competition. Swedish developer Oxeye Game Studio tries their hand at this genre and has produced a fresh IP called Cobalt.
Cobalt is a robot on a mission to explore and discover life long after the humans have been wiped out. The adventure spans as he goes from remote isolation to exploring the terrain with various creatures — mostly harmful. Your ship is a hub where you can upgrade gear and equip items you have earned. The game has a story mode, arcade option and both competitive and co-op online multiplayer.
Here’s what I liked:
Responsive controls — The controls in this game are mapped out wisely. Your melee, guns and throwable items are all pinned to X, Y and B. Use them once to shift what’s in your hand or hit the same button multiple times to rotate through your assortment of that particular item. A is tucked underneath for jumping. The controls are very responsive, which is always appreciated when the action gets hectic.
Gameplay — The mechanics of the game are very fluid. Slow-motion kicks in every time you roll into enemy fire; all the while you’re hoping you timed it just right to angle the bullets back to the baddies. Even when things get chaotic, the framerate is solid. Oxeye should be commended for the variety of weapons, both projectiles and throwables; it’s not a common feature in many sidescrollers. I enjoyed lobbing a variety of explosives over high walls, timing my shots well and finishing off enemies while they were looking the other way. The enemy’s unpredictable behavior, even after you die and respawn, will keep you on your toes. My only grievance is not having a reliable way of knowing how much health you have left aside from seeing nuts and bolts fall off of you piece by piece.
Here’s what I didn’t like:
Story — There’s a big difference in games with a story not meant to be taken seriously and ones where things just aren’t really explained. A lot of the time I had no idea what the point of a certain area was or what I was trying to achieve aside from the muscle memory in platformers of just making it to the next open area. If I was out of ammo, I’d duck, dodge and do whatever it took to get to the end or at least the next checkpoint. This eventually became tedious, especially in tough areas. The characters, both Cobalt and all the NPCs, are never fleshed out enough for you to actually care what the motive is. The dialogue is bland, and even the creature design leaves you with a resounding, “Meh.”
Wrap-up:
How long you enjoy the action before the ‘mission’ of the game bores you into submission is a real variable. The game’s online modes help to extend the shelf life of the game. But overall, the story is a shallow vehicle for otherwise fun 2D shooter gameplay.
Score: Try it
Cobalt was developed by Oxeye Studios and published by Mojang. It was released on February 2, 2016 for $19.99 on Xbox One and Xbox 360. A copy was provided by Mojang for review purposes.
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