A Dreamy Platformer with a Gravity Twist
Here we go again folks. If you’re short on cash and need a quick platforming fix, there are quite frankly an overwhelming amount of options for you to consider on the Xbox. They are cheap (£4.19 to be exact), offer easy peasy Gamerscore and usually fall into the same familiar blueprint.
So, will Fall Asleep follow suit?
Falling into a Dream
You play as Marsi, a young lass who has fallen into a deep slumber after getting bonked on the head by a falling star. To wake, she must collect the shards which have scattered across the world, landing in five very different environments. I mean, it’s surely happened to us all at some point.
Jumping and Shifting
Fall Asleep is your classic side scrolling platformer in which you jump, dodge and slash your way back to the real world as you journey through Enchanted Forest, Volcano Depth, Sandy Island, Snowy peaks and Darkest dungeon. You are welcomed to each with a neat little ditty which, to my delight, I found unexpectedly catchy.
Marsi learns a basic melee attack early on, but timing is a little tricky as it takes her a second to swing her axe. A mechanic prevalent throughout Fall Asleep is the switching of gravity. Passing through arrows will flip gravity requiring you to travel across the ceiling, but this path is no less fraught with danger than at ground level. Carefully timed jumps will avoid pits filled with spikes, patrolling enemies and deadly bottomless pits.
Worlds of Wonder and Weaponry
Each level not only looks distinctly different from the last, but also introduces new enemies and hazards for Marsi to deal with. She also earns new abilities as she collects certain star shards. Although it’s not the most radical change to the gameplay, it is one of the better examples I’ve seen with these types of platformers in trying to add variety and mix up the experience for the player.
Marsi will learn how to double jump and shoot fireballs which come in very handy as she comes up against enemies with ranged attacks. There’s a certain little devil which will blow you back (usually on to deadly spikes) whenever you approach, so dispatching them is a must. Another neat little trick she has up her sleeve is the ability to essentially bat projectiles back at the enemy with her axe, taking them down that way.
A Fleeting Fantasy
If you’re lucky, Fall Asleep will last you a solid hour or so. It’s short, but opts for five levels across different worlds rather than 60 plus stages that last seconds at a time, which makes for a much more satisfying structure. Marsi has a health bar of sorts, but checkpoints are very regular so there’s little jeopardy. On balance each location gets gradually more challenging, with a handful of segments which can prove to be tricky.
What isn’t tricky, however, is getting your hands on that sweet, sweet Gamerscore. There’s 1000G up for grabs in Fall Asleep, and it is dished out in generous 100G handfuls. You essentially get 200G for completing some levels, although it is split 50/50 between doing so and acquiring your new ability (which basically happens at the same time anyway).
A Decent but Brief Platforming Dream
Despite having played countless of these games, Fall Asleep is actually one of the better attempts. This is due to each level feeling materially different (not just getting a quick paint job), and a departure from the incredibly short levels which are usually accessible from a stage select screen. Sadly, it still feels as brief as many of its peers, but somehow more substantial whilst it lasts.
Fall Asleep may be a fleeting fantasy, but as platformers go it’s an enjoyable way to kill an hour or so, even if there’s nothing here you won’t have seen many times before.
Important Links
Can You Survive Marsi’s Dream? Fall Asleep Launches on Xbox – https://www.thexboxhub.com/can-you-survive-marsis-dream-fall-asleep-launches-on-xbox/
Buy Fall Asleep, Optimised for Series X|S – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/fall-asleep/9P5D9HB1DDHZ
Get an Xbox One edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/fall-asleep-xbox-one/9NR3MFNSPTXM
Or take home a Bundle – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/fall-asleep-bundle/9NFMQ9Q771V1
