A Punchy Platformer or a Steam-Powered Dud?
By their very definition, casual and challenging rarely go together. It’s safe to say that Afil Games think that is a combination that should work in Steampunch though, adding in some basic platforming elements along the way.
Much like other Afil titles, the casual aspect is that which comes to the fore in this basic little game. In fact, nothing but a single wall of spikes two thirds of the way through a playthrough gets anywhere near anything that could be deemed ‘challenging’.
Perhaps you can’t have both then…
Casual and Challenging? Steampunch Aims for Both
Steampunch is a 2D, side-on platformer in which you need to try and help navigate a humble protagonist make their way through a variety of stages. Thirty in all are in place, all pretty short in length, none providing too much of a test in terms of skills required. At least that is the case until Level 21, all as a near-impossible spike wall hits.
As the name of the game suggests, there are some steampunk vibes kicking around with this one, with the main character a basic little sprite, complete with slightly oversized fists. It’s those which they’ll use to bat back any foes and opponents that get in their way, as an end portal-cum-elevator is reached.
The thing is, any such obstacles or battles are far and few between. As a general rule, a stage in Steampunch could be over in thirty seconds flat, with perhaps five or six enemies dispatched along the way. And none of those will ever require any form of tactical nous to take down either; mosey up close, ping a punch and they’ll be forgotten forevermore. Or, of course, you could jump on their head, like EVERY SINGLE PLATFORMER FROM THE LAST FOUR DECADES HAS ALLOWED.
Short Stages and Simple Challenges
In fact, the only guy who puts up any form of different challenge is a little shielded guy who is happy to push you off platforms to your death, unless you decide to ride his head…
Standard platforming is about all this has to offer then, with some – slightly imprecise – wall jumping and a dash making up the entirety of the move arsenal on display. Punching checkpoints is also a viable option for the few times when Steampunch ever threatens to be taxing, but otherwise, it’s all standard fare. If you walked on by those checkpoints without a care in the world, you’d not be left frustrated by the Steampunch experience.
The length of a stage doesn’t help pad things out either. Granted, this is a cheap as chips game from a publisher who revels in providing such gaming experiences, but we’re not sure we’ve ever played a platformer that is so short. We’ve not timed our runs, but would be very surprised if any took more than a minute or two for completion.
Rescuing Mecanimals
What is nice though is the inclusion of some rescuing of Mecanimals. Placed strategically across each level, these little guys are locked away in a cage. Smashing them out of the bars is a simple process, much like the rest of Steampunch, as Afil adds in a slight collectible element to this punchy platformer. Again though, aside from the odd one or two Mecanimal that can feel a little tricky to save, the majority will come about via a single playthrough.
And if you need to go back to mop them up later, the level select screen allows for such a thing. But will you bother going to save those guys? Well, that will all be dependent on your love of achievements and Gamerscore, something that this dishes out in plentiful fashion.
Failing to Deliver a Challenge
Whilst the odd trap may see Steampunch occasionally err on the side of ‘challenging’, this is a platformer that is about as simple as you can get. Slightly imprecise mechanics add to that, but mostly this is a side scrolling platformer that can be completed in less than a hour. And then forgotten about straight after that.
Casual and challenging? Not for this average Afil Games offering.
Your Links
Punch Your Way to Victory in Steampunch on Xbox, PlayStation and PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/punch-your-way-to-victory-in-steampunch-on-xbox-playstation-and-pc/
Purchase Steampunch from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/steampunch/9nn5csqrk182
