Gunpoint
Review
Exceeds expectations
by Preston Dozsa
reviewed on PC
Gadgets and abilities
But it’s not just the Crosslink that Conway has at his disposable. With the half dozen or so abilities and gadgets that you acquire over the course of the game (all of which are optional, and you can pick and choose which ones you use more), perhaps none is more fun and ridiculous than your pair of Hyperfrog Trousers. Yes it has a very silly name, but it allows you to jump a good three stories into the air and scale buildings with ease. It plays a big role in nearly every level, and it’s a fun tool that helps give some personality as you play. Because falling 100 feet and hitting the ground remains hilarious each and every time.
Humour
Alongside the Crosslink, the most memorable facet of the game is its absurd sense of humour. In your conversations with others, Conway frequently references pop culture and remarks on the general stupidity and confusing nature of the situation he finds himself in. And honestly, he’s a bit of an idiot when it comes to the job at hand, because he never pays attention to what is happening at the current moment and refuses to take any responsibility for his own actions. As Conway remarks in one of the latter missions “Honestly, I haven’t been paying attention to the narrative at all since Mission 2.”
The game is also filled with little things that just make the whole experience feel special. The save system is possibly the best I’ve ever seen, because upon death, you have several options that rewind your progress several seconds back in time almost instantly. The way the pixel art moves and washes across each level is so simple yet so delightful at the same time. The noir inspired soundtrack is beautiful to the ears, not to mention how easily it transitions into techno when you enter Crosslink mode.
There is also the level editor which allows players to create their own challenges. There’s no easy way to share levels with others yet, but a quick search on the Internet will direct you to plenty of places where fans have begun to gather levels and share them with each other. The mere inclusion of a level editor reminds me of a time where games often came with one, and I am extremely grateful that one has been included to lengthen Gunpoint’s lifespan.
Play!
Of course the game is not without its slight faults. I finished the game in two hours, which may be short for some but which I found to be perfect in its length. And the narrative is pretty complex, so much so that I forgot who was who and what was going on during the final missions. But these are minor complaints, and I can say that they are very easy to overlook as you immerse yourself within Gunpoint.
Gunpoint is fun, innovative, simple, engaging and a whole host of adjectives that would take far too much time to write out. So I will say this instead: Play this game because you won’t regret it.
9.5
fun score
Pros
Great humour, engaging and fun gameplay, all the little things.
Cons
A bit short, sometimes confusing.
