Swarm, a wickedly devious puzzler from Hothead due out in March, might be one of the surprise hits of the year. It’s essentially a side-scrolling platform game but with the player managing a surprisingly obedient and indefatigable pack of rotund blue creatures, known as Swarmites, rather than a singular springy-footed superhero or some armour-clad knight of olde.
Citing the likes of Nintendo’s Pikmin as clear inspiration is an obvious reference point, but these little critters, with their tireless, amaranthine work ethic sets them more in the mould of Lemmings, albeit much more under your control. Indeed, there’s a certain adroitness about their ability to just adapt to any situation, and it’s all handled with the lightest of control setups.
With a flick of the left stick, your Swarmites will spring into action, smoothly moving around the screen as expected; and yes, a tap of the X button makes them all jump in delightful unison as if they’ve played every other platformer ever created. The trick here, though, are the two triggers, the leftmost one spreading them apart, and the right one used to huddle, like penguins in the cold.
Combinations of which provoke more immediately useful talent, including the ability to sprint, dash and stack, and by the end of the three levels open to us in our preview build we’d mastered more than enough to warrant a return to the first to pick up the items missed through a deficit in our understanding of the slightly peculiar mechanics.
So, with the ability to dash comes crumbling blocks where once stood firm ground, and once you’ve learn to balance Swarmites on top of one another you can reach higher places for goodies, or jump deadly electricity. The pacing shifts nicely from speedy to cerebral, and the omnipresent combo meter topped up with score bubbles neatly keeps your troupe on the move.
The fifty-strong squad doesn’t stay quite as numerous for long – traps, jumps and explosives await the group and are accompanied by a variety of gruesome deaths, although checkpoints and refill sections that boost your pack back up to respectable levels prevent too much frustration.
Swarm, then, shows plenty of potential. If the puzzles continue to be as inventive as our all-too-short time with the game has already shown then gamers are in for a treat – and whilst the whole thing lacks polish that’s only because it’s still months away from release.
Whilst a trio of such areas clearly isn’t enough to cast judgement on a game quite definitely still in development, what we’ve played is great, if not dangerous, fun. Hothead might be on to a winner.
Swarm was previously voted our 71st most anticipated game on 2011.
jonny_bolton
Is this a Blu-Ray or PSN release? Either way it looks good in an old-style Crash Bandicoot kinda way. And if your right about the pacing and the puzzles this could well be a winner.
nofi
PSN / XBLA, I think.
aerobes
I’m sure it’s on PSN.
I’ve had my eye on this for a little while and it looks pretty good so far. A skewed blend of Pikmin and Lemmings sounds great too.
Kovacs
As it’s from the same studio that gave us the wonderful DeathSpank, expect a similar distribution model.
bunimomike
I’ve kept an eye on this from the start. I really do hope it turns out good/great as the whole concept is lovely and I’m really looking forward to snagging it.
TSBonyman
I saw a video of this recently, looks like good, slightly sadistic fun.
DrNate86
As all good fun should be!
rainydays458
This looks like it could be some fun.
4lf13
I think this looks like really good fun.
Bilbo_bobbins
this looks ill / sick / off weather etc.
gazzagb
Kinda looks interesting, but also looks like it would get boring quickly. Hopefully there will be a demo to help me decide.