Out now on Nintendo Switch & PC – 1 player – Developed & Published by Consulog
Risky Chronicles is a game that combines several popular genres and masters none. Platforming, driving, shooting… em up, it’s all covered here, but unfortunately there are just too many inconsistencies that make it an extremely frustrating experience. But let’s look at the positives first. There’s a good game in there, somewhere. Some of the platforming sections can be fun. They are quite well designed and when you get into a flow, it’s actually quite engaging, the same with the under water shooting level. The visuals are also pretty neat, although some of the character animations can be a little lacking. Even some of the music is cracking. The platform levels, again, being the better sections, with some toe tapping synthwave keeping the energy up. It’s also clearly inspired by a famous movie with a globe trotting archaeologist, with questionable recent sequels.
The biggest issue this game has, is its hit detection. It’s wildly inconsistent and extremely frustrating, which severely hampers any enjoyment you might get from the game. And it seems the developer knows this as well, due to the amount of extra lives dotted around. Which is all well and good, but if the extremely unfair and inconsistent hit boxes were sorted out to begin with, perhaps there wouldn’t be a need to litter the levels with 1-ups to begin with. Another compensatory addition, is when you get to the end boss of each level, if and when you get the game over screen (again, because of the awful collision detection), there will be a portal at the start of the level when restarting, which will take you directly to the boss, even after exiting and returning to the game, so if you do get your hair off with a particular level but still make it to the end, you don’t have to go through the rigmarole again, should you wish to return.
Unfortunately, the negatives far outweigh the positives with Risky Chronicles. As mentioned, there can be fun found here, but you need to brush off the terrible hit detection and that is a real deal breaker with this game. It can be unfair to the point of it almost being broken. Sometimes you can string a good run together as you progress a level, however more often than not, it’s controller throwingly frustrating.
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