This retro platformer is like Super Meat Boy or Celeste if you couldn’t jump

digitaltrends.com:

This story is part of our Summer Gaming Marathon series.

What if jumping in a challenging platformer like Celeste or Super Meat Boy was impossible? That’s the idea at the core of Splodey, a new game from Send It Studios and influencer-owned game publisher Mad Mushroom.

A surprise release at June 4’s OTK Games Expo showcase, Splodey is a platformer where players must throw potion bombs to propel themselves forward rather than jump. Clearly inspired by speedrunning-friendly platformers like Super Meat Boy and Celeste, Splodey changes how just one core mechanic works to craft a unique identity of its own. This next week or so is going to be full of surprise launches and exciting game announcements, but if you can take some time away from those to try a new game, pick up Splodey.

A platformer where players can’t jump

Splodey has the pixel art aesthetic and simple story of a retro game. It’s about the titular character, who struggles to make potions that don’t explode at the Academy of Potion Making, so he decides to take down the entire establishment. From there, players are let free to complete four worlds worth of platforming challenges. Splodey can’t jump, though, so it must use those explosive potions to propel itself forward to the portal at the end of each level.

When I picked Splodey up and entered its first world, it felt familiar, yet distinct. Its level design was typically similar to that of a challenging indie platformer, but I had to rethink how I’d navigate it. In practice, Splodey is a platformer with twin-stick shooter controls. I’d use the right stick to aim where I wanted to throw my potion bomb. Then, I would press down one of the triggers to throw it. When that potion hit a surface, it’d explode and propel me forward at the angle at which I’d oriented myself.

Initially, it does take some trial and error to learn the correct way to orient the right control stick; an accessibility option to show a trajectory line of where players will launch themselves