Human beings and war are as inevitable as day turning into night. Two factors usually cause conflict; religion and money. When either or both are involved, people lose their minds and do silly and unforgivable things. Infestor uses conflict at its core and shows that no good comes from war.
Developed by Woblyware Oy and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a classic indie puzzle platform title. You control a green alien-like blob who assumes the role of any human it encounters. Use this special power to navigate the seventy levels, overcoming obstacles and avoiding death en route.
Infestor does its job well and offers some surprises.
Whenever I play a retro platform game, I know I’ll have to solve puzzles, double jump to new heights, and avoid a range of traps. I also expect enemies to block my path and try to kill me. Infestor offers all this at its core, and more! The green blob uses the strength of each human it possesses; shoving crates, becoming agile, carrying a gun, opening locked doors, and using a jet pack.
Each of these independent skills is great, but you must work out which human to use first to progress. This is where the puzzle element shines. Study the layout, pick the correct victim, and set about trying to complete the level.
So, where did the green blob come from? The two human factions on colony 31-5B share resources, and this created tensions. A war broke out and one side created a biological weapon. The green blob results from this land squabble and sadly every human he touches dies!
The story is absurd, but it’s as simple as the gameplay.
When a game coins its style as a puzzle-platformer, you believe there will be an element of difficulty. Infestor does little to challenge you in any way across its seventy levels. The small maps and linear approach give away the solution with no logical thinking required. Yes, there was some trial and error and exploration required, but this hardly tests your resolve.
For me, the joy and difficulty were locked behind the timing and precision aspects. Avoiding giant presses that squash you, or leaping from multiple surfaces. It required patience, a good memory, and a fair amount of accuracy.
If you’re a veteran of the genre or someone who wants a tough platform game, you won’t get that playing Infestor. Instead, you’ll have a gentle experience of killing innocent humans as you make your way through each level.
An old-school game gets an old-school style.
This 2D pixelated retro classic has a simple but clean-cut image. Vivid colours, varied sprites and basic level designs ensure that it’s interesting to look at, yet not overwhelming. Sadly, the levels lacked a unique look. Each stage could have easily been mistaken for another and I was desperate for the developers to mix up the background, but it never materialised.
The audio is equally old-school, thanks to the 80s inspired synth soundtrack that blares out. I loved how the electronic sound with its upbeat tempo accompanied everything you did. A basic 8-bit sound effect library accompanied each action and it was glorious. Shrill noises when you jumped and gutless thuds of your weapons firing, it represents retro gaming in a nutshell.
Its look and sound epitomise arcade gaming, and Infestor wouldn’t look out of place at an amusement arcade. If you have a soft spot for retro gaming, this will tick many boxes and will be right up your street.
Not as responsive as I’d like.
When you play a platform game, you need its controls to be spot on. This is especially true when one of the key mechanics is precision. Sadly, Infestor lacked the responsive element required. It’s serviceable, mostly, but will leave you frustrated when actions aren’t acknowledged. This leads to death, failure of levels, and exasperated huffs. It doesn’t prevent you from playing, it simply taints the experience a little.
Like most Ratalaika Games titles, this one is an easy 1000 Gamerscore. Completion takes around an hour, and all the levels are finished in only three hours. Sadly, this impacts the replay value. With no NG+ mode, there is little reason to return. Luckily, the first playthrough is enjoyable enough to make it worth your time.
Infestor has some interesting ideas but its lack of challenge lets it down!
With an absurd story, simple concept, and unique mechanics, Infestor has some interesting ideas. It’s fun, colourful, and will test your approach. Unfortunately, however, it won’t be difficult enough for most and should have incorporated a harder mode.
I enjoyed my time with it and I think it’s fun when played casually. I recommend it, so buy it here! War is a terrible thing, it only brings; blood, sweat, tears, and a green blob.
