Chainstaff is tough as nails, but I loved its brutal ways. Everything about this unfair adventure reminded me of a bygone era. The pixelated visuals, hard-hitting audio, and B-movie plot were brilliantly dated. However, its retro style and often challenging controls will not appeal to everyone. Accordingly, this is a little niche.
Mommy’s Best Games published and developed this side-scrolling, gruesome, platform title. It is a single-player affair where a minute arsenal of weapons matters not. Instead, it is a telepathic connection to an alien parasite that offers out-of-this-world weaponry. The living alien tool adapts to its surroundings to ensure that you move forward and complete your mission.
Chainstaff tells an odd story.
I’m a lover of an odd story. I don’t care that it’s a bit cheesy or outlandish. All I care about is the flow of the plot, the characters, and the action that unfolds. In this case, Chainstaff ticks many boxes, even if it is reminiscent of an awful B-movie.
You control Sgt. Jesse Varlette. A heroic fighter and the sole survivor of a horrific incident. This brave soldier survived because a parasitic alien has latched onto his brain. This is as grim as it sounds, but this alien turns out to be a fantastic ally. With 10 biomes to explore and a host of bug-like enemies, Jesse must use the alien as a weapon if he wishes to battle the horde and save humanity.
Tough action.
Like many traditional side-scrolling platformers, you’ll experience many familiar tropes. There are obstacles to avoid, secrets to find, and loads of platforms to traverse. However, it is the exploration method that makes Chainstaff stand out from the crowd. The alien weapon acts as both an attack and a defence tool. Alongside this, it can be used to create new pathways when there is no other option.
This multifaceted design was interesting, but it takes some getting used to. When accuracy and often fast thinking are key, you don’t want to have to contemplate what weapon to use. Instead, you just want to move from point A to point B. Talking of moving, as you explore, you’ll encounter an array of fallen soldiers. This offers a disgusting moral dilemma. Do you save each injured person and gain tech boosts, or do you let the alien take over and eat them for temporary gains and more health?
On top of this, your interactions with the soldiers have a direct impact on what ending you’ll witness. Effectively, if you devour everything in sight, you’re likely to witness a darker and more sinister end. Alternatively, if you are a saint, expect to see something lighter and more heroic. Either way, it was interesting trying to find each of the 6 different finales.
Bosses!
The bosses are a cruel highlight of Chainstaff. Their sinister and larger-than-life form takes some getting used to. Not only do they fill your screen in a stomach-churning way, but they also demand an eye for detail, a methodical approach, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
You must identify movement patterns and weak spots if you are to defeat every foe. This isn’t just a battle of life or death, but a test of your patience, skill, and resolve. Each boss encounter pushed me to my limits. The pinpoint accuracy, when matched with the challenging controls, made things much tougher than they needed to be. Consequently, they could be the breaking point for many gamers.
Chainstaff looks fantastic.
I’m a massive fan of retro gaming, and Chainstaff instantly piqued my interest. I love the pixelated and sinister world. Moreover, the retro colour palette and earthy tones were great to look at. The hand-drawn visuals reminded me of the Atari era, and I adore how dark and creepy everything looked.
The soundtrack is phenomenal. The ear-shattering rock music is pure adrenaline through and through. It is aggressive, uncomfortable, and perfect for the horrific sights you will witness. This is matched by loud and often weird sound effects.
Clumsy controls.
I loved many aspects of this game, but the controls were a bit of an annoyance. Things can often be very challenging when the heat is turned up. Consequently, it was too easy to fail when the going got tough. I know many hardcore gamers will tell me to suck it up, but most gamers will find this obnoxiously difficult and possibly off-putting.
It took me around 7 hours to complete my first playthrough. I felt that this was a great return for the price point. This playtime excludes me from finding everything and witnessing every ending. Subsequently, if you wish to complete everything, you’ll need between 20 and 25 hours.
Chainstaff is a fantastic, albeit tough game.
Chainstaff offers a remarkably retro gaming experience. The gameplay is unusual and tough, and the enemies push you just a bit harder. Moreover, it has a bit of a grim aesthetic that is brilliantly retro. Although I didn’t like the controls, I think it is an amazing game, and I recommend buying it here! Can you save humanity and yourself? Work with the alien, master your new weapon, and choose whether to be human or one with the alien.
