Creating an entertaining 2D action-platformer game doesn’t always require an intriguing storyline, but rather interesting gameplay. That didn’t stop the development team The Shady Gentlemen to make an interesting, dark story to go with some solid gameplay. Teaming up with Top Hat Studios to get Steamdolls on Steam and release a free demo for players to try, I had to see what David Hayter got himself mixed up with and I definitely was not disappointed.
Gameplay
As many Metroidvania titles, the first things to figure out are your different ways to attack and how the platforming works. For this game, your main attack is a melee dual-blades weapon, but with a build-up of blue energy, you can also use a throwing attack that will send a dart at the enemy or trap. Along with that, you have your sneak attack, which can only be done by using a stealth mode that depletes your blue energy bar slowly while in use and is best used just before you jump behind an enemy to initiate the stealth kill. Stealth kills instantly restore your health back to full, but at the price of a large chunk of your energy bar.
Movement is pretty fluid, even in this early build, giving you the typical left, right, jump, and drop options to get through the map. Dropping down can only be done on thin floors, but they are pretty obviously indicated. Sometimes you will have to find a trigger to open the pathway you need, so you are definitely encouraged to explore the map. Other than these typical functions, they also include a dash option for players to utilize. This comes in handy when it comes to traps or quick getaways, but since the dash isn’t infinite be sure to consider when its the right time to use it.
Hitting triggers is done by simply swinging your attack weapon at them rather than having an interact button. Some games like to take this option, but I personally prefer them to be different buttons unless the trigger or interaction is something like cutting a rope or destroying a panel.
There are traps and robotic enemies to look out for. As far as robotic enemies are concerned, you can’t do a stealth kill on them and it is best to keep your distance from them as they typically explode, so keep some of your energy bar filled in order to throw a dart at them. Traps can either be avoided, dashed by to trigger and avoid, or destroyed by throwing a dart before you get to it. Sometimes they look like the nodes that hold blue energy pods that refill the energy meter, so be sure to be aware of the colors in your surroundings.
Expectations
We are definitely looking at a game that will feature a lot of search-and-find triggers. I hope this style of gameplay includes various rewards for players that go further than needed in one direction or another where if they didn’t go where they needed to for the story progression, they are still given a power-up or meter increase node for their efforts. This gameplay mechanic can be quite frustrating when you consider much bigger maps with only one or two correct paths and a bunch of punishing incorrect paths.
Showing off a variety of different stealth kills based on the enemy you attacked should mean that we are going to get a large change in enemy weapons and styles. I look forward to seeing a plethora of stealth kill styles and possibly even some epic, secret kill spots when we reach boss battles.
From the start to finish of the demo, the story had little parts in it that were confusing. Hopefully, the game will end up clarifying all of these little details, but I hope there is a twist that isn’t something overused or a letdown. The last thing players need is another game telling them it is all a hallucination or a dream.
Conclusion
SteamDolls is definitely on the right track to being an amazing Metroidvania game! There are some elements that are unique, some challenging areas, and a lot to look forward to just from the demo alone. If you like 2D action-platformer titles, then checking out this game’s free demo is a must. It may have only taken about 15 minutes to complete, but as far as a concept demo goes, this one has me hyped!
