Since its unique launch in 2013, Teslagrad holds up as an ingenious puzzle platformer that makes use of magnets to create its predicaments. Gradual, methodical, however filled with eureka moments, the indie darling nonetheless maintains a cult following a few years on.
So, after a decade, we now arrive at Teslagrad 2, an attention-grabbing and iterative sequel that builds upon what got here earlier than. This time you play because the younger Teslamancer Lumina, who’s on a mission to get house. She has the flexibility to make use of magnetic vitality to stay to metallic or propel herself away from opposing magnetic forces, whereas she will be able to additionally use electrical energy to zap ahead, generally known as a blink. That’s not all there may be, however that’s all you could know for now.
The story right here is skinny at finest, wordlessly acted round Lumina, as a obscure plot involving Vikings sees her on a mission to get house. This time round although, whereas Teslagrad is about fixing puzzles, Teslagrad 2 is rather more about platforming. Certain, there are nonetheless conundrums in every room you can solely remedy along with your magnetic energy, however every little thing feels extra targeted on motion this time round.
The gameplay in Teslagrad 2 is frantic, with massive puzzles that take up quite a lot of house. There’s additionally an actual feeling of velocity, as you careen round giant loops and slide down slopes, typically utilizing momentum and magnets to achieve new platforms. This title is loosely a Metroidvania, as you revisit older areas as you progress, but it surely feels rather more obscure and expansive than most, as an alternative of revolving round a decent focus.
As you begin, you discover a choice of acquainted puzzles that require you to make use of magnetic energy to stay to surfaces and blink by way of gates or fences to achieve new areas. Often an enemy or a boss struggle will get in the best way, however these are sometimes handled by operating away or throwing a projectile of some kind. Lumina just isn’t typically actively able to attacking.
An early boss struggle involving a moose is an effective instance of this technique working properly, however I typically discover it irritating once I ought to be discovering it satisfying. Enemies swarm round you, and with solely the flexibility to blink – which calls for a brief recharge time – fight looks like you might be simply making an attempt to remain alive. The sport feels a lot better when Lumina has an opportunity to precise some actual revenge on foes.
You don’t want to fret an excessive amount of about bosses or enemies slowing down development although, as virtually the entire gameplay revolves round you utilizing your magnet powers to achieve new areas, avoiding enemies, and utilizing your momentum. If something, it jogs my memory considerably of Ori and the Blind Forest combined with Sonic – and sure, I do imply the Hedgehog.
One of many essential skills you unlock is the ability to slip and use electrical energy to interrupt by way of issues. This, coupled along with your magnet energy, sees Lumina hurtling by way of ranges that fling her round like a pinball. Alongside enormous magnetic worm-like waves, there’s such a powerful give attention to velocity and momentum, it feels very at odds with the thought of a Metroidvania. It’s nonetheless enjoyable when it really works, however I can’t say that I get pleasure from returning to early areas that limit your motion extra.
A extremely enjoyable manner of shifting round entails utilizing ropes and gliding by way of them with electrical energy, very similar to in Tremendous Mario Odyssey. The principle manner of opening up new areas is by firing ropes again into earlier locales, permitting Lumina to rapidly glide alongside them and choose up earlier collectables. Teslagrad 2 feels a lot better whenever you’re having fun with the sooner sense of momentum, and I do love the large ropes that join totally different areas as a manner of traversal.
When it comes to problem, the sport is hard, and whereas there may be an possibility for an off-the-cuff or a traditional mode, there’s no option to change this when you begin. So, should you get caught on a boss struggle later, sadly you’ll be able to’t knock the problem down, which means you’re simply going to have to stay it out. In truth, there are only a few choices, as you’ll be able to solely modify the quantity of the music or sound results, or flip off rumble. I hope future updates can provide gamers extra methods to finetune their expertise.
Talking of music, the audio presentation in Teslagrad 2 is stellar. I really like the evocative and energetic rating, which undoubtedly pulls from the Nordic influences. Additionally, sound results all have a satisfying buzz, zap, or ‘thhhwwwuung’ to them when utilizing the totally different skills. Every thing sounds pleasing and feels nice to work together with.
Visually, issues are attention-grabbing, as Lumina strikes at a sluggish framerate, trying like cease movement in opposition to a way more fluid background. The sport utilises a pleasant illustrative type with clear colors, and I particularly just like the element and depth within the backgrounds. It’s slightly easy, however there’s nothing unsuitable with any of it. Sadly although, the Swap struggles often, as I continuously come throughout stuttering and framerate dips.
With a recreation so targeted on velocity and fast puzzle-solving platforming, it’s irritating to see the efficiency often get in the best way. Mercifully, there may be auto-save, and the sport by no means drops you again too removed from the place you die, but it surely’s annoying all the identical. Whereas the sport is gorgeous to take a look at, it’s nonetheless nothing too taxing. The Swap’s incapability to run it easily is one other indictment of the ageing {hardware}, and I don’t blame studios who know an indie title nonetheless sells finest on the platform.
Altogether, Teslagrad 2 is a enjoyable sequel that looks like a wise step for the franchise. Imbuing the magnet powers with extra velocity, vitality, and a barely looser really feel, there’s a lot much less of a give attention to puzzles this time round. The sport does lose a few of its character within the course of, and, whereas I like Teslagrad 2, there may be little or no I really like. There are some nice concepts and Lumina feels improbable to regulate, I simply want it had a greater thought of what to do along with her powers.
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Teslagrad 2 evaluation
Teslagrad 2 is an iterative sequel that brings some good new concepts to the desk. Its stronger give attention to velocity, momentum, and platforming feels nice, but it surely comes at the price of extra confined puzzles and sometimes feels looser than I’d like. Nonetheless, the motion, presentation, and nice use of Lumina’s powers make this one other strong entry within the collection.
