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PID
Pid arrives
from developer Might & Delight as something of a surprise - a debut
title that has been relatively unknown and unheard of released
simultaneously on Xbox, Playstation, PC and Mac. Might & Delight pride
themselves on "playful, retro" style and Pid shows it.
My first
impression of the game was very positive. There's a simplistic,
minimalist design that is especially apparent in the menus, but nothing
is missing in actual content. Comprehensive options such as screen
resolution, control configuration, and five languages (english, french,
italian, german, and spanish) make for a well-rounded and professional
setup. Did I mention the game supports joysticks and has a multiplayer
co-op? All of this from a development team only 11 strong.
Pid didn't
stop impressing me there. Upon immersing myself in the actual gameplay,
I found tight controls, gorgeous scenery and skillfully crafted level
design. Platformers these days can be split into a lot of different
groups based on the gameplay alone, and this is part of Pid's retro
style - like classics of the 80s and 90s, Pid isn't particularly hard
outside of boss battles, but encourages mastery. The best such games
make you want to play them again and again to do it faster and more
efficiently. Pid has that kind of appeal, and the ability to check the
online leaderboards at any time fuels it. Pid's music also does a lot
for the game, partnering well with the visuals to complete the
experience.
The main
mechanic of Pid is the use of "beams" which are essentially little
crystals you can toss a few feet ahead of you to create an upward draft
to lift you higher. They aren't just for the floor, though; anywhere
that a beam can stick, it will create an airstream flowing in the
opposite direction. This is the backbone of the game's bread-and-butter
levels. Overall it's an interesting mechanic and works well, giving this
game a solid place in the current genre of platformers that all have
some kind of single-serving gimmick.
I love a good
platformer, and if you do too, I think you'll find a prize in this one.
Pid is an imaginative, well-designed platformer with all of the bells
and whistles for the price of lunch. Back in the heyday of Super Mario
Bros that would be completely unheard of. The future is a beautiful
thing.
- Josh
Waters
Gameplay: 9 -
Tight controls, good level design, and often-challenging difficulty
Graphics: 9 -
Beautiful graphics that favor style over texture, lots of detail.
Sound: 8 -
The soundtrack is excellent.
Value: 8 -
Value-priced, co-op and online leaderboards included.
Overall: 8.5 |
