Arkedo Series - 03 PIXEL! Hot

What initally strikes you about Pixel is how a game trying so hard to look "retro" manages to look so modern and fresh?

It is the kind of visual style that makes you think retro games looked much better than they really did. It is this feel that drips from every pore of Pixel. The platforming gameplay is fast, fluid and a joy control. It makes it so easy to forget that most retro platformers lacked such fine control of your movement.

On the subject of controls you have a jump button and a run button, so far so Mario. With a squeeze of LT however you activate a Magnifying glass with which you can investigate any of the onscreen blocks for hidden extras. It's a great touch and you will soon find yourself replaying stages to check for any bonuses.

To attack you jump on the enemies heads, a platforming staple that words as well here as it did in the Mushroom kingdom. An extra abilty though is a combo meter that after a series of successfull kills allows you to release a MEOW to kill any enemies on its range!

Pixel is an incredibly endearing character for a monochrome pixelated pussy cat and you can't help but fall for his charms. At a time when I felt anything over 80points was too expensive for an Indie Game, Pixel showed me just what i was missing for a measly 240points.

The only thing that is sad about Pixel is that Arkedo haven't continued their series beyond it. I still wait patiently for Arkedo Series Number 4. If Pixel is any example it will be worth the (long) wait.

This game right here is what gives me faith in indie games. Pixel is a side scrolling platformer game with a hint of puzzle solving. In Pixel you play as a cat trying to make his way to Meow City and you have to go through a variety of stages stomping on enemies and solving puzzles. Sometimes you find useless relics which are pretty cool. The Dot matrix pixel art style is pretty nice and the animations are fluid. for fans of platforming games this is a must buy! :D

Lots of blue in this game...an interesting side scroller made pretty much out of pixels. The music is pretty repetitive, however. Not sure that I'd buy this one, but younger kids might like it.

These guys keep putting out great work on XBLIG. Well done platformer with lots of polish and style.