Fans of
platformers will get a real enjoyment at this title developed by Fat Panda
Studios. Flat Kingdom meshes classic platforming elements with an art style
that is very reminiscent to the Paper Mario style.
The game
has the classic “Save the World” plot as you race across various locales to
stop the evil Hex from obtaining all the crystals. Failure to do so will result
in chaos reigning across Flat Kingdom. As Flat, you have the ability to change
into three shapes. Each shape has a distinct characteristic, which is used to
defeat certain enemies and solve puzzles.
The shapes
include a circle, square and triangle. Some of the abilities include slow
movement, able to swim in the water with ease, and dashing through at a fast
pace. As you progress through the game, you unlock abilities that involve
interchanging between shapes. One of these moves involve running as a Triangle
then switching to Square hurls you several feet ahead. Perfect for smashing through
rocky barriers.
Described
as “Metroidvania”, Flat Kingdom also has side quests within the game. These
involve running into townsfolk who need a certain item, though you might not
see it until the next world. This involves backtracking and can unlock parts of
the level that you couldn’t access before. The music in the game is also a
delight, having been composed by one of the composers of the original Mega Man.
The game
recommends you playing with a game controller (in my case, the PS4) and it does
make the game much more easier to control. Registering the face buttons as the
transform options. Combat against enemies and bosses is done through a
rock-paper-scissors format as one shape always wins/loses against another.
You’re able to see what shape the enemy represents via a symbol above them.
The only
issues I had were slow frame-rates and that some bosses were vastly unfair
compared to others. To avoid the first issue, make sure that the game is the
only thing running on your computer while playing.
Flat Kingdom
is a very enjoyable adventure that has some replay value in order to achieve a
full completion rate. With cute music, level design and an engaging art style,
players can definitely have some fun with it!
Should you Play this Game?
Yes! Flat Kingdom is an enjoyable platformer with lots to offer, from level design to art style. It's got some replay value for those who want to go for that full completion run!
