Platformers as a genre may have peaked generations ago , but every now and then , they still manage to storm even us , old - school gamers , with fresh concepts and estimation . If you break down their centre gameplay , there were n’t many groundbreaking mechanics , but the figure , air , and overall vibration were off the chart - plus , a few creepy surprises did n’t injure . So , is Bionic Bay any different ?
Bionic Bay Review - A Beautiful Sprint Through Darkness
It ’s vindicated that Limbo and Inside inspire thedevelopers at Psychoflow Studiosfor their new moody platformer , Bionic Bay . And now that we ’ve seen a few of these , mayhap it ’s time to give this subgenre a name — something like " creepy high - direct contrast platformers with no open narrative ? "
Bionic Bay set up an ultra - minimalist tone from the get - go , drop you straight into the action without a single line of negotiation or a tutorial . You ’ll charm a brief glimpse of a disaster unfolding - possibly involving scientists study some strange object — and then you ’re right away hold into a strange alien world where the eerie platforming start .
There ’s no schoolbook , no exposition , just pure gameplay , which brings back that key retro tactile sensation of being taught how to work a game solely through its figure . Still , a light form of tutorial does issue by and by on : a ghostly edition of your character demonstrates new moves , button prompts are clear commemorate , and some textbook - based lore drop down in out of nowhere subsequently in the game — reminding us that , yes , this is still a 2025 indie deed of conveyance .
The main reference , presumably a scientist ( that is n’t Gordon Freeman ) , ab initio moves so sluggishly that you might remember you ’ll be bind dragging yourself like a zombie for the entire game . But that ’s just the biz mess with you . Almost instantly , you gain a great power that drastically boosts your lightness , and from there , the action only ramps up .
Imagine Limbo , but the kid is a Shaolin warrior — leaping richly , rolling through the air , almost flying with each launched jump . With ledge grabs , trap escape , and level blueprint that will spark nostalgia for players with decennium of experience , Bionic Bay evokes classics likeFlashbackandOddworld .
But the add stop number and agility add a refreshed , almost speedrunner - friendly property from the offset . As you progress through the clearly segmented linear floor , you ’ll unlock more powers , like teleportation and time - freeze . These exponent are fun , sure , but they ’re far from original . It feels like a “ gravid hits ” appeal of indie platformer mechanics — none of them particularly new , but enjoyable even so when combined with the plot ’s moody tone and faster pace . It ’s fun but not revolutionary .
Sometimes, it gets really dark…
Bionic Bay is Pretty, Creepy, Quick, and Kinda Confusing
The strong facial expression of Bionic Bay is doubtless its visual introduction . In an era where AI - get artwork is becoming the average , it ’s refreshing to see helping hand - drawn backgrounds that understandably took time and elbow grease . That allege , despite the impressive environs , the game does n’t seem entirely sure of what it require to be visually .
The mechanical , abandoned scope are excellent , but the friend is a tiny pixel - artistic production fig with extremely simple animations , almost remindful of old - schoolhouse Adobe Flash games . His ragdoll - like motion feels cheap and clashes gratingly with the beautifully crafted backgrounds .
There ’s no doubt this biz was contrive with the Steam Deck in judgment — or perhaps even the Switch , should it ever get a port - but the character is so modest and often poorly light that playing on a larger monitor or TV is a good option . A co-worker who play the PC demonstration mentioned occasional performance singultus , but I did n’t encounter any technical issue during my PlayStation 5 playthrough .
OMG! It’s full of stars!
You ’ll die - a lot - but the innumerous life history , near - split second burden times , and well - placed checkpoint assist deoxidize the frustration . That said , thwarting is still part of the package , especially in the second half of the game . gratefully , the game cover volatile topsy-turvyness well , animating every mine - triggered blow smoothly without set down underframe , which is crucial for a claim built around tight - pace trial - and - error gameplay .
Final Verdict: Above-average indie platformer
At the end of the day , gameplay and fun are what matter most , and Bionic Bay delivers on that front with a demanding single - participant campaign and a highly challenging online speedrun fashion where you could race against other players ’ trace — and even customize your pixel - prowess scientist . Where it stumbles , though , is in the area that trips up many indie game : Libra and tempo . Some thought feel underdeveloped , while certain degree outstay their welcome and would ’ve do good from tighter redaction .
The game ’s vibe , while occasionally smart as a whip when the visuals and music align perfectly , can also feel completely directionless , like the awkward decision to throw in basic textual lore every five or six levels .
Sometimes , less really is more . Had the developers embraced that philosophy , Bionic Bay could ’ve been something truly special . As it stands , it ’s a slightlyabove - average indie platformerthat might be more fun to watch out someone else take on than to play yourself .
For moregame review , retard out theAI Limit Reviewand theBLEACH Rebirth of Souls Reviewon Pro Game Guides .
