There I was, a barbarian, riding through the air upon my giant war bumblebee, buzzing onward to defeat the evil gorillas flying around me in spaceships. I was dodging thorny vines, sweeping away the pesky primates with my sword, and quickly nearing the strangely futuristic fortress of the apes. None of this made sense, but I was doing great.

The core of Tiny Barbarian DX’s gameplay can be boiled down to one move: the elbow drop. Hold down and press attack in midair and your minuscule warrior will lay the smack down on his foes. IDigitalTimes.com - 'Tiny Barbarian DX is easily of the most fun throwback titles I've played in the last few years, meshing Sword & Sorcery motifs with the hack-and-slash combat that ruled handheld gaming in the 90's, but I'd be lying If I said Tiny Barbarian DX Episode 2 was exactly the sort of second act that I was hoping for.'

Tiny Barbarian DX Chapter 2: The Ruins of Xanadu is a nod to the early days of platforming adventure games, when only a handful of buttons were needed and where save points were few and far between.

Unlike Tiny Barbarian Chapter 1, which felt much more combat-focused, chapter 2 is all about precision: precision jumping, and grabbing, and dodging. The game even occasionally demands super precise movement, where jumping from just the right pixel is the only way to make a jump at all.

A precision-driven platformer is something that demands patience, but once mastered is very rewarding to successfully execute. Unfortunately, my only real problem with Chapter 2 is a finicky mechanic that directly affects that required precision.

At around the half-way point, Tiny Barbarian chapter 2’s difficulty spikes considerably — and it’s the worst kind of difficulty spike. While the game gradually prepares the player for the increased difficulty, the latter portions of the game felt less responsive. When I’d jump to a rope, hit UP on the D-Pad to grab it, and watch my barbarian fall right past the rope…that’s the game’s fault, not mine. This flaw is made more annoying because actual save points are a rarity. Each scene is it’s own check-point, so dying just sends the player back to the start of that scene. But if I exited the game, I’d return to find myself transported back to a much earlier potion of the level. I couldn’t simply revisit a favorite segment of the game without having to replay half the game to get there.

The thing is, apart from the faulty grabbing mechanics and minimal save points, I really enjoyed the game as a whole…which makes the problems stand out that much more.

The gameplay itself is fluid. Jumping from platform to platform while swatting away dive-bombing eagles and dodging apes (flinging their poo) is a satisfyingly simple feat, as is leaping courageously from vine to vine while surrounded by plants spouting poison gasses.

The second chapter of Tiny Barbarian is even more colorful than the first. For the most part, the levels take place in outdoor environments and the game designers did a great job creating colorful background art that complements all the action happening in the foreground. The music that accompanies each area and boss fight is catchy (it even pays homage to a retro classic during a particularly inspired boss fight) and successfully avoids the grating tunes that occasionally accompany a game that goes for a retro feel.

Speaking of feeling retro, Tiny Barbarian continues to nails it with its controls. With just six buttons to worry about (I highly recommend using a controller) the game feels like a modernized port of an old Game Boy Color game. And I totally dig it.

While the game is a short experience, Tiny Barbarian packs a lot of solid action sequences (check out the trailer for spoilers) into a small game. Keep in mind that this is just the second of four chapters, and once the game is purchased, the other chapters are available for free upon release.

Hopefully with chapter 3, the developers are able to find a happy medium between the combat-heavy chapter one, and the (at times annoyingly) precise demands of chapter two. Until then, I’d say check out Tiny Barbarian if you’re into retro-inspired platformers, and can tolerate the occasionally frustrating ghost ropes.

Reviewed by playing a on October 11, 2017.Retro-inspired 2D action games are a dime a dozen. Does Tiny Barbarian DX have what it takes to stand out in such a crowded genre? Hey, ladies; sorry, we can't stay long.Tiny Barbarian DX begins with you fending off a horde of monsters atop a mountain. Once you inevitably perish, the main menu is displayed and you can't help but feel that this is going to be one enjoyable adventure. As you begin your epic quest, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how simple and responsive the controls are. All you do is run around, jump, and attack. It's basic stuff that could easily be handled on a NES controller.

The platforming and combat is intuitive and enjoyable and when you factor in the old-school visual style and catchy chiptunes, you're left with an overwhelmingly retro experience that's initially quite fun.I say 'initially' because Tiny Barbarian DX features many frustrating moments that'll surely test your patience. Whether it's a tricky platforming section that forces you to string together a succession of perfectly-timed jumps or a boss that you don't quite know how to defeat until you face it a dozen times and eventually figure it out; you'll regularly want to just put your Switch down and do something else with your time. Don't get me wrong; I love a challenge. However, there's a difference between an enjoyable level of difficulty and frustration. Although Tiny Barbarian DX certainly has a lot of the former, it also includes a bit too much of the latter. This giant serpent is no match for me, my amazoness, and my trusty beastOn the plus side, the campaign in Tiny Barbarian DX includes four somewhat lengthy mini-adventures that can be completed in about 45 minutes each if your skills are up to snuff.

When I completed the first of these episodes, I was delighted to see that I wasn't done with the journey yet. Each episode features a decent amount of variety as you'll find yourself battling atop massive moving vehicles, riding beasts (including giant bees), and fighting a distinct array of bosses such as a large snake and a monkey who's very reminiscent of King Kong. Overall, it adds up to one significantly lengthy and memorable adventure.All of that being said, the fact that the campaign is the epitome of linear is very disappointing. You won't find a stage select, world map, or any Metroidvania elements. Instead, you merely work your way through screen after screen of platforming and combat. Once you enter a new screen, you'll continue there if you happen to perish.

This linearity combines with the fact that you'll be playing the same sections over and over again to create a tedious sense of repetition. Sure, it's satisfying once you actually make progress but you'll often find yourself playing the same long stretches repeatedly until your enthusiasm for overcoming the challenge dwindles. Also, the platforming and combat are generally basic and the stage designs don't do enough to mix up the gameplay. Dude, stop hanging around and help her fight those giant bees already!Although the basic gameplay features solid controls, some portions will drive you insane. The first example that comes to mind is controlling the lion-like beasts that you ride. You can never tell which direction your character is facing so sometimes, you want to attack behind you and end up attacking in front.

Trying to run and jump accurately while riding is problematic, too, as you slip around and miss jumps as a result. The giant bees control a lot easier but you'll find yourself constantly falling off due to other giant bees flocking around and that merely results in a chaotic mess as opposed to actually being fun.One of the coolest features of Tiny Barbarian DX is that you can play cooperatively with a friend. Doing so makes the campaign a bit easier if your partner is a capable 2D gamer. That being said, if you or your pal bites the dust then the only way to revive them is by offering half of your remaining health points.

As a result, certain sections may be easier to master solo. In the end, I'm glad that you can play with a friend because it adds a layer of comradery that you don't often get to experience in the 2D action genre. You throw magic at me; I reflect it back at you!Tiny Barbarian DX is a decent take on retro 2D action games. Plus, you can play it with a friend.

However, the frustration factor is high and its linear campaign will make you wish there was more than just traversing from point A to point B.

It offers easy to pick up, but tough to master gameplay. The game provides the player with an opportunity to take his machines on exciting expeditions, where he can race against his friends, or create the craziest contraptions the player can imagine in this massive sandbox environment. Homebrew patent unknown world editor software. Trailmakers includes prominent features such as Take on Challenges, Play in Sandbox, Intuitive Building, Race your Friends, and more. During the gameplay, the player will experience the intuitive building gameplay with modular blocks. While playing the game, the player can experience the breathtaking world and can join other three players in multiplayer mode.