DeVuego

Eden Genesis is quite a fun title which fans of 2D platformers and speedrunning in particular are likely to enjoy. While the plot won’t knock your socks off, it’s a reasonably engaging little sci-fi tale while it lasts. The game is let down by its slow-paced mandatory combat levels, of which there are way too many and which feel at odds with the lightning-fast and flowing platforming which makes up the bulk of the rest of the game. However, with plenty of extra content to experience once you have reached the end credits, those looking for an engaging 2D platforming challenge to test your skill and reflexes will have a good time with Eden Genesis.

 really wanted to like HyperParasite more than I did. The campy 80’s aesthetic and gratuitous cartoony violence is right up my alley. However, even a roguelike needs to have a good sense of progression. Having it be so much of a slog to unlock forms to possess in a game all about possessing enemy forms feels counter-productive to HyperParasite’s main gameplay gimmick.

I still think I would recommend HyperParasite to a fan of roguelikes or twin-stick shooters, especially if you have a friend. With that said, be prepared for an uphill battle to make progress, and get very used to the Downtown level and its first boss. The high level of difficulty skirts the line of being frustrating more often than I would prefer. There are certainly worse roguelike shooters on the market, but HyperParasite still needs some polish.