There are times when the look and first impressions of a game don’t do it justice. Willy Jetman: Astromonkey’s Revenge is one of those games. Whilst the opening left me feeling very cold. it soon came into its own.
Willy Jetman: Astromonkey’s Revenge is 2D Platformer / Shooter that owes a lot to the likes of Megaman. You play as the titular Willy as he goes about his job. Unaware of how his life is about to change.
There’s some good humour scattered throughout. Ranging from literal toilet humour at the start, to some clever nods and reference to pop culture as the game moves on.
The writing isn’t going to win any awards, but it did enough to hold things together and give a soli reason to progress through the game. It is in the gameplay where Willy Jetman: Astromonkey’s Revenge really shines.
I’m not really sure what I was expecting here. The low key release and the toilet humour opening, left me expecting something that felt like a budget release. Within minutes of taking control, I was presented with a game that had tight controls and actually felt nice to handle.
The game does that thing whereby you’re given all your abilities instantly. Then quickly takes them away. Yet I think this is a clever nod to videogame tropes, something the game does on many occasions.
There is a point early on in the game that has a sly dig at micro-transactions. That had me grinning like a Cheshire cat, as it was so on the nose. Sure it has been done before, but I am happy to see it happen again and again.
As Willy you are tasked with collecting the garbage from a crashed cargo ship. You see Willy isn’t a hero, he is a simple garbageman who has his orders. Willy quickly learns there is more to the company he works for and finds himself needing to become the hero.
As mentioned previously, the controls are very tight and work remarkably well. Allowing you to navigate the world with precision and partake in the various battles you’ll have with enemies.
The Mega Man influences are clear here. Willy will collect and upgrade weapons as the game progresses. Some weapons are stronger than others against certain enemy types. Working out which ones work best at the right moment is part of the fun here.
However, there is a lack of enemy variation. Not just in type, but also in design, as the game throws swathes of the same type at you in a relentless manner. It does at times make Willy Jetman: Astromonkey’s Revenge feel a bit repetitive.
There are some cheap feeling moments too, with some bosses able to kill you with a single touch, which can feel frustrating. It is far from game-breaking though and I never found myself stuck for too long at any one part.
You can learn a few tricks and techniques the further you go into the game, which will aid you greatly. Yet there are also some questionable design choices that leave little room for error. These would be fine if it was consistent throughout. It is however mixed with other areas where you can be error prone and get away with it. This leads to some further frustration, that again isn’t the worst, but it is noticeable.
There is a lot of enjoyment to be had from Willy Jetman: Astromonkey’s Revenge, however those minor niggles do stick out. Yet still it deserves a place in your collection. Whether that is worth the £13 entry is completely up to you.
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