Years ago, it wasn’t surprising to see Naughty Dog split into two teams in order to take on both Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception and The Last of Us. The company had perfected the action adventure genre, and ambition was nothing for new for them. However, when this strategy is crossed over to the indie space, it’s always a bit strange. Developers always have to continuously present that their last game wasn’t a fluke, and polish is everything. That’s why I was so surprised to see Messhoff release their newest project Flywrench, within the same breath of announcing the sequel to their beloved fencing title Niddhogg. They would need to reinnovate their strengths not one but twice, and excel under quick dev times, in order to truly deliver a great game. So, is Flywrench one?
Gameplay:
Flywrench seems abstract through its visuals, but it’s gameplay synopsis is something malleable. You control a ship while avoiding obstacles, with more and more mechanics being introduced along the way. Most of these involve colors, but that isn’t to say they aren’t without challenge. In fact, Flywrench messes with its controls to achieve this goal.
Story & Design:
The controls are done in such a way that they never get old, which was truly needed considering the games 150+ levels. While some of the later deaths in the game can feel like bullsh*t, there’s no denying that the sense of satisfaction following completing a level is worth it. However, this is only accomplished if you go the extra mile in terms of effort, so those looking for a cleaner gameplay experience could be turned off.
Presentation/ Visuals & Audio:
I can’t comment on Flywrench’s visuals too much because of how simple they are, but if there’s one thing I can say, it’s that they work. Something far too detailed likely would have trailed a player’s focus, and that would have made the game far less enjoyable. Lastly, Flywrench is a pretty short game, so it doesn’t completely overstay its welcome.
Conclusion:
Flywrench isn’t as mindblowing as Niddhogg was, but is a nice treat to hold indie game fans off before Messhoff delivers a sequel. If you do happen to try out this game though, don’t let frustration overcome you (no matter how tempting) and you’ll have a great time.
Flywrench gets a 7/10 (Average)
We’d like to thank Messhoff for giving us a code!
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