I had no idea what to expect going into Forma.8 and now that I've finished it I'm still not sure what to think. The zero-gravity gameplay is certainly a unique twist on the side-scrolling genre. You will quickly find you need to rely much more on instincts than precision. This game can get quite difficult, thankfully forgiving checkpoints makes the challenging sections more bearable. The minimalistic narrative helps to shroud the game with an air of mystery. While Forma.8 was an interesting experience it was not without its issues.
This floaty side-scroller sees you traversing a large map with no clear purpose. As you explore you'll find the remains of your fellow robots. By absorbing their spirits you gain new power which allow to access new areas Metriod style. These include a small blast, mines, dashes, and more. You can actually use your blast to send a mine flying and even see where it will go before you launch it. You'll need to master this technique as it is your only ranged attack.
Usually as the paths branch out you'll be forced along particular routes until you find a key or learn some new moves. There are a handful of different enemies that will bounce, fly, and zap about. If you collide with these enemies or any projectiles they may shoot you'll take some damage. Should you lose all your health you'll either go back the last checkpoint or the entrance of that section. All though you'll see many of the same enemy types over the course of the game they will get stronger and more menacing as you progress.
What the game lacks story-wise it at least makes up for with intriguing backgrounds. You'll come across rooms and landscapes with gorgeous colorful backdrops. I wish I could say the mysterious nature of the game pays off in the end but sadly thats not the case. The handful of bosses did help add some variety and flavor to the experience. However, I also feel that these big moments do throw off the difficulty curve quite drastically. There was one chase scene that was particularly frustrating as it required an incredible amount of precision which I felt like contradicted the floaty movement of your robot.
While I certainly don't think this is a bad game I feel like it could have been so much more. I'm not saying it had to be larger in scope but it feels the pieces are jumbled up or missing. The chase scene I mentioned was the most difficult section I played and it was only half way into the game. The mysterious plot could have had some clever twist but it never pays off. I think the physics was quite clever and definitely provides a unique experience. Forma.8 to me shows what it exactly it means to be a hardcore gamer. This game doesn't tell you anything; whether thats where to go or how to survive. So unless you consider yourself a hardcore gamer I say you should pass on this one.