Excruciating, intimidating, yet immensely satisfying.
Good thing the lives are infinite, because you will die in the game plenty. Even when you're starting out with the most basic of levels, it'll take multiple tries until you actually get it right. Each level is a time trial, in which beating the clock brings you a pretty looking A+ grade to solidify your triumph with the levels. Frankly, it's not as difficult to get by the levels if you take your time. The only problem is that the game will never reward you in that manner.
Everything has to go smooth, quick and seamless, to where a perfect performance may not even be enough. And of course, it doesn't help when the levels you're pit up against are in many ways, absurd. Just when you think you're out of the lion's den, the next level you're up against will do nothing but top the one you were on before in terms of difficulty. Never expect to get it right the first time. Each level is a step by step process in how to perform in the most ideal fashion possible. You crawl, walk, and run here.
Many of the level's aesthetics brings you an impression that it looks impossible to complete your objective in the time given. You practically have to dodge gunfire on a deadly slippery slope to catch a city bus that's just about to drive off. While the objective can be done, the surrounding area completely acts as a tool against you.
It could be very easy to dismiss this game because of the insane heights it takes.
The only problem is that every screw-up is of that of your own.
These are brilliantly designed levels that challenge you to the core. The controls are very tight and responsive to where each death is due to a mistake on your own end. Timing is vital in this game, and it can easy for the chain to be broken, or at the very least, compromised. There are many rooms for miscalculations, but all in all it never invokes genuine frustration because each death is one that's deserved.
While every level looks impossible, rest assured, they can be done in an ideal fashion, and when you succeed you'll throw your hands and sigh out of relief and triumph. Completing these levels can be so rewarding that you'll be doing that action on more than a few occasions. You'll also feel that you can simply walk on top of the level you previously found to be a great burden. The game never fails on the satisfaction front.
Besides, the absurdity is what gives this game a nice, charming layer. Even if you've died time and time again, you'll want to stay because of how it welcomes you with its audio and visual front. Despite it usually looking like a 2D flash platformer, there are times when the game sports a minimalist style that can come off as strikingly appealing. Where it also draws you in is through its catchy techno soundtrack that you'll be humming to soon enough.
The game has chapters divided into both a light world and dark world. Each world carries 20 levels, with the dark world acting as the greater challenge as it alternates certain levels you previously went by, as well as levels that would otherwise have no place in the lighter side of things.
Aside from beating the clock, there's also collectible bandages and warp zones you can find within certain levels. The bandages and warp zones go towards unlocking other characters that are from various indie games. Each character is different from the other, as they each have a distinct ability. These abilities can make certain levels easier to get by, or on occasion, possible to get by.
Finding the warp zones in the levels will take you out of the level you were on to take you to another area. Each warp level is distinct to the other, and unlike the normal levels your lives are limited. But the fairness in the regular levels is just as present as it is in the warp zones.
This game will not hold your hand. Instead, it'll slap it down if you attempt to make a reach. But all in all, it's a big part of the reason why it's such a brilliant platformer. You may curse, quit, and damn this game to the depths of hell. But what you'll never do, is question its fairness.