And I'm done, at least with main story, now to check out those pesky crystal doors. As have already been said in this thread this comes highly recommended if you're a fan of Zelda II and don't mind the blatant copy cat design, though they do take it too far at times, with either enemy movement or artwork that looks so similar that it could almost be stolen. It's not just Iron Knuckle that seems familiar. Phanto, Thwomp and many others are ripped straight from their respective Nintendo titles.
That said, while it definitely borrows a lot - which seems to have been the mission statement in the original Kickstarter - the rest of the game is very well put together. I was particularly impressed with the Zelda-esque puzzles that even when they tread familiar ground, still manage to come together convincingly enough to make you sit with a smile on your face, when you solve them. There's a lot of them, since this is quite a meaty game that could easily take 20 hours to complete or possible more depending on how long you're stuck in any given place. Unlike modern games with their quest markers and guided design, this doesn't hold your hand. You have to figure out where to go and how stuff works on your own, which is not just refreshing but also unusual and a little brave, considering how many players will be scared away from a game like that these days. And it's not just poor design, it's deliberate, something you have no doubt about when you see how well the rest of the game is put together.
Whoever did the music also deserves a nod for the fitting soundtrack that's already ingrained forever in my mind
Once the developers are finally done with Elliot Quest - there's a few things that needs patching (specifically the places you can get stuck!) - I want to see them do something of their own. They're clearly capable and who knows how far they can take it when they are not just following Nintendo's footsteps.
