Knytt Underground (Hands-On) (Wii U) Preview

It is always embarrassing when talking to a developer and forgetting what they previously worked on, let alone asking if they were behind a completely different game they had nothing to do with! Conversational faux pas aside, Nicklas 'Nifflas' Nygren politely shrugged off the mistaken identity (no, not the guy behind Cave Story, despite the graphical appearance of Knytt Underground belying that fact - oops!) and proceeded to offer tips during play of what is a very pleasing adventure romp.

Some of the intriguing twists in Knytt Underground are that all dangerous drops are actually passageways to other areas of the impressively expansive and highly intricate map (accessible at any time on the GamePad, with players able to see where key mission locations that are currently in play are to be found), and secondly that the lead character can transform into a bouncing ball at will...Yes, a ball.

This mechanic is not as strange as it first sounds, and comes into use regularly, proving to certainly be no mere gimmick. Struggling to comprehend how to get across a vast expanse? No problem! Quick turn into a ball, start bouncing on the spot and then try taking a leap of faith. However, be sure to quickly switch back to human form or else the resultant bouncing effect will undoubtedly cause a major headache - hitting enemies, rebounding back from whence the character came, and so on. There is a definite puzzle element to proceedings, with RPG fetch quests mixed in, and a wide open space perfect for in-depth exploration, helped by how the lead character can cling to walls and scale heights that way.

For those situations where mere wall-climbing and ball-bouncing did not suffice, there are also moments where special yellow icons can be collected to rocket-propel the lead character upwards, plus the ability to slingshot to ledges using the help of special robots whilst in ball form. The whole concept is extremely odd, but definitely in a highly intriguing and engaging way. Everything is helped along by some seriously funny script work, with a heavy dose of sarcasm throughout that really appealed in the short time playing Knytt Underground. When the demo ended, it was difficult to put down the GamePad and walk away, which is obviously a positive sign...