Another game in the now prolific "indie games made largely or entirely buy one guy appealing to fans of a specific subgenre that manage to blow every other game in that subgenre out of the water because they get everything right that no one else seems to be able to" genre. I'm working on a better name for it.

Spark 3 is an action platformer in the "high speed momentum based 3d platformer" genre. Basically, it's inspired by 3D sonic, but it's good. Really, insanely good.

Levels are all enormous playgrounds with boosters, shuttle loops and springs, but they still have good conveyance to the end and are designed for you to find the fastest routes to the end. Spark can dash, jump and homing attack from enemy to enemy to gain speed. There's also a technique where, if you homing attack and boost right at the same time, you gain absurd speed and can sail over entire level sections. It's so fun. This game was designed for you to break it apart and find big skips.

The sense of speed and momentum in this game is so incredible and yet, you never feel out of control. Spark isn't slippery or floaty or any of that nonsense, he does just what you tell him to, it's remarkable.

Throw in some abilities like an extra boost, a float ability that extends your jump, and a few others and you can beat some levels in under a minute.

Shoutout to the combat, too. There's inspiration from DMC here on display. It's very light but you can straight up chain light and heavy combos, buffer special attacks, air juggle enemies and bosses, and mix in your dashes and special abilities to further mix things up and help deal with bosses. It's remarkable how fun the combat is, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it so much, coming into a Sonic inspired platformer.

The dev knows it too, considering he added a Bloody Palace style mode where you fight all the enemies and bosses. It rules.

This game rules. Play it.

Everyone knows Mario is cool as fuck. But who knows what he's thinking? Who knows why he touches flowers? And why do we think about him as fondly as we think of the mystical (nonexistent?) Dr Pepper? Perchance.

I believe it was Kant who said "Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play." Mario exhibits experience by tushing flowes all day, but he exhibits theory by stating "Lets-a go!" Keep it up, baby!

When Mario leaves his place of safety to grab a flowey, he knows that he may Die. And yet, for a man who can purchase lives with money, a life becomes a mere store of value. A tax that can be paid for, much as a rich man feels any law with a fine is a price. We think of Mario as a hero, but he is simply a one percenter of a more privileged variety. The lifekind. Perchance.

I remember playing the original trilogy and wanting more out of the Layton games. So when I found out the spectres call (name in Europe) existed I couldn’t wait to play it, and to find out it was a prequel to the main trilogy was even more interesting. Now I have a soft spot for this game, I had some great memories with it and nostalgia always blinds me with this game (probably why I prefer it to curious village).

The story is great, Emmy is a great new addition, and the puzzles are as great as ever! I love this game.