UDO: Unidentified Drilling Object describes itself as an “arcade down-scroller roguelike.” Yeah, I wasn’t positive what a down-scroller was myself. The closest comparability I can give you is the title Downwell. This mix of genres may not be inherently my factor, however UDO managed to develop on me.
After a protracted preliminary load, you begin on the floor of an alien planet. There’s a obligatory tutorial, and also you’ll want it as you study among the leaping, drilling, and sure enemy varieties in retailer for you. I don’t know if it’s presupposed to convey compensation for the burden of the drill, however leaping appears a tad off. Anticipate to overshoot enemies or land simply shy, at the very least early on. If there’s a narrative for why you’re right here, it’s not evident. That’s a disgrace, because the locales may make for some sci-fi plot enjoyable. Working your manner from the highest to the underside, digging together with your drill, and taking out enemies must be its personal reward, which finally ends up being the case.
My early instincts have been to go for the faster route, avoiding enemies the place doable whereas concentrating extra on falling and dodging. Not less than within the preliminary goings, the velocity made it laborious to inform which enemies to fall on with the drill versus people who wanted a fueled drill with extra energy. I want that mechanic received launched a bit later. However you’ll want to interact with enemies fairly a bit, as skills (which are typically expensive) are acquired by defeated foes paying out pocket change. So, fight quickly moved to the forefront, and is fortunately satisfying.
A difficulty I’ve with this, although, is specific hit detection. Your drill is an effective dimension, however typically, in observe, you should hit enemies with its tip. Continuously, I took injury whereas questioning why the enemy didn’t die. It’s by no means good after I repeatedly really feel failure is simply as a lot the sport’s fault as mine. This quirk is further annoying when enemies with exaggerated velocity get launched. In fact, some enemies (these exploding into toxic gasoline clouds) are legit finest averted. Apply makes good.
For me, UDO wasn’t “simple to study,” as claimed. It took me some time to return to grips with the nuances so I may advance previous the primary world. Extra profitable was the “tremendous tight and rewarding gameplay” promise. Whereas I’ve points with hit detection, gas consumption, and sure enemies, the controls click on responsively. And it’s rewarding as you begin shopping for objects and advance past the identical opening ranges. Every time you fail, you’re introduced with stats displaying how lengthy you lasted, pickups acquired, and extra. These give the sport that “sure one thing”…the component that each arcade-type sport desires—”another time”—however just some can lay declare to. When the temper hits, a sport or two of UDO can flip into fairly a number of extra.
Nonetheless, extra polish would’ve been welcomed. Past among the issues I already talked about, there are different smaller (however no much less noticeable) ones. As an illustration, when attempting to scroll amongst plentiful skins, you may’t simply maintain left or proper, however have to faucet repeatedly. These little issues add up. It boils all the way down to execution. Udo has a good quantity of items that might’ve been carried out higher to show a great sport into an incredible one.
I can’t fault the presentation, although. The music is stable, becoming the arcade vibe the sport goals for. The pixel artwork works. The backgrounds have element, and there’s much more colour as you advance regardless of the underground setting.
UDO: Unidentified Drilling Object manages to have some success regardless of itself. Whereas its quite a few little points accumulate into some unpolished actual annoyances, it has that “another time” component down, even with repetitiveness. I’m satisfied there’s sufficient good right here {that a} sequel ought to jettison the roguelike confines. Udo deserves to be a correct platforming journey the place it may well drill a extra distinctive id.
