I give a lot credit score to the PR crew of MainFrames…they do a darn good job promoting this sport. This advertising push makes it an actual disgrace that a lot of the excessive expectations raised weren’t met, not less than in my case. At its core, I frankly didn’t discover this platformer all that intelligent. At instances, I discovered it awkward and, even worse, boring greater than I care to confess. So, regardless of a number of assurances, I used to be considerably fast to “press the escape key” and “sign off” after I performed sufficient for evaluation. Will that be the case for you?
I believe the reply to that query is dependent upon two issues. First, in case you are going into this sport blind, with no expectations, I believe that’ll assist. However second, and maybe extra importantly, what period involves thoughts while you consider platformers? In the event you consider the ’80s and ’90s like me, I can see MainFrames being MehFrames. However should you consider a newer timeframe, say 2010 and past, you may genuinely click on with what approaches a hodgepodge of concepts.
A puzzle platformer, MainFrames is described as a “cozy outing.” This newer classification has crept into gamedom as gamers seemingly want so as to add as many subgenres as potential. Cozy can (and does) imply wildly various things to completely different players. However I believe the bulk wouldn’t affiliate it with the precision platforming present in MainFrames.
In equity, there are many settings to cut back the problem, from infinite jumps and spins to even invincibility. And you may be leaping lots on this platformer, which nostalgically takes place inside a chunky pixel artwork pc monitor (assume Thomas Was Alone, however not pretty much as good). The platforming itself is fundamental in a way however removed from easy—until you tweak the accessibility settings to the intense (which is understandably discouraged in-game). Nonetheless, the versatile strategy for extra forgiving platforming is admirable.
The primary few screens train you the minimal earlier than leaving you to your personal units. Some controls appear unintuitive, although you possibly can remind your self what they’re from the pause menu. The means to regulate them to your liking is appreciated; it’s one thing all video games ought to have this present day.
In MainFrames, a lot of what seems on the early screens appears to reappear in later ones with solely slight variations. Collectibles are straightforward to overlook on the primary go, and with out a report of them they’re even simpler to miss altogether, even for completionists. When recent parts get launched, whereas platform-like, they don’t at all times match inside the world introduced. At instances—reminiscent of throughout some display transition makes an attempt—I couldn’t inform if the sport was glitching or if a design alternative was intentional. One instance is the respawn system, which regularly feels nonsensical. Generally, it’s simpler to aim a leap understanding I’ll fail as a result of the sport will respawn me proper subsequent to the exit.
The general impression Mainframes leaves me with is one in all muddledness, albeit executed with a honest ardour. It throws in concepts about platforming, amassing, and environmental manipulation. However perhaps a few of the extra ought to’ve been left on the slicing room flooring so the remainder might be extra polished and its potential higher realized. Whereas I admit a measure of satisfaction in getting previous the trickiest components, there’s almost equal quantities of aid, which isn’t ratio. The issue spikes (even with accessibility choices) by no means really feel “cozy.”
For an old-school platformer fan like me, MainFrames overstayed its welcome, even with its old-school aesthetics (save the lo-fi music). However I might see this changing into one thing of a cult traditional for newer platformer followers who’re extra snug with its mixture of experimental approaches.