Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Nintendo Switch
Genre: 2D Platformer

The new indie 2D sprite-based platformer Berserk Boy is about Kei and his quest to collect all the Berserk Orbs to stop some mad conqueror named Dr. Genos. He works with a group called the Resistance, is tasked with saving lost members of that group while finding the orbs, and fights his way in a sci-fi world that suspiciously looks like it’s an offshoot of Capcom’s Mega Man Zero and ZX series.

In fact, if you’re familiar with those series of Game Boy Advance and DS games, you’re going to get Berserk Boy’s game plan.

Speed Thrills

See, the 2D platformer is fast and furious, as Kei’s default Berserk Boy lightning power-up makes him dash and dart on the screen -land AND air- really fast. The stages you go through are mostly obstacle courses that let you use your Berserk powers in speedy & fast-travelling ways, while also defeating bad guys. Apart from lightning, Kei will eventually get fire which lets him dig and drill through specific walls (like Mr Driller but on steroids), ice which lets him fire shurikens and also dash through specific ice obstacles, wind which makes him fly and deflect projectiles, and earth which gives him a double-jump of sorts and the ability to detect invisible platforms.

All these powerups are fun to use, especially in the final few stages where you have to switch between them as fast as you can to get through some of the tougher hazards of the game. Some segments don’t give you much time to pause, so switching forms fast with the left and right triggers is pretty important. Once you get the hang of Berserk Boy’s powers, you’ll get the hang of the game’s speedy-but-logical rhythm. Blazing through each stage just feels great the first time around, then becomes a breeze once you memorize the stage layout and know which powerups work best at specific parts of the stage.

While you can go from point A to B to finish the level and defeat the bosses along the way, you can also collect all Resistance members hidden in each of the 15 stages to open up new EX levels. EX levels are just short-but-tough obstacle courses that test your mastery of the five orbs. It’s also the only way to get full trophies/achievements for the game, which means you’ll be revisiting stages over and over until you’ve rescued each member, then wrap up their subsequent EX level. This bit can get tedious, as you’ll have to work for your ending by combing each stage for these hapless heroes. There’s even a bit where you have to search for enemies to kill in a sprawling base area every time you get a new orb; I really hated these sections as they just killed the flow of the overall run-and-dash-and-sometimes-gun action.

Mad Dash

Other than those issues, I still had fun just playing a newer version of a Mega Man-style platformer with a huge emphasis on dashing. Berserk Boy wears its inspiration loud and proud; our main character Kei even has afterimages from dashing similar to the Mega Man Zero/ZX series. True, it has some audio issues and requires you to play it to perfection for the best outcome, but that’s the norm for these kinds of retro-styled titles that try their best to cater towards hardcore platformer audiences.

And for a game of this calibre to be made by one solo developer? That is a helluva achievement. If you need a speedy 2D platforming challenge with a nifty Mega Man-inspired soundtrack (and suit-changing gameplay), Berserk Boy will sort you out.

Final Score: 80/100

Review copy provided by publisher.