Level Devil Review

Simple platforming games have always piqued my interest, especially when they play around with how the levels and controls work. Considering Level Devil’s whole premise is to essentially troll you the entire time, I had to check it out. Upon seeing the trailer, I was greatly reminded of N+ with its style and platforming and The Impossible Quiz with its quirkiness and tricks. And my judgment was right.

Level Devil is a 2D platformer that requires you to find the exit door at the end of each level. You’ll need to outsmart the obstacles  in a world where nothing is what it seems, which is how the game gets called a troll since you must go against your instincts. Unfortunately, there is no story to follow, it quite literally wants you to complete the platforming to escape hell.

Surprisingly, Level Devil is quick and easy to get through despite each level increasing in difficulty and introducing new obstacles to understand and eventually manoeuvre through. It’s not hard, like the nearly impossible Mario Maker fan levels, but it does have similar aspects to it. The difficulty is in how each level is made, and while most of the time I figured out how to complete a level, it was executing it that was tricky. Thanks to the simple controls, this was all I needed to worry about.

Just like the Maze Runner

There are three worlds, Level Devil, Level Devil-er, and Level Devil-est. Each world will have themed segments that feature five levels to get through that become increasingly difficult. At the end of each world there will be a hell gate that features one large level with all the obstacles you found throughout the world. There are no save points in the levels you do, meaning you will start from the beginning each time you die, which will be a lot.

No traditional enemies are available to fight in Level Devil, like the Goombas and Koopas in Super Mario Bros. But rather you’ll try to survive the obstacles you need to get past. Buzzsaws will chase you, the floor with fall beneath you, teleportation will throw you into the abyss, obstacles will predict when and where you’ll jump to get you, balls will crush you, and much more.

Even the controls will be messed with as you play. They may be inverted, constant jumping, certain directions or even certain buttons killing you. This will all happen while you try to get through shrinking platforms, bombs, spikes, and objects not being what they seem. You might even become one of those objects. You will also use jetpacks, levers, and buttons, and get through rhythm-based levels; Level Devil explores a lot of beloved game mechanics and mashes them together to keep you guessing as you play.

Buttons must be pressed…or should they?

Eventually you’ll get to a point where you have an idea what the game is going to do. It becomes natural to go against your instincts, but as it adds in new things to do each level, it continues to keep you on your toes. This didn’t take away from my experience playing but rather made me more determined to complete every level.

Secrets are also waiting to be found as you play, such as hidden levels that require you to find invisible blocks to get to. There are also a total of five keys to find throughout the levels to unlock yet another secret. On top of this, it also looks like there are multiple endings to Level Devil thanks to these secrets. After all, it is hard to escape hell.

There is also a two-player mode that will let you go up against your partner in a race-like mode, and this will be its own set of levels not from the main game. A speedrunning timer is also featured in the main single-player mode, both modes bringing replayability into the game after Level Devil gives you a couple of hours of fun. However, considering a roadblock sign is featured at the end of Level Devil-est, we could see more levels added in the future.

Fine, I’ll touch grass

Because Level Devil features a simple pixel art-style design and accompanying music, it feels nostalgic to play. Each design is clear, so you don’t second guess what an object is, a simplicity that made me feel like I was a kid playing games in my browser all over again. It was refreshing to see such a simple designed game capture my attention so easily thanks to its unique take on platforming.

However, when I first played Level Devil I didn’t realise I had the music switched off. It took me one entire world to notice that music was not playing. So, although it may not be needed to have fun with the game, it does enhance the nostalgic and retro feel it has and the overall experience.

Since we are in hell with unpredictable platforming obstacles to get through, Level Devil can become rage-inducing. There were moments that I got a little frustrated but most of the time I found myself laughing because the game knew what I was going to do, or a stupid game mechanic killed me in a funny way. It’s not all hellfire in Level Devil, it will definitely make you laugh along the way to freedom.

Spikes are spikey

Final Thoughts

Level Devil does what it says it’s going to do, and it does it well. In the couple hours the game offers you, you will be captivated and determined to escape hell. Although there is no story and is potentially rage-inducing at times, it is a unique 2D platformer that will have you thinking outside the box to survive the unpredictable obstacles thrown at you.

Reviewed on PC// Review code supplied by publisher

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