Spirefall Review

Spirefall twists your expectations about what a 2D platformer can be - literally. Its clever perspective shift makes endlessly going from left to right somehow feel new again, even if that feeling of freshness is decidedly not endless.

In Spirefall, players run, jump over traps, bop enemies, and navigate obstacles like in any other platformer. But instead of going across a straight path, they follow a curved one that snakes forever upward on a glowing spire. Beyond just looking snazzy, this 2.5D-ish angle allows for some neat tricks. Since players are always moving up, certain stretches of platforms have players quickly moving from right to left and back again to ultimately move forward. It’s a small change, but alongside visual touches like the tower itself constantly building skyward while disintegrating below, it creates a sense of progression sometimes lacking in the stasis of other endless games.

That sense of progression also comes from the game’s difficulty. While none of the obstacles are that challenging on their own, like spikes and flamethrowers and giant chomping teeth, many will still throw players for a loop the first time they encounter them. Fortunately, players have three lives that drop them right back where they were so they can afford to experiment somewhat. Groups of obstacles also tend to appear in similar orders so players can get pretty good at predicting what’s coming next through trial and error. But considering how long it takes to earn the in-game currency needed to buy continues without real money, players are better off accepting death and learning from it instead of trying to stave it off.

However, what doesn’t progress is Spirefall's otherwise excellent art style. Controlling the little black cat creature through the spinning neon orange and teal tower has an almost Super Mario Galaxy-like charm at first, or Sonic X-treme for no one’s point of reference. But even though the game announces whenever players reach a new level, the scenery and music remain mostly unchanged. This is only a problem over extended play sessions, though. The graphics hold up just fine during short bursts.

Spirefall's little gimmick, its spiraling tower presentation, is a big success. It may not turn your world upside down, but it will give it a nice twist.