14 DAY TRIAL // 
There are a lot of retro-themed puzzle platformers out there from indie studios, with many developers trying to recreate the games they loved during their childhood. Unfortunately, not that many actually succeed, meaning they end up just as feeble copies of great classics.
However, every once in a while, some games manage to recreate that same great feeling from the 1990s, and one such example is Terrian Saga: KR-17 from indie studio Wonderfling.
The game puts players in the shoes of a sentient drone which, alongside its only friend, a guided missile, must traverse a tricky environment filled with menacing robots.
The game promises some great platformer action with a Metroidvania vibe of constantly exploring the larger environment. Does it manage to deliver on these bold claims or should the saga come to a premature conclusion? Let's find out.
Terrian Saga: KR-17 has a pretty complex story set in a sci-fi future. The gist of it is that the Terrius and Cyrinus empires are fighting against interplanetary terrorists who have unleashed a huge amount of robots on the planet Valiant. In order to eliminate the threat, they send a battalion of KR drones to lay waste to the opposition. However, one of the drones, dubbed KR-17, finds itself becoming conscious, and with the help of a guided missile named J1M, he starts exploring the world of Valiant at his own pace.
What follows is a pretty delightful experience that's amusing in some parts and quite intense in other moments. Of course the story leaves plenty of room for other adventures and the Saga name most definitely suggests that more adventures are coming, either with KR-17 or with other protagonists.
Even so, taken standalone, the current game is quite fun in terms of its plot and characters.
In terms of gameplay, the general vibe is a positive one. You can move around and jump through the environment while using your regular bullets, grenades, or J1M to eliminate enemies, which are quite varied and quite resistant on many occasions.
The actual platform is a mixed bag. The controls take some getting used to, and for some reason, the jump button can't also be used to activate things like elevators or exits. The actual controls aren't as tight as they should be, which makes going through some of the more intense platforming sections an exercise in patience. Controlling J1M is also a bit tricky at first, as he can only fly in straight lines. However, his use isn't that necessary, as only some sequences require you to guide the missile in order to unlock a path.
Speaking of paths, Terrian Saga: KR-17 boasts a Metroidvania style, as players are free to explore the current level in whatever way they want. However, quite a lot of areas are locked by color-coded doors that only open once you've acquired the correct computer chip.
Other zones need you to press a certain number of buttons that are spread throughout the environment. Missing one means you can't get out, and in turn, means once again going through the environment and figuring out where that last button is.
You also take control of a jetpack in some sections, which is quite fun, although it takes some time to get used to the controls.
Enemies, like I said above, are quite varied, ranging from small bug-like ones that sleep until you get close to larger foes that reflect your bullets or send deadly projectiles that go through walls when killed. Boss fights are more about running and keeping up with the destruction caused by the hulking enemies, but even these are a bit annoying due to the constant scripting and the lack of checkpoints.
If an enemy hits you, you lose a bar of your health counter, but if you hit things like electrified barriers or even puddles of water, you die instantly, so it's probably better to jump right next to an enemy than to fall into the water.
The level design is relatively good and intuitive in many areas but there are some where the environment obstructs a bit too much, making enemies fire at you from complete cover or for platforms to suddenly end, causing you to fall down. Some of the background elements are also a bit too colorful and can cause confusion.
In terms of visuals, the game looks quite good, nailing the pixelated retro style that's carved into the memory of lots of gamers from the 1990s. Sometimes, the environments might be a bit confusing in terms of visuals and you can't really tell where walls, floors, or ceilings are, but it's nothing that serious.
The soundtrack is good, although each of the themed zones features a central song that gets repetitive, depending on how much time you spend in them. The audio cues are relatively good, but even they can get on your nerves during extended play sessions.
The Good
- Great recreation of classic puzzle platformers
- Big levels
- Interesting plot
The Bad
- Level design can be a bit cluttered
- Visuals don't always look that great
- Soundtrack can feel repetitive
Conclusion
