14 DAY TRIAL // 
Side-scrolling games are quite numerous nowadays and those that draw inspiration from classic experiences like Metroid or Castlevania are even bigger in number.
With Guacamelee, Drinkbox Studios wants to prove that such titles can borrow cues from older games but also feature a great experience that can impress without becoming overly nostalgic or by copying mechanics without any shred of dignity.
Does the new melee-focused side-scrolling puzzle platformer manage to deliver an impressive experience or should it take off the proud Luchador mask? Let's find out.
Guacamelee impresses right from the get-go with its novel premise that puts players in the shoes of Juan, a regular Mexican farmer who, while trying to rescue his childhood love, is killed by a merciless monster and sent into the afterlife.
Fortunately, he doesn't stay there, as he becomes a Luchador infused with super-powers. Now, he needs to get to the bottom of the villain's plans, which means exploring a pretty big world, unlocking new powers and abilities, as well as taking out all sorts of enemies, from regular skeletons, to bosses and other supernatural opponents.
In terms of gameplay, Guacamelee is a great mix of elements from the puzzle, platformer, brawler, and exploration genres.
The puzzles mostly consists of platforming challenges and exploring hidden areas that aren't on the main path. Here, the different combat moves that can be learned by Juan come in handy, as uppercuts act like double jumps, while headbutts can smash through rocks that block secondary areas.
In terms of combat, Guacamelee is quite impressive, as Juan can execute a set of basic moves and, throughout the story, you get to unlock new ones as well as buy other abilities from checkpoint shrines that double as vendors of bonus equipment.
While the fighting starts off rather simple, things quickly escalate and you'll certainly be forced to learn how to roll away from enemies and how to take them out one by one without being swamped by attacks.
Speaking of enemies, they're quite varied, ranging from a basic set of poncho-wearing skeletons to much bigger foes, animals, and even plants that have different attack patterns and can seriously ruin your day if you're not careful.
Both combat and platforming changes at the middle of the story, when Juan unlocks the ability to freely switch between the world of the living and the world of the dead. The switch changes not just the overall appearance and visual tone but also the location of certain platforms and ledges, not to mention the state of enemies. Some foes can be hurt in one dimension while in the other they’re invulnerable but can still hurt you.
While in general there's a pretty balanced learning and difficulty curve, there are a few areas, both on the primary and the optional routes, that either require a lot of trial and error in terms of either platforming, by requiring split-second reactions, or combat, by throwing multiple tougher foes at the player.
While the game is pretty fun in the single-player mode, it also supports drop-in drop-out cooperative play, although it's not exactly geared towards such an experience in terms of level design. Even so, towards the latter segments, it's great to team up with a friend and fight your way through legions of foes.
In terms of visuals, Guacamelee manages to impress through a top-notch style that's filled with lush and vibrant colors, not to mention plenty of impressive visual effects, especially in terms of combat. The game's world is also filled with references to other games, like Zelda or Castle Crashers, but also to pop culture, like many memes.
The soundtrack is also top notch, as it includes lots of great Mexican-themed music that complements the hectic action on the screen. Voice acting is missing, but the hilarious speech bubbles make up for it by delivering some great dialog and plenty of jokes.
It should also be noted that, if you buy Guacamelee for the PS3 or the PS Vita, you get a complimentary copy on the other system via the Cross-buy system and the save game files are compatible, so you can continue your journey no matter the platform that's available.
Conclusion
Guacamelee is a great side-scrolling brawler platformer, as it delivers a lush and vibrant world, lots of great adventures, and a pretty impressive combat system. There are moments where the difficulty jumps or the platforming skills required are a bit too high but they aren't that frequent.
