Mechanic Escape

Play as a TV and escape your way though a series of worlds and levels dodging obstacles and out witting the bosses. Every level gets harder and each world provides you with a new series of hazards. That's only the beginning. The controls are very fluid allowing to to smooth your way flawlessly to save all your baby TVs along the way. This classic of run and jump platformer style stands up to some of the genre's legends.

Mechanic Escape is a very solid platformer! It's very linear and rhythmical, where timing is more important than actual mechanical mastery. Think more Rayman, less Super Meat Boy (the iOS Rayman, anyway, never played the others). Every obstacle is designed to be easily surpassed if you time everything right, making it easier the faster you go. There are collectibles in each level, but they [b]generally[/b] serve as a guide/help, instead of a hinderance. There are 50 little guys spread around, almost delineating the optimal path. Then, there are 5 bigger ones that are usually in alternate paths, but are just as fast as the normal paths, only you need to pay attention to where they may appear. There are 80 levels, spread out on 4 worlds. Every level is beaten in about 40 seconds and there are no checkpoints in each level, you have to beat it all in one go. You can only jump and run, basically. The running could have even been scrapped (again, iOS Rayman) and the little guy run automatically, since you can't really stop, most of the time. However, there are lots of different obstacles, slowly introduced as you progress. They're introduced elegantly, usually in a harmless manner, as a warning. There's also a Boss of sorts in [b]every[/b] level. In certain sections, that Boss pursues you, sometimes even shoots bullets/lasers at you. This is a very limiting obstacle, making it almost impossible to stop and think before starting another challenge. It is good, sometimes, keeping you on your toes! It's a pressure point of the level. Later on, however, it can be frustrating and [b]very, very[/b] limiting, to the point that you'll die dozens of times before pulling everything off perfectly. The first 3 worlds are really enjoyable! Everything is well timed and fun to go through. The last world is a huge spike in difficulty... I was halfway through the 4th world with less than 600 deaths. The last 10 level cost me 300 lives. That's a bit disproportional, isn't it? ... Well, everything is timed just slightly off. I'm not sure it's intentional. But it makes the game a lot harder. Like... [b]a lot[/b]. Instead of running through it elegantly, as before, you have to find ways of tricking the Boss, and even slow yourself, but not too much, otherwise it'll catch you... I was really frustrating. Usually, I had 3-7 deaths, sometimes around 20 deaths on hard levels. On the 4th chapter, some levels were around 30 deaths, one of them even reaching 80, and another 60. Granted, there were some easy levels as well, but the frustrating ones painted the picture, for me. The biggest "problem" is how floaty the controls are. This is intentional. And it works mostly well, for the first 60-70 levels. Because the levels are well designed around these controls. For the reasons stated before, it becomes really frustrating, since the floatiness doesn't allow for fine-tuned movement. Also, the achievements do not reward perfecting the levels (all collectibles) at all, and there doesn't seem to be Time leaderboards nor achievements... I think it would only benefit a game like this, but oh well. All in all, it's still a solid game. I enjoyed most of my time with it. It looks good, the music is pretty cool, and it can provide a challenge. Give it a go! Oh, and it's nowhere near as difficult as Super Meat Boy. I mean, not even close. So don't worry about that. It can still appeal to more "casual" platformer fans.

I've played some 3+ hours on this games to finish it, I still haven't unlocked all the achievements, but I've played it enough to see that it has some of the best in game jumps I've come across in a while. The game itself is simple, you can play with one hand on your keyboard and the other holding a sandwich or a drink, there is no "attack" you just need to get through the level. The difficulty curve is very well balanced, and so gradual that you feel you know the game quite well by the time you need to pull off some of the more difficult stunts. Without ever being so impossible as to make you quit. Pulling off a perfect score in every level is still a challenge. Pros. Very smooth jumps and well constructed levels through out, the introduction of new menaces is non intrusive, you learn it all on the go. The Big baddy chasing you will keep the game pace and level run speed from dropping and boring you. And the easy controls with both keyboard and controller are excellent. Nice art style. And plenty of achievements to keep people occupied. Cons. There is one issue that I've noticed, sometimes there's a hiccup, or a stutter in the game, which could get you killed since things are very black and white in this game, you either make a jump or you die. It isn't so terrible as to make you not want to play anymore though. And it could just be my pc, although if it runs AAA games at top resolution I would think a platformer shouldn't be an issue. All n' all I'd say the game is an 8/10, great fun, very engaging, challenging yet not overbearing. Hours of good fun, highly recommended.

Mechanic Escape is a nice platformer with a sharp difficulty curve. You play as TV set (seriously!) that go through the levels to save his buddies. There are about 80 levels, and it is getting harder the closer to the end of the game you are. There aren’t any checkpoints, so every level needs to be finished in one go. If you die you will simply have to start over the level (but they aren’t so long, so no worries). If you enjoyed such games as Super Meat Boy or Giana Sisters, give this one a try too. It’s certainly worth it.