REVIEW : Unbound: Worlds Apart (PC)
When I first encountered the Metroidvania platformer Unbound: Worlds Apart, I was pretty taken by it. The colours are vibrant, the landscapes and characters are hand-drawn, and there are numerous riddles to solve. In addition, the game promised a variety of portals to command. So naturally, I had to try Unbound: Worlds Apart to see if it was as good as it appeared. And I’ve come to the conclusion that it does. The majority of the time.
To save the day, you must be out of this world.
Unbound: Worlds Apart revolves around the talented Soli. Your town is attacked one day by monsters that infiltrate your country through magical portals. Only you, with your unique powers, can deal with these adversaries. Soli may conjure portals to other worlds that cover a limited range in particular regions, and there are quite a few of them.
The sheer number of gateways Soli can conjure is the most impressive feature of Unbound: Worlds Apart. With a press of the left shoulder button, they can be activated in subsections. Furthermore, they only affect a circle that revolves around Soli.
There are a total of ten of these portals, each with a unique mechanic. Gravity is reversed. Another halts time. Another converts fireballs into harmless bubbles that can be ridden. One of my particular favourites is the one that causes platforms to emerge and disappear. I had no idea it also transformed innocuous insects into colossal monsters (seriously, it made me jolt). It was exhilarating to navigate those risky areas.
To and fro
Soli’s primary goal, to defeat the dimension-hopping demons, requires him to go to several locations in need of assistance. You’ll generally meet another adventurer who has something you need, and they’ll assign you the duty of gathering stuff for them to progress. As Soli searches for enhancements to assist him in navigating the globe, there is a lot of back and forth. These include naming a few, a dash, a double jump, and a wall climb.
As Soli platforms around, he’ll come across stranded villagers in difficult-to-reach locations. Getting to them teaches you some lore and helps you unlock optional zones. Soli must clear these areas because they are fierce. This will assist you in reaching a satisfactory conclusion. However, there’s also a nasty ending. Therefore it’s worth returning to places after obtaining powers to look for any wandering souls.
Did I stutter?
Unbound is not without flaws. The frame rate is most likely the most important. It stutters just enough to be apparent but not to be game-changing. However, it will cause issues, and it is pretty easy to mess up a jump due to it. It is hoped that it will be patched in the future.
Aside from that, some of Unbound’s foes are a touch janky. For example, some spiders and worms appear to miss a few animation frames as they chase and leap at you. It’s startling to see, especially given how realistic many of the figures and locations are.
Platforming can also be challenging. For example, I had to jump at the very end of a block to get to the next one in a few places. And, while there are several checkpoints throughout the game, trying to complete a specific segment repeatedly can drive you insane.
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