At the start I asked if Spheroids earns its place as a platformer. It certainly does, but unfortunately some issues hold it back from being truly great. However without a doubt it is a really good game. It is worth anyone’s time and attention. For the sake of honesty, it shouldn’t take too long to complete, especially when half the game is short and easy. If you can, play this game. Even with its short comings, there is fun to be had here.

En conclusión nos encontramos con un juego bastante armónico en lo que respecta a historia y jugabilidad, aunque con todavía demasiados defectos técnicos por delante. El humor y una jugabilidad clásica nos devuelven a eras anteriores donde todo era más simple, aunque desafortunadamente también trae consigo los mismos errores del pasado al ofrecer un único modo de juego, poca rejugabilidad y al no contar con tablas de puntuaciones o tiempo.

Sometimes it is too evident, if the game in question is a solo project like Spheroids. But nonetheless: If you like the oldie Pang! you’ll find some fun behind the technical shortcomings.

Valutare oggettivamente Spheroids è complicato: da un lato abbiamo un platform solido con una colorata grafica bidimensionale e un gameplay che strizza l'occhio al passato, dall'altro un action game che sembra voler far morire il nostro eroe ad ogni costo. L'assenza di potenziamenti perenni ed il non perfetto uso di alcune idee comunque buone rendono Spheroids un titolo mordi e fuggi adatto ai nostalgici delle sale giochi.

Spheroids never really rises above being average. It has ok presentation and offers some gentle platforming and shooting fun. It suffers from some technical issues, particularly on the Vita. Couple these technical issues with a lack of any kind of difficulty and the game is distinctly average.

The most frustrating thing about playing an indie release like Spheroids is the feeling that the developers were not even attempting to create something fresh or novel. It takes undue influence from many other – better – indie games on the market and doesn’t try hard enough to make its own mark. That’s not to say that there is no hope for the indie market in 2017, however; the horizon actually looks very hopeful for indie releases, but Spheroids just doesn’t cut the grade.

At the end of the day, Spheroids feels like the video game equivalent fast food. And while there are plenty of great games with shallow experiences, Spheroids is pure junk. Like the Arby’s of video games, the game is a mix of ingredients that deserve to taste way better than they do, and should ultimately cost much less than Eclipse Games is charging.

While Spheroids is relatively fun in its early stages and does the basics well, it ruins itself by adding in too much complexity too quickly without thought. The levels are formulaic, frustrating, and suffer from quite a few glitches and bugs, while the story is almost non-existent, the cutscenes awkward, and the ending abrupt.