Planet Cube: Edge is a run and gun platformer that takes place across eight levels and features some incredibly challenging and rewarding platforming.
The story begins with Planet Cube being invaded by a mysterious force. Most of the inhabitants of Planet Cube are peace loving beings though, so it falls to Edge, a cube scientist, to save the day. Now, the plot isn’t anything spectacular in terms of the story it tells, but the dialogue is well crafted, the characters are fun, and overall it has an enjoyable and fun story to play through.
What matters most though is the gameplay and I have to say Planet Cube: Edge surprised me in some of the best ways possible. Many indie platformers rely on having an abundance of short single screen levels that serve to pad out the content. Planet Cube has eight levels that are significantly longer, taking around thirty minutes to an hour to play through, which helps make the game feel more cohesive.
It also helps with crafting a story that seems to actually matter in the scheme of the game, instead of it simply being an afterthought.
The level design progresses as any good platformer should. It starts off fairly basic and progressively becomes more and more difficult. I will say, Planet Cube: Edge is a surprisingly difficult platformer, with certain sections requiring the utmost precision to proceed. But at the same time, those sections never feel unfair or impossible. It’s a fine line to walk, and this game manages to walk right along that edge.
I have also been incredibly thankful for the frequent check pointing that occurs throughout the game. Essentially any time you are on stable ground and there aren’t any enemies actively trying to kill you, there is usually a checkpoint. The only time that the check pointing seemed to falter was in the one level I just did not care for: the underwater level.
I am personally not a fan of water levels in any platformer. I don’t understand the fixation that every developer seems to think every platformer needs an underwater section. I’ve never played a platformer with tight, responsive controls – which Planet Cube: Edge definitely has – and thought to myself, this would be a lot better if everything become slow and awkward for thirty minutes.
Now, I’ll give Planet Cube credit in that it is certainly not the worst water level I have ever played. There are even chase sequences with rising water levels which I actually enjoyed. Many of the sections also incorporate electricity into the puzzles and this means the water aspect is only a portion of the puzzle, instead of having everything be in water all the time.
There also aren’t any puzzles that require raising and lowering the water levels, so there’s no need to worry about any of that nonsense.
Thankfully it’s not a huge section of the game, but water levels are one of the hardest sections in a game to get right and while I still think it wasn’t a necessary addition to the game, it does not ruin it.
Most of the levels and sections focus on some form of platforming, with light combat sprinkled throughout. Moving platforms, disabling lasers, and timed puzzles are just some of the trials that need to be overcome. Each level has a baseline form of challenge that most sections of the level will focus on, but there is enough variety in each one that the platforming never begins to feel stale.
Beyond the platforming, there are plenty of enemies to fight and even bosses at the end of certain stages. The combat isn’t anything spectacular, but it is far from terrible. There are also switches and puzzles that need to be solved through the use of a plasma gun that you receive shortly into the game.
The bosses are a good challenge, but I am thankful there isn’t an abundance of them throughout the game. The fast-paced platforming is incredibly enjoyable and while there is a level of platforming involved in fighting the bosses, they just aren’t as satisfying to beat.
As is also becoming more standard in these kinds of games, there are optional collectibles you can pick up if you feel like challenging yourself more. But beyond that, there is little reason to actually go for them unless you want to 100 percent the game and get that 1000 Gamerscore ticked off.
That being said, this is a platformer that takes several hours to get through and it is quite challenging, so if you were thinking of picking it up for an easy completion, then you will want to reconsider. If, however, you are looking for a well-made platformer with a fun story and plenty of obstacles to overcome, then Planet Cube: Edge is a great find.
Planet Cube: Edge is on the Xbox Store
