I always apprise a video secret plan that feels like a long - lost classic from another time . I ’m not talk about secret plan that designedly go after a retro aesthetic for nostalgia . Rather , I appreciate ones that feel naturally shaped by history , where childhood influences show . That ’s the kind of gameSlime Heroesis , a safe - natured adventure star colorful animated cartoon mascots . If you order me it was a remake of aforgotten PS1 game , I might believe you were it not for some of its modern giveaways .

A debut project for indie studio Pancake Games , Slime Heroesis an opened - human race dangerous undertaking game about an lovely slime ball on a quest to save its home from vitiated monsters . Its cheery visuals , whimsical music , and ungainly UI make it feel on the button like a biz from the era of mascot - driven platformers . Do n’t allow that bright aerofoil fool you , though : muck Heroesis a surprisingly tough game power by some misleadingly deep armed combat hooks .

When my adventure begin , everything seems straightforward enough . I get some deep lore to jell my journey up and then I ’m grovel through the jungle with a sword in hand ( or whatever slimes hold thing with ) . I convulse ogre in my path and move on to checkpoints . Easy enough !

The modern influence quickly seep in . When I get to my first save station , I realize that Slime Heroes is really mold from theDark Soulsschool of thought . I can upgrade stats like attack power and speed when I get to a checkpoint using resources I ’ve take in . If I pass , I drop everything I ’m carrying and postulate to retrieve it all or lose it . consider that there ’s some imperfect platforming to be done here and there , twin with clumsy physics , I find myself dying quite a bit . It ’s a fleck infuriate and certainly a tonal mismatch for what ’s otherwise an adorable , Thomas Kyd - friendly plot .

That frustration begins to ease the more I see the full picture . Slime Heroesis anopen - world gamein the same vein asNobody Saves the World . I can go anywhere I choose , tackling bosses and challenge shrines in any order . That freedom helps rewire my brain , as I track down around for checkpoint and take hold of as many upgrade point as I can along the way . If I hit a battle field that ’s too tough , I simply keep exploring and descend back when I ’m stronger .

patterned advance is n’t just about leveling up , though , and that ’s where Slime Heroes ’ hide out weapon come in . As I explore , special abilities are dribble feed to me as random drops . I get simple equippable powers like rocket clap and whirlwind attacks that I can place in three different button slots . As a twist , each power can be paired with another to combine them into a new power . Then , I can also tot up an additional effect on top of that , like fire or poison damage . It ’s a organization that rewards experiment , pushing musician to find combinations that can palliate the challenge .

And let me tell you , there are some delightfully busted combo out there . My proudest macrocosm come when I couple an attack - buff circle with a whirlwind and a living steal perk . spark off it would create a circle with a tornado at its centerfield , which would sop up in nearby enemies . That would allow me to bash them all with my increased exponent and refill my hearts in an instant . To make that even more in force , I equipped a lid that heals me on successive striking . Combat encounters that seemed insufferable at first became a snap thanks to my creativity . That ’s only one example , too . From flame fireballs to meteor storm that sour foes into friend , there ’s a fortune to tool around with .

While its weightless armed combat and sloppy traversal can dampen the fun , I still get myself oblige to pick away atSlime Heroesas a casualSteam Deckgame . I discover something new every fourth dimension I deform it on , whether it ’s an undiscovered area or an sweep over power combination . I have n’t even spent time with its co - op play yet , which especially feels like the ideal way to bet for parents looking to make for with their child . What really bid to me most , though , is the affectionate feeling that I ’m play the kind of beloved childhood secret plan that would have been in my PlayStation collection as a kid . you could call that nostalgia , but it ’s the simple-minded joyfulness of living in a champagne toon world that really mouth to me . I ’m just happy to inch around as a little blob and soak in the whimsy .

Slime Heroesis useable now on PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , and Xbox Series X / S.