Chariot Review

While most 2D side-scrolling platformers are based around getting from point A to point B, Frima Originals’ Chariot brings an interesting twist to the classic genre by being highly centered around the physics, weight and gravity of dragging a chariot throughout numerous complexly designed underground levels. Chariot does not revolutionize the platforming genre with its unique twist by any means, but it has more than enough interesting ideas that make it a memorable experience that can be enjoyed alone, or with a buddy of yours.

Chariot’s plot, just like the game itself, is very straightforward: As the Princess and her Fiancé, you must explore the Royal Catacombs in search of the right sepulcher for the deceased loot-hungry King. However, you must drag, carry and push the King’s coffin on a chariot while following glowing arrow signs in order to find the right resting place for him. This sounds simple enough, but you’ll quickly realize that there is a lot of planning ahead and precise platforming involved since you must take the chariot’s weight and rope length into consideration. It makes for some very tense moments and challenging platforming sections that will drain every single bit of patience and energy you have.

It is a very unique idea to have a platformer that doesn’t solely revolve around going from one place to another, but rather one that has you think about the way you are going to maneuver around the environments. And trust me, the levels may look very simplistic during the first half of the game, but they become significantly more complex as you’ll go further down the Catacombs filled with volcanic settings, dark caves and quicksand-filled environments. Chariot is very simplistic in the way it was designed as it has the core mechanics of a platformer, but the fact that there is a chariot into the mix changes the entire way you must approach this game. You must wrap your head around the entire physics surrounding the Kings’s chariot to successfully get from one platform to another. Using the controller’s Right Trigger and Left Bumper, you’ll continuously drag and pull the chariot using your rope to get up top those platforms, all while collecting loot, which can only be acquired by the chariot.

Because of its colorful visuals and charming appeal, Chariot strangely reminded me of Spelunky, as it essentially plays the same way, minus the rogue-like elements. Across the 25 levels that are all cleverly designed, you’ll discover secret paths, collect silver skulls and blueprints, and, most of all, fall off platforms and resetting checkpoints over and over again. As much as I loved Chariot’s well-rounded level design, some platforming sections are just very frustrating because they involve split-second jumping and chariot pulling. I found myself retrying the same single section for more than 15 continuous minutes at multiple occasions, which simply made me lose my mind and stopped me from playing the game. These ridiculous platforming sections are also the reason why I found the levels to drag on for way too long. While they are very big and offer multiple branching paths, some of them can last up to 30-40 minutes without offering anything truly special or new, which increases the frustration factor and fatigue. I am not going to lie, Chariot weakened me physically and mentally as my entire body was filled with tension once I got close to getting passed a part that I had been attempting for a very long time. Ultimately, this feeling was the reason why I wasn’t compelled to go back to improve my score or take on the speedruns of those levels because I did not want to re-experience the same frustrations I previously had.

Another frustration I had with the game is the fact that the enemies are simply annoying and don’t add anything interesting to the gameplay at all. While the looters only come out of the darkness when you make noise by collecting gems or falling off high places, they seem to always pop up at the worst times, distracting you from your initial goal and causing more failures. Plus, the way to counter those loot-stealing enemies is simply-uncreative; you can basically mash the attack button to use the Princess’ sword or her Fiancé’s slingshot to clear them out very quickly. It’s a very tedious process that will tick you off more than anything else.

When you are not exploring the Catacombs in search for the King’s deathbed, you can visit the in-game shop that allows you to buy equipment and upgrade your chariot with various little features. Unfortunately, you must find blueprints to unlock these upgrades in the shop, which are scattered all around the levels. Equipment includes a Peg that allows you to hook the chariot to a specific wall, running boots, which make you move faster, a repellent that scares away the looters with a single button press, and much more. Although the equipment is totally optional to use, I feel like it could have been implemented a lot more as it would’ve diversified the platforming elements and encourage players to try out new strategies. There is also a backtracking element in Chariot with the upgrades on the coffin-on-wheels, but once again this element isn’t implemented to its fullest.

Chariot’s best feature is with its co-op play that creates an experience unlike any other. Since the game was designed as a couch co-op game, you can really feel the difference once you have an extra player in the mix as it becomes significantly easier to get through the hardest sections of the game. Although it would’ve been awesome to have the option to play online with a buddy for those who don’t have a second controller, the result is an enjoyable gameplay experience that relies heavily on off-game communication. Sadly, it’s a bit unfortunate to see that some areas in the levels are only reachable with a second player, meaning that, if you intend on playing alone, you’ll miss quite a few collectibles along your 14 hour playthrough.

VERDICT

As indie games have done it time and time again in recent years, Chariot successfully takes a classic genre and adds its own unique twist to it. Having to drag a chariot for the entire duration of the game may not sound like the hardest task in a video game, but, once you take the entire physics mechanic into consideration, it results in platforming sections that make for a very unique experience. However, if you are the kind of gamer who loses patience and abandons quickly, avoid Chariot at all cost because it will drain your physical and mental energy within its levels that contain ridiculously complex platforming sections. Chariot is free for the month of October on Xbox One as part of Microsoft’s Games With Gold program, so there is no reason to not try it out and test out the tense platforming action for yourself.  Just be ready to fail miserably for hours on end.