Firegirl Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX looked so good when it was first revealed, as it looked like a brilliant HD pixel art game with a good premise. Sadly the game is a bit rough in spots where it needed to shine, and this rogue-lite Metroidvania is not the best example of what it could be. The concept is well thought out, just not executed perfectly.
Firegirl sees you running through burning buildings and fighting off the evil fire entities actively destroying the structure while rescuing as many civilians and animals as possible. You have an axe to destroy debris and doors that block your paths, and a powerful hose that can story flames and get you to move in the right direction needed. Think of it like FLUDD in Super Mario Sunshine where you jump and use the hose to navigate or get to higher levels, while also destroying the fires and you will get an idea of what to expect.
The issue is that while the premise sounds great, and fighting through a tough time limit to get everyone is great a few times, but then the game becomes repetitive. The game recycles many areas, even including rooms that serve no point and this just creates a frustrating experience that not even the game’s story can save.
The main drawing point for many was the visual style that resembles the HD 2D games from Square Enix at first glance but actually ends up working against the game for the most part. Because the game is so fast-paced and the areas are made with 3D models, the game just becomes difficult to navigate, with the camera also working against you. It is sad, but what should have been the draw has instead become the game’s biggest drawback.
The game’s story is rather bizarre, but in a good way and yet it is not enough here. The game has numerous technical issues on the Switch, including freezing and loading issues which cause the gameplay to halt just when things get going. There is too much working against the game here and if it had been a full Metroidvania, it may have gone over much better. Sadly, the roguelike elements and visual style just serve to hurt what was a great concept.
Available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
A Review Key was provided