Flatland Vol.1 might be the second in the series but came out before Flatland Prologue. This game is different from Prologue, though, seeing as the creators assumed players would play Vol.1 before playing Prologue. This game is the same in most aspects though the difficulty starts low and soon becomes seemingly nigh impossible.
Vol 1. is split between different chapters in which the square protagonist must get from point a to point b while collecting cubes and dying repeatedly. This game is one of trial and error like Prologue. These different modes change the game and keep it fun, making players want to clear each challenge if they like the game enough.
The first mode is a simple one, where the player must run through levels, collecting cubes. The game progresses pretty quickly from easy peasy to hard as nails. In the first moment of the game, the square walks along, but soon enough, the player learns to run. You can’t walk before you crawl, so this makes sense. The game holds the player’s hand a little in this tutorial, and soon let’s go to watch the square careen to its death.
Collect fifteen cubes to unlock a race mode, where the player must race a shadow to the end of the level. Now the player must not only collect cubes and try not to die but also win the race. This mode is a vicious one, where the opponent knows what’s next, and the only way to win is to die, die again. This mode will test the player’s mettle, and by collecting 35 cubes, they will unlock the final mode: an arena mode.
The arena mode is all it describes itself to be, an all-out battle for supremacy. Players will fight enemies and take them all down to the levels. It’s in stark contrast to the other modes: but after playing through challenging platforming sections, it’s a nice reward. This mode does require the player to collect 100 cubes, so it might take some time to get there.
The music in this game is also by Matsune Hikku, a reference to hit anime idol Hatsune Miku. Though this reference does nothing for me, I’m not a fan of her chiptune music, which mostly sounds the same. I ended up muting it and putting on my favorite music to get me into a better state to play the game. The music isn’t a standout part of the game, and that is okay.
Flatland Vol.1 is a solid game and feels more fleshed out than its Prologue. I wonder how the game will evolve if a Vol 2. comes out. It’s a pretty challenging, speedy platformer, and despite starring a simple square, it holds up well. The game’s multiple modes make it worth coming back to if the player is a fan of the genre. If the player has a love for platformers and speedy squares, it might be a good idea to pick this little game up.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided