Tinertia (PC) Review

The central focus of Tinertia is that the little robot you control is unable to jump. Instead, he must use a super powered shot gun to launch himself where he needs to go. This allows him to throw himself up and around obstacles, eventually leading to the end of each danger-ridden segment. Checkpoints mark the beginning and end of individual tests, and the player is consistently challenged to move quicker between each checkpoint.

While this all sounds well and good, the controls are much better suited to a controller. Any PC gamer who prefers a mouse and keyboard is going to be left out, as the controls are similar to piloting a brick through wet sand. The game frequently requires consistently quick controls, and the mouse simply doesn't do the job. This is fine when the environments are fairly simple, but over time they require juggling your little robot avatar with keen precision, so a controller is definitely the best bet. This could prove to be a dealbreaker for anyone who isn't a hardcore PC player.

Visually, Tinertia is absolutely breathtaking. The view behind the immediate playing area really compliments the depth of each level. It's odd then that everything the player encounters is genuinely dull. It's almost like each platform was pulled from Platformers 101 circa 1996; They just doesn't leave any impression, good or bad.

Fortunately, and much to the game's credit, each segment is usually just a handful of platforming challenges before that segment ends. These bite-sized snippets of levels really keep the frustration level to a minimum, especially when failing for the umpteenth time. Even with a controller, failure is guaranteed, as the segments are challenging. Keeping each of these spots short is nice, and sectioning them off keeps the player from becoming overwhelmed.