Xeodrifter (Nintendo Switch) Review

As was to be expected from Renegade Kid when it was still active (now Jools Watsham's Atooi), Xeodrifter embodies the team's seemingly endless charm. The soundtrack is pleasant, with a fair share of catchy tunes, the graphics are simplistic but not without a defined style, and the colour palette allows the sprites and backgrounds to pop together in an easy on the eyes blend. When it comes to pure aesthetics, it's hard not to appreciate Renegade Kid's charismatic production. While that charm tends to leak into the gameplay quite frequently, take Mutant Mudds for example, this isn't exactly the case here.

It should be stated that Xeodrifter is by no means bad. It accomplishes its goal of being a bite-sized Metroidvania and it does it creatively enough. The problem, instead, ends up being the creativity taken in crafting such a short-term, exploration-based, action-platformer. In place of an interconnected map commonly found within the genre, the world is split into four, smaller maps. In theory, these four worlds are an interesting alternative. The developer doesn't need to worry how each section interconnects with the other and can instead focus on a tighter, more consistent layout. The actual end result, however, does very little with the separation. The four maps don't benefit from being apart as they don't really offer any kind of specifically self-contained exploration.

The disconnect between the four maps likewise leads to a disconnect between travelling from world to world. Backtracking is to be expected in a Metroidvania, but it's typically paced in a way where most players don't realise they are backtracking until the deed is done. Because of the inclusion of a pseudo-hub, backtracking between maps is painfully obvious. It also naturally leads to another issue: false non-linearity. While the four worlds are all available from the start, there is an actual intended order. Again, this is something common for the genre but it comes off poor when most of the map is available at once, even though progress is impossible in most areas. It also takes away from that feeling of stumbling onto an unreachable area early on only to return later with the proper upgrades. This still happens, of course, but it doesn't feel as natural or meaningful since players aren't guaranteed to try their hand at the same order of worlds.

The gameplay is another great idea that isn't handled with the grace it needs to thrive. The drifter's gun can be enhanced and customised with several upgrades found throughout the four worlds. The variety present in gunplay is genuinely exciting and gives the gameplay an extra kick. Unfortunately, the game design hardly ever allows for a scenario where the gun's variety of customisation is put to the test. Regular enemies are bland and easy enough to kill with the default gun, and bosses are incredibly samey. There's no real instance where the gunplay is actually challenged.

While it can be easy to get lost in Xeodrifter's flaws, the exploration is well done for what there actually is to explore. Worlds feel disconnected, yes, but they are filled with enough nooks and crannies to investigate. Upgrades are rewarded at a healthy pace and the short nature does lead to a satisfying, constant feeling of progress. It's just undercut by a short playtime. It's admirable that Renegade Kid decided to go forward with a miniature scaled Metroidvania, but Xeodrifter could have been so much more if it had so much more.