ID@Xbox Spotlight: Gear Gauntlet wants to grind your sanity

I've been helping Drib Dead test the game alee of its launch on Xbox One, and my brain is fried just typing about it (in a good way).

In Gear Gauntlet, your charge is to guide a spinning gear through narrow labyrinths, fugitive all sorts of hazards that wring the heed. The signature obstacles are colour-coded blocks that can only exist passed by pressing the corresponding button on your Xbox controller. B for Red, X for Bluish, Y for Yellow, you get the idea. The well-nigh pertinent comparison would be to Guitar Hero, except if you screw upwards in that, you only hitting a sour note - Gear Gauntlet is not so forgiving. Throughout each level, the screen itself chases you, eager to swallow your gear in its bezelled jaws of decease.

The full game will consist of 40 levels and an infinite bonus style, punishing players with a crescendo of increasing difficulty. Each gauntlet has divergent paths, some which may be easier, simply choosing those volition see yous relinquish points and thus, a decent position on the leader boards. The boards factor in prominently at the end of every level, giving the game a competitive slant.

My reaction speed is hopeless, just despite repeated deaths I constitute myself unable to put Gear Gauntlet down. Amidst all that enervating gameplay, Gear Gauntlet is addictive. Punching out blocks chirps satisfying sounds that remind me of cube bully in the classic Mario games and rolling into ability-ups and the mind-warping layout rotation blocks evokes memories of Sonic the Hedgehog. Improving your performance at even the smallest increments is satisfying, and functioning stats and leaderboards add incentive.

There's a general old schoolhouse sentiment about Gear Gauntlet; from the soundtrack, to the scrolling 2D backgrounds and familiar gameplay elements. When it'due south not driving you crazy, Gear Gauntlet has amuse.

I spoke to Drop Dead Interactive's Jay Adeloye to talk over Gear Gauntlet, ID@Xbox, and whether or non I just suck at games.

Jez: What sorts of games helped inspire Gear Gauntlet?

Jay: Games that inspired me at the time included Guitar Hero (as axiomatic from the colour mechanic) and Jetpack Joy Ride merely I didn't want to make an endless runner. Other games that inspired the difficulty and the collection of goodies came from the Sega Mega Drive era, so Sonic and games like Altered Beast.

Jez: Am I simply really bad at it, or were you guys going for something a little more on the challenging finish of the spectrum?

Jay: Well with well-nigh things, practise makes you better. I found this true of Guitar Hero and games like Super Meat Boy. I won't pretend I'yard a god at this game (unless in god mode), there are some days I die a lot. We have testers that are achieving better scores than me, so all things are possible.

Jez: How accept you found working with the ID@Xbox program? In what ways does it differ from launching on Steam or other similar indie platforms?

Jay: Ah man, working with ID@Xbox has helped me accept what I saw as a hobby and turned information technology into something of a dream come true - developing games where people actually take notice and want to learn more. For me personally, Steam Greenlight was a scary thought. I experience some people don't give you a fair chance, particularly when you're developing the smaller 2D titles. I'll tell you lot i thing as well - Microsoft throw dainty parties, so it's always nice being in a position where you can get an invite!

Jez: What sort of release window are you lot targeting?

Jay: We are currently looking at a release this summer, 2022. The process has been new to me, and I'll admit existence a total-time Dad with a total-time job, working on Gear Gauntlet in my spare fourth dimension does take its toll only interviews and involvement similar this keeps me going!

Jez: Although it plays all-time with an Xbox controller right at present, have yous considered retrofitting it for affect devices? Xbox for Windows ten and phones mayhap?

Jay: Homo, I'k stoked to get this game on Windows 10 so I tin play it on Surface tablets, that would exist astonishing. We've had requests to put it on Playstation Vita, iPhone, Android, etc. I can't say it will come to bear on equally I don't know how best to translate the experience, only Windows 10 is definitely in my vision.

Jez: In closing, what sort of gamer should check out Gear Gauntlet this summertime?

Jay: The adept, the bad and the ugly, haha. I guess gamers who similar a claiming and aren't scared off hands, gamers who like competitive fun. All fans of Phoenix Rage, Super Meat Boy, and N+.

I generally shun games that reveal how much of a scrub I am, but Gear Gauntlet is a hard one to put downwards. Action puzzle fans who enjoy a challenge would exist insane to pass this upwards when information technology hits this Summer, exclusively on Xbox One.

Stay tuned to Windows Central for more than ID@Xbox features in the coming weeks!

Big thanks to Jay for taking the fourth dimension to say how-do-you-do!

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/hands-gear-gauntlet-wants-drain-your-sanity

Posted by: jonesthetwor.blogspot.com

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