Webbed

You couldn't help but chuckle at the initial game description for Webbed. It read, 'be the adorable spider that you've always wanted to be.' If I did a tally of hands to ask whether you've always dreamed of being an adorable spider, I would expect to see very few raise in the air. But alas, it seems like this developer has a dream of being a cutesy arachnid. Why not, I guess?

Webbed is a 2D platformer that sticks players into a nostalgic arcade-like garden universe. You'll take on the role of a spider and achieve your in-game objectives with traditional platform mechanics. Is there anything really appealing about playing a game about a spider traveling through your backyard? Turns out, there's more than meets the eye!

Spider Love Runs Strong

It turns out not only is there a decent narrative behind Webbed, but there's quite the palette of diverse gameplay too! You are a spider looking to save her boyfriend from an evil giant bird. Overcoming such a colossal foe won't be easy, though. You'll have to make friends, build a giant mecha-bug, and obliterate obstacles to get the swift arachnid vengeance you deserve.

The pixelated visuals deliver an elementary sense of gameplay. The reality is that Webbed is mechanically more in-depth than anybody could expect. You'll use your straightforward yet powerful web creation tools to make paths in overcoming a series of puzzles and challenges. The core gameplay is complemented by interactions between NPCs, exploration, and side quests into completing your goals.

It's actually quite surprising how each element of the game is so well-thought-out. While you'd think one would be on a casual journey to cross the field and avoid predecessors is actually a comprehensive journey. There's player problem-solving required, a progressing narrative - and most significantly, players consistently enjoy the game.

Perhaps the game won't appeal to everyone, though, as it still is a more casual approach to the common node of challenge. Webbed is not excessively difficult, but it's clear that it's not aiming towards that player base. It wants to tell a story, be a little wholesome, and entertain its players from start to finish. It's pretty successful in that regard.

World Wide Web

Webbed is a charming adventure, made all the more entertaining by its accessibility. It's a simple mechanical approach, yet powerful enough to create near endless possibilities for gameplay. By no means does the game provide the challenges of similar platformers like The Lion King or Ori and the Blind Forest. But it does give players a unique adventure and definitely stands up as an excellent game.

Pros:

• A wholesome platformer that brings joy in nearly every game design element
• The game is accessible to an extensive player base
• Additional design aspects complement the core gameplay well

Cons:

• Not as challenging as genre enthusiasts would hope
• Pixelated visuals get lost in jagged environments