Downwell (Game) Review.

 

There are games that we love, games we abhor, games that we are fond of and games that do something else; they tap into a feeling, a moment, an itch or a desire that we might not know we had. It's hard to quanitify that desire or to know what it is because they appeal to our minds in ways that hit a very specific set of requirements that only really make ourselves aware of them as we experience life a little more. So for the last four years of my life, has a game been one that anchored itself to my need to work against something very dificult and encourage me to improve at it. I can't see I adore it, or see it as something I love beyond any other game. More like, it's been present in as easy a way as I can access when my life has been rather difficult in spots. And so it is, that is how I've spent four years, trying to solve Downwell.

 

A game about a child falling down a well and firing your gun boots that slow your desecent but also allow you to deal with the numerous creatures inhabiting the well. You jump, you bounce, you build combos, you try to not get hit. In my case, I die. A lot. I've spent possibly hours in Downwell trying to figure out how to reach its final boss and failed and learned for as said, around four'ish years. I don't quite know when it became something I picked up so much. I tried as best I could to play a bit each day and each day, I saw an inch more of a game that I thought at one point, I'd never beat, until today.

 

It's a novel feeling. It's a small game, but feels intensely difficult. It has hit boxes that can feel a little nebulous or perhaps strict on where you hit an enemy that counts as the top of the head, where you can bounce safely and the bottom, which will cause damage. I think the pen-ultimate level on normal difficulty is actually one of the most fun levels, a frenetic always on-going ride down a shadow filled limbo with music that reminds me of Aphex Twin, of all musicians, an electronic distortion vibe scape of uniqueness. There are moments where I would just about shrug, smile and enjoy replaying and others where I kind of just sighed and accepted it was likely over but cursed the game out. I however always wanted to see what it was about, what the ending would look like.

 

As my life has in this moment been filled with a few rather abrupt endings and potential ones I worry for, this was one ending that I am thankful for. The release and understanding, to play as I hoped I would, has meant the world. And to be able to see a future where I could live and enjoy my life a little more, I treasure a lot. I will always treasure the journey I took down the well, for finally being able to see myself hit the bottom and find my way back out.

 

Picture from the Playstation Store