Pixel Perfect.
There is no beating around the bush, here; Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan is a gorgeous tribute to games of yore. Rife with exploration and charming sprite work, you will be hard pressed to find a more complete experience. From platforming action, to Metroid-Vania exploration and Mega Man-like boss battles, Sydney Hunter has it all. CollectorVision Games has created a must-own for anybody’s Switch collection.
A story of gods and men…
The Haab calendar has been smashed to bits by the god Kukuklan and Kinich Ahau (the Maya sun god) is unleashed onto the world. Not only that, but this all happens in the unluckiest time in the Haab Calendar, Wayeb, five nameless days that are considered to be extremely unlucky. The seven pieces are spread about and guarded by god’s in the Maya mythos, and it is up to Sydney to defeat these gods and restore the calendar before Wayeb ends. The story is told in gorgeous sprite-laced cut scenes and witty, tongue-in-cheek dialog.
CollectorVision does an excellent job in how it chooses to tell this story. The Maya history is rich and deep, but not really well known by your average Joe. You will never feel like you are in school as you learn about the fascinating culture of the Maya, but rest assured you will learn some. Seeing the Maya gods come to life in brilliant HD sprites, equipped with video game super powers, is simply a joy. This is what makes the storytelling devices so special. It is not just dialog, but sound and character design that really nails home the true artistic vision.
8-bit chip toons…
The first thing you will notice is the familiar look, feel, and sounds of 8-bit days of yore. While the sprite work looks like you remember it being as a kid, this game was built for new hardware. This means more colors and textures than what a true NES game could produce. These gorgeous backdrops really pop off the screen. Movement is fluid and snappy, as you would expect from the best games made my Nintendo themselves. Tying it all together is the stellar soundtrack. You will be humming along to catchy tunes, and sudden shifts in tone musically will have you on the edge of your seat. This soundtrack is simply fantastic. This is all wrapped in a nice bow, with simple two button controls, just as you had in the 80s and early 90s.
Sydney Hunter – The Mega Man from Down Undah*
Traversing the world as Sydney Hunter is a faithful recreation of the games it takes influence from, for sure. Syndey’s weight and jumping distance feels right, and his whip attacks do exactly what you would expect or want it to do. There are plenty of easter eggs and secrets to find, most of which are crystal skulls needed to unlock newer levels. You will find yourself whipping every nook and cranny searching for more gems and skulls for hours.
Capping off your time exploring and unlocking comes intense, although sometimes difficult boss fights. You will enter a boss chamber just like in classic Mega Man style and face off one on one with a super powered baddie. Some of these bosses will have pretty powerful attacks, so some trial and error will be needed. Overall, once you figure out the pattern and your weapon’s limitations, coupled with the best platforming plan of attack, bosses will bend the knee to the mighty Sydney Hunter.
*We do not know if Sydney Hunter is Australian
Conclusion
Sydney Hunter is a fun, fast paced metroid-vania platformer with intense Mega Man style boss battles that will have a constant smile on your face. Simple controls, stunning sprite work, and engaging level designs make Sydney Hunter the complete “new retro” package belonging in the conversation with other greats such as Shovel Knight and The Messenger. This is a must own Nindie.
Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan was provided by CollectorVision Games for review on Nintendo Switch.
