Once in a blue moon, you might play something that is so good that it redefines your expectations of what is possible in gaming. That might sound like powerful stuff, and it is, but that is exactly how I feel about the game I am reviewing this week. 

Great Expectations

We’ve all been there when you see a game for the first time that is just clever. It does something you’ve never seen before and you have that ‘ah ha’ moment. One of the absolute best elements of indie gaming is how these unexpected morsels come often, as indie developers tend to take more risks. Yet this strength, ironically, is also why these games get less support or visibility. I mention all this because Rain World, that released in 2017, was treated pretty badly by some sections of the gaming media: just for having a higher difficulty curve. Some outright threw their toys out of the pram and gave up, dubbing the game unplayable. This actually pissed me off because it was clear to me that many of these journalists just couldn’t be bothered spending the time necessary to peel back the layers of this experience.

Basic Instinct 

Rain World comes to us from developer Videocult, a small independent studio based in Boston. They describe their own game as a challenging survival platformer and I think this is a fairly accurate summary. You play as Slugcat: a creature that certainly does possess the traits of both its namesakes. The game uses a system of procedural animation which infuses Slugcat with a wonderful sense of personality and dynamism. Traversing through the 2.5D environments is a joy to watch with fluid and often surprising movement. It is not only Slugcat that benefits from this clever animation system but the other creatures you meet are also partly procedural fused with hand-animated. Slugcat can leap, climb, dangle, swim and so on: but the way all these actions are melded into one is where the magic lies.

The environments have a wonderful, almost retro feel to them but then there is sumptuous detail lavished over every room and each feels unique. Mysterious Karma Symbols are engraved in various places and it is up to you to figure out what they mean. On top of the platforming shenanigans, there are poles to climb and small tunnels to scurry down. These can be navigated manually by squeezing Slugcat's jelly-like frame into them: there are also smaller dotted tunnels that will take you to a new place depending on the symbol on the entrance. I love how even if you jam yourself into a tunnel backwards, your little creature will use his claws to move towards freedom.

Chaos Theory 

I cannot remember the last time I saw a gaming environment that felt so alive. In most games you very quickly learn what your enemies can do: but in Rain World the way these creatures find their way around is off the chain. They will leap, fall and stumble their way around in the pursuit of their next meal: if that happens to be you then so be it. There is a lovely element of chance to gameplay which has to be seen to be appreciated. I remember in one instance a predator was climbing up into a cave to eat me: in sheer panic, I pitched a stone and it knocked the beast backwards to a fatal drop. I have also found myself in the jaws of a bigger creature only to be knocked free by another rival predator attacking. These are not scripted events but very clever AI coupled with some of the best pathfinding I've seen in a long time. I have even grabbed some of the more annoying flying insects and used them (to their obvious dismay) as a temporary organic jetpack. 

Cycle of life

So as you move through the twelve zones that make up Slugcats world your goals are fairly simple. As you find fruit and various insects to devour you fill your hunger markers until you reach four. At this point, you must then find one of the safe dens in order to sleep. Hibernating is the game's way of earmarking your progress but therein lies the mechanism which allows you to advance through this hostile world. When you sleep with a belly full of food the karma symbol in the bottom left goes higher in value which unlocks certain doors. However, if you die this number will then decrease by one and with ever-decreasing food on offer; this can become a desperate situation. 

Another key system to be aware of is the constant threat of the rain. As you emerge blinking from your slumber time is limited before the next rains come to wash you away. The inevitable deluge is always fatal (unless you are playing the Rivulet) and in my opinion, is one of the most important aspects of the game. This impending watery doom spurs me on, gives me a reason to value the time I have and also make judgement calls. Can I afford to hibernate again? Dare I risk exploring further for food? If I was just able to explore endlessly I'd just strip the levels bare of all resources and mysteries before moving on: where would be the fun in that?

Cruel Intentions

I think most of us will have played difficult games at some point but even here most of them at least fight fair. In Rain World, you can have your ever-so-fragile frame nobbled in the blink of an eye and sometimes you literally don't see it coming. This is another point where I'm sure some gamers will pitch the controller across the room and reach for uninstall. 

I think what I am saying is that Rain World is not for everyone and despite its playful visuals, you need to accept this game will require a good degree of tenacity and grit to see it through. You will sometimes have your life snatched away in a seemingly unfair way. However, I would say that no matter what you come up against there is always a way around it: even if this just comes down to some nifty platforming or a well-placed spear. In some ways, this game is a rogue-like in disguise and like all good rogue-likes: you must accept failure in order to glean success.

Evolution

As with any expansion, there is new shiny stuff for those Rain World veterans out there. The main stars of the show are the five (yes five!) new Slugcats stepping up to the plate. Each one comes with new skills and a new approach to playing. The Rivulet for example (love these names) is very agile, can skip around levels like a spider monkey and can also breathe underwater. For a solid, one-shot playthrough this little fella is my pick. 

The Spear Master is a huge switcheroo because he grows spears from his tail (no I don't know what these are made of!). This makes him a killer by nature and as such can only eat meat. Speaking of eating, the Gormand is a portly chap that is also a little more crafty than his brethren. He can combine items together in order to give him the upperhand in sticky situations. The saint is another variation that is the polar opposite of the Spear Master. His thing is all about avoiding combat to the point he can't even bear to touch a spear. However, thanks to a long stick tongue (it is his tongue right?) he can swing around and access places other Slugcats can only dream of getting to. 

Finally, we have the Artificer who certainly makes for an explosive impression. In short, he can vomit out sticky bile that can turn thrown objects into ones that go boom. This is not only completely awesome but is very likely to upset the balance of peaceful murder in the game's natural order. As you may have seen in promotional videos, there are also new creatures to encounter and new biomes to die in. However, for the sake of spoilers, I will not mention these here. Just know that they offer an even broader gaming experience and are not just eye candy.

The last major feature of this expansion is the inclusion of expeditions. If you have had enough of the story you can take a break and jump into a more refined slice of the pie. These are missions of sorts, that let you dive into any of the various unlocked locations in the game but with a few specific goals. So for example, gathering a set amount of plants or killing a few of the predators. I can see this addition being a real hit with the veterans of Rain World who have beaten the game but crave something new to dig into.

Summary 

I can wholeheartedly recommend you pick up Rain World Downpour on the proviso that you understand (and accept) the challenge it lays at your feet. It can be very easy to get conditioned to expect no consequences for death in the games we play. But then if there is no punishment for death where is the incentive to survive?

Rain World is an exquisite game and one that deserved much more praise than it received. This Downpour expansion enriches an already wonderful experience with new ways to play and new challenges for those who are brave enough to pick up the gauntlet. There is a modest but passionate Rain World community out there, making everything from mods to fan art. If this expansion gets a good swell of new players I can see a very bright future for this IP. The team at Videocult have clearly poured their heart and souls into bringing this visceral and striking world to life. If you are tired of playing cookie-cutter platform games or run-of-the-mill survival romps then take a look at this title.

Thank you for reading my review of Rain World Downpour on PC. I played the entire game using a controller but keyboard is also a great option and can make some manovers possible.