For being such an obscure game in the Wii U library, I feel that this is a hidden gem. When seeing the trailer on Youtube, I was impressed andFor being such an obscure game in the Wii U library, I feel that this is a hidden gem. When seeing the trailer on Youtube, I was impressed and immediately sold, and more so after doing some research on the Giana Sisters franchise. After playing the game, I was satisfied and eager for more games to come to the franchise in the future.
Visuals/Graphics 9/10
I love the juxtaposition of the cutsie dream world switching with the darker nightmare world based on which side of Giana you chose. I feel that the Cute Giana should've been matched with the Dream world where "punk" Giana should've been in the Nightmare world, but the visuals of both worlds made up for it for me.
Design: 8/10
The concept is original and unlike any 2D platformer I'd ever played before (which the franchise desperately needed due to copyright infringement lawsuits from Nintendo in the past). It has that retro feel of a 2D platformer with the visuals of a new game. The programming seems sound with no notable glitches or bugs that I've found yet.
Sound/Music 10/10
By far one of the most amazing soundtracks I've ever heard in a video game. Hats off to Chris Huelsbeck (who worked on the original Great Giana Sisters) and Fabian Del Priore (Giana Sisters DS) for an amazing job composing the music for this game. And Machinae Supremacy added on a hell of a soundtrack for punk Giana. Too many times I accidently died playing because I was too busy headbanging. Both cute and dark soundtracks sound amazing while half of the songs sound better in the cute version while half sound better in the dark version.
Controls: 6/10
I find this game to be difficult, not only because of the challenging level design and boss battles, but because of the control layout. Too many times in this game I meant to push x to hover but instead hit y to dash and paid the price for it. It's also confusing that LR also changes Giana's form, but can be useful in some situations. If you can get the controls down though, you shouldn't have much of a problem.
Fun Factor: 8/10
Not what I was expecting at all from an obscure game franchise and a small developing company. The levels are highly difficult, but to the point that you want to keep trying until you finally get it.
Overall 41/50 or 8/10
Definitely a game worth picking up and I highly suggest you do if you find it. It was released in limited qualities, so they may eventually end up being hard to find, and might be a valuable and rare collector's item in the future.… Expand