Spooky Pixel Hero review – “More platforming, less heebie-jeebies”

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Spooky Pixel Hero review - “More platforming, less heebie-jeebies”

  • An eerie world
  • 120 levels filled with challenging platforms
  • An engrossing story with a dark secret

As a seasoned gamer and a die-hard fan of the DERE series, I can confidently say that Spooky Pixel Hero is a masterpiece that has left me spellbound. Having traversed the chilling landscapes of DERE Vengeance just days after its release, I was on the hunt for AppSir’s next horror platformer, and boy, did they deliver!

The newest addition to the DERE horror series by AppSir Games, titled Spooky Pixel Hero, will be available for both iOS and Android platforms starting August 12th. A Steam version has been announced as well, though players will have to hold their excitement until September 17th.

After completing Dere Vengeance shortly after its release, I eagerly sought out AppSir’s subsequent horror platformer. I simply couldn’t resist the temptation to get an early look at Spooky Pixel Hero before it was officially launched.

Fix This Classic For Us, Please

In Spooky Pixel Hero, players assume the role of a young and talented game developer who gets recruited by a secret organization. This talented developer is asked to repair a classic platformer game that is “decomposing.” You also get a sidekick, an Advanced Interactive Debug Engine, or A.I.D.E. Yes, that’s her. Make of that what you will.

Eager to establish himself in gaming and keen on honing his abilities, the developer takes up the project. However, what appears to be a typical ’70s platformer, created by Walter Salazar in 1976, proves to be far more complex. The game’s sophistication surpasses the expectations of a newcomer, leaving him utterly overwhelmed. Yet, as he ventures deeper into this intricate game, he finds himself compelled to persist, meticulously repairing each level that needs fixing.

Spooky Pixel Hero review - “More platforming, less heebie-jeebies”

Things Are Just As They Seem

Spooky Pixel Hero ain’t no deceiver. Everything you see in this 2D platformer does exactly what it looks like it’ll do. Gold keys will open the locked doors. File icons are indeed file icons that you should collect to fully repair the game. Leave them be and you might be setting yourself up for failure. Anything that looks like it can kill you does so on the touch. So, if you’re coming from DERE Vengeance like me where we had to second guess everything, Spooky Pixel Hero saves you the trouble.
Sticking to their traditions, AppSir Games once again goes with a minimal controls setup. You get three buttons to go left, right and to jump. However, we don’t get those crafty mid-air jumps or double jumps this time around. Instead, many levels that require taller jumps use bounce pads.
Speed, timing, precision, and patience – you’ll need to master just about everything if you are to complete the 120 Levels. As I mentioned earlier, every time you complete a level and go through the gate, you’re falling deeper into the game. And the deeper you go, the tougher platforms you’ll face.
There’s zero room for complacency in Spooky Pixel Hero because there are no checkpoints. Overcome the toughest obstacle and you might die the silliest of deaths. Happened to me a couple of times but an in-game ad helped me shrug it off. You can remove those via in-app purchases, though.

You Shall Not Compare

The only way to fully enjoy the latest horror platformer from AppSir Games is to not compare it with the other games of the DERE series. It is a retro horror platformer, much like the other games, but it’s also so much more.

The “Spooky Pixel Hero” is a typical platformer game as its title suggests. It’s also where the story of the DERE series begins. If you’re new to the AppSir universe, it would be best to start with “Spooky Pixel Hero” and then move on to the other games in sequence to fully grasp the DERE-verse. So, if you’re just stepping into this world, begin your journey with “Spooky Pixel Hero”!

  1. Spooky Pixel Hero
  2. Sorority Rites
  3. The Last Yandere
  4. DERE EXE
  5. DERE EVIL EXE
  6. HopBound
  7. Puzzling Peaks EXE
  8. DERE Vengeance

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2024-08-12 17:18