A Hole New World

I haven't beaten this yet but I wanted to write a quick little review while my impressions are fresh. I really like this game. It's like Shovel Knight in all the right ways. There are 5 stages and, I think, a final boss level. You get different potions that do different things and this really opens up the game play. Levels are fairly complicated in their layout. There are a few branching paths and hidden secrets scattered about. I like that when you kill an enemy, it stays dead so you don't have to worry about backtracking through already traversed areas. My only gripe is that some of the achievements look to be a slog to get. I hate when developers make achievements super hard to obtain. Who has time for that foolishness?

Nice mechanic. I like the upside-down world. But I feel it is more for speedrunners and hardcore fans of the gendre, than ordinary people

A Hole New World is a deliberately old-school action platformer that embraces the spirit, difficulty, and design philosophy of classic 8-bit games while introducing a clever twist that keeps its gameplay from feeling like pure imitation. Developed and published by MadGearGames, the title began life as a game jam experiment before evolving into a full commercial release, and that origin is still visible in its tight focus, compact scope, and emphasis on mechanical clarity over excess features. It is a game that proudly challenges the player, offering a nostalgic experience that demands patience, pattern recognition, and persistence. The premise is simple and intentionally archetypal. You play as the Potion Master, a lone defender of a city under siege by creatures emerging from a mysterious parallel realm known as the Upside Down World. Accompanied by a fairy companion named Fäy, your mission is to push back the invasion by traversing interconnected stages filled with enemies, hazards, and hidden secrets. Narrative elements are minimal and largely conveyed through brief text moments and visual cues, serving more as thematic flavor than a driving force. This restrained storytelling …

A Hole New World is a polished, solid and challenging retro-style platformer. I found that all my weapons were useful depending on the circumstances, and the "upside-down world" gimmick helps the game feel different from similar games. The bosses get quite challenging, and there are additional challenges for those looking for something more hard core after they beat the game regularly. The pixel art and tunes are quite good, and while you have a limited number of lives, game overs are not overly punishing (you still start at your last checkpoint). Oh, and there are several secret areas to discover by checking for false walls. I also always enjoy it when a game's credits includes pixel art portraits of the staff. Recommended!

I have mixed feelings about this game. I grew up playing NES, so brutal NES-era old-school difficulty doesn't bother me. And i was really enjoying this game through the first 4 levels or so. But then the later levels become absurdly difficult, and not in a fun "learn to overcome the challenge" kind of way, but rather just a ridiculous and cheap "throw an absurd amount of enemies at you from all conceivable angles at once while also requiring platforming in spite of the fact that you get that Castlevania-esque knockback every time you get hit" kind of way, which just isn't fun. There are some smaller issues, as well. It's cool that you get different potions/attacks, but the way it is implemented leaves a bit to be desired. Rather than having an array of useful attacks to freely switch between as needed/desired, it's basically just "you need to use the attack you got at the end of Level 1 for Level 2, then you use the attack you get at the end of Level 2 for Level 3, etc etc." You get a new weapon, you pretty much need to use it for the very next level, and then you basically don't ever need it again. And as others have pointed out, it doesn't feel like they took as much advantage…

Too old school, and makes me dizzy playing it.