MainFrames, brought to us by The Arcade Crew and Assoupi, is an endearing 2D platformer that whisks players away to explore the nooks and crannies of a PC monitor’s windows and desktop. Let’s dive into what makes MainFrames tick in this review!
In this charming digital adventure, you step into the role of Floppy, a program with big dreams of finding his niche in the virtual world. The journey begins as you’re lounging inside your cozy floppy disk abode, when suddenly—and quite dramatically—the world shrinks around you. Someone had the audacity to minimize your window, launching you into the wilds of the desktop. Now, it’s your mission to navigate through diverse areas and carve out a meaningful existence in this new realm.
After your unexpected leap into the desktop, the basics unfold smoothly on your first window. Piloting Floppy is a breeze with either the left analog stick or the D-Pad. Jumping? Just hit the B button. And for some extra flair, press it again mid-air to perform a spin. You’ll also wield a cursor to manipulate windows, toggling between them with L, ZL, R, and ZR buttons. Need to adjust your view? The right analog stick lets you shift windows up, down, left, or right.
As you progress, new gameplay elements keep things fresh. Your cursor isn’t just for moving windows; it also activates keys for door openings. Certain passages will test your skills with challenging wall jumps, requiring precision to navigate longer gaps with your jump-spin combo. Watch out for glitchy windows emitting bizarre red energy—those are best left alone. Meanwhile, BUMP icons are your friends for boosting Floppy skyward in the direction they point. Navigating becomes even trickier when gears begin altering the landscape on-screen.
The landscape of MainFrames is both visually engaging and compelling, with its seven distinct levels linked through a central hub. Depending on your prowess, you’re looking at about 4-5 hours to tackle this adventure. To make it accessible for everyone, MainFrames includes options like adjusting game speed, disabling text animations, and granting invincibility or infinite jumps and spins. Ready to dive in? You can catch this delightful game on the Nintendo Switch for $12.99.
With its unique setting and engaging mechanics, MainFrames offers a nostalgic glimpse into digital exploration wrapped in a charming package. It promises both challenge and charm, making it a worthy pick for adventure and platformer fans alike.
Disclaimer: This MainFrames review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by The Arcade Crew.
