THE ICONOCLASTS

A NARRATIVE-DRIVEN PLATFORMER BROUGHT TO LIFE BY PIXEL-PERFECT ART. $29.95 | PC, PS4, PS Vita | www.konjak.org

There’s no shortage of pixel-styled 2D platformers out in the wild, but The Iconoclasts is probably the most beautiful of them all. If you owned a Sega Mega Drive in the ‘90s you’ll rejoice at its bright and vibrant aesthetic. But such is its detail, and so painstaking is the attention to every facet of its artistic direction, that The Iconoclasts more closely resembles a game you might have dreamed would release for 16-bit consoles back in the day. Protagonist Robin is a mechanic, though according to the rules of tyrannical authority One Concern, she must undertake the day job they delegate. But she’s determined to be a mechanic anyway, and this sends her on a quest to foil the powerful oppressor. The game is wrapped up in a lengthy (and some might argue, confusing) narrative, with most of its charm derived from environment and character design. The usual 2D rhythm of jumping, puzzle-solving and boss smiting is here. It’s not a very interesting game on a systems level, but it’s got a heart of gold.