Bye-Bye, Wacky Planet is a casual early access 2D shoot em up game developed by Rasul Mono and published by Efimov Max. It was released on 16th July 2016. You are Alan, a green coloured alien that wants to escape an enemy facility in order to return to his home planet. He works alongside Eve, another alien that guides his way throughout each level. This review will cover the campaign in reference to design, dialogue, sound, and so forth. It will also cover gameplay, performance and current issues.

Wacky Planet has a very solid campaign that incorporates diverse level designs into various settings. The campaign is split into three episodes with 16 episodes in the first, 15 in the second, and 10 in the third with three more episodes coming out in 2016. All levels and episodes have disparate objectives and settings. For instance, episode one most levels introduces you to the game and tasks you with finding a key card and finding the exit. Furthermore, all levels and episodes provide different settings such as episode one in a facility to level two featuring various others. These settings have weather effects that I think enhance the atmosphere and enjoyment of levels. Wacky Planet emphasises challenge in complementing the different levels because the game becomes more difficult as it progresses, which climax with very strong bosses. To counter the rage-inducing and repeating nature of some points, the game has checkpoints that occasionally appear and successfully balance difficulty with relief.

Wacky Planet incorporates dialogue via the cute alien characters. All dialogue is simple and is meaningful. For instance, Eve helps Alan discuss how to complete a level and the objectives. In saying that, the dialogue has constant grammar issues that are visible to notice. Lastly, the soundtrack is neat, adding some intrigue into the atmosphere of each level. However, there are not many songs to listen to, but not enough to notice constant repeating of the same. My overall take on both paragraphs is that I enjoyed all three episodes and levels that features new settings, more enemies, often more difficult to beat, disparate objectives, and levels that require more strategies due to the progressively difficult nature of the game. I liked the simple dialogue and the soundtrack that complements the atmosphere. I completed the campaign in 6.5 hours and I feel it had a good length to it.

Wacky Planet has very solid gameplay. As you progress the game adds new gameplay elements into the levels. For instance, a level allows you to play as a tank while another allows you to play as a drone. These spice up and refresh the core gameplay to ensure the game is not stale. There is an upgrade system that is the strategic element of the game. There is three tiers, split into personal abilities, light and heavy weapons. The personal ability has three upgrades and the latter two have four upgrades. You upgrade by collecting in-game currency following killing enemy. I think the upgrade system creates some variety in engaging your enemy and completing levels. Lastly, Wacky Planet features some strong AI that does not feel like an afterthought, rather something crucial that increases the difficulty of the game while not feeling stale and buggy.

Technically, the game needs some polishing. There is no visual options in the game and I do surpass the recommended specs, but I only constantly achieve 50 FPS. I barely notice any stutters while at 50FPS though. However, when I engage multiple enemies my FPS drops to around 35-40 FPS and when I use a machine gun, which is an upgrade in the game, FPS drops to 27-30FPS. In other words, I think the game needs more optimisation.

Wacky Planets store page suggests the game is "absolutely honed and the bugs completely absent". I disagree with this assessment, but I have not noticed many bugs at all. For instance, I have noticed very rarely in some levels of unresponsive AI walking into walls. I noticed another very rare bug of going into steam overlay and exiting out of it and being unable to move the player, but I could shoot. These issues are very minor as stated. Two of my main issues is one through the numerous and very frequent grammar issues. Secondly, I do not like that due to the abundance of enemies you have to beat the screen constantly shakes while shooting. The developer currently seems very committed to fixing and improving the game so I will post my negatives with the game onto the forums for him to review and hopefully fix. If he fixes these little issues he has covered my negatives minus performance. I think some minor features could be of use in the game, particularly load games and a mouse cursor as both are excluded.

Overall, Bye-Bye, Wacky Planet is a very good game. It features three enjoyable episodes with 41 differently designed levels. All levels progress the story of Alan attempting to escape a facility to reach his home planet and incorporate some simple dialogue to nail that point. Furthermore, each episode incorporates diverse environments coupled with increasingly difficult AI to add a wrinkle of strategy and tactics to the game. It features very solid and fluid gameplay and decent performance. At $USD$4.99 I recommend this game because you can complete the game and return regularly as new episodes release to play it before stopping it. Furthermore, the low price allows you to support a developer that has evidently presented a nearly bug-free game, which is not what you usually get in early access.

8.5/10

- Very nice levels that are diverse and incorporate different settings.
- Straight-forward gameplay that expands as the game progresses.
- Upgrade system.
- Fine story.
- Cute artwork.

- Subpar performance. Cannot regularly hit or sustain 60FPS.
- Shaky screen.
- Minor bugs.

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http://store.steampowered.com/app/492130/

Update following Patch 0.4.1: The developer has fixed two out of my four negatives (shaky screen with enemies and AI walking into wall) and improved performance. I haven't tested performance, which I will test when episode four releases, but otherwise the game is improving.

Bye-Bye, Wacky Planet is a 2D side-scrolling action game that takes me back to the old days of casual gaming. It is a game starring Alan, a green colored alien and co-starring Eve, a female orange colored alien. Both adorable aliens are trapped on planet Earth and are trying to escape to their home planet and live in peace. The game emphasizes simplicity in every sense of the word by presenting simple level designs, simple dialogue, and simple gameplay.

The game is divided into six episodes, each episode containing many levels. The beginning of the game feels like the game is going to be repetitive and monotonous, as you shoot at scientists while trying to exit each level. The pattern becomes clear: kill enemies in your way, collect coins they leave behind, find the key that will open the level's exit, and open the exit elevator door to complete the level. Just as I thought the game would be too repetitive, there was a break in the monotony when the game switched to an outdoor setting and Alan can pilot a tank. Shooting at enemies with a tank is fun and creates more diversity in the game and is a departure from jumping from platform to platform so often. Eventually, you will pilot a drone that adds a little more diversity to the gameplay as you continue to blast enemies that get in your way. Some other outdoor levels include different weather conditions like sun and rain. The only aspect of the gameplay that remains repetitive is the constant shooting of enemies. The simple gameplay does not mean that it is not easy to get killed. Being careless while taking on many enemies at once can lead to death quickly. Most episodes have a final level that features a boss. The strategy required for defeating each boss is easy to understand.

The ability to collect coins from fallen enemies feels old school. The coins are mainly silver with a fair share of gold coins dropped by enemies for good measure. These coins are useful for buying from merchants that stand around most levels of the game. You can buy abilities, light weapons, and heavy weapons. There is no ammo to buy in the game since there is no ammo to consider, as each weapon seems to contain infinite ammo.

The dialogue in the game has no audio and Eve is the alien who guides Alan throughout each level. There are some grammar issues in the dialogue. For the first part of the game, Eve is just a guide, but Eve will be playable later in the game which is good for keeping the game from becoming too stale. Eve rides through each level with a hoverboard and you will realize how much harder the game becomes, although the increase in difficulty is not frustrating. She only carries two weapons and cannot buy anything since no merchant appears in the episode where she is playable.

The control scheme includes the keyboard, but the mouse can only be used for firing and switching between weapons. The controls are solid enough, but the jumps from one platform to another can be a little tricky at times. It would have been nice to use the mouse for the main menu, but that is just a personal preference. The AI of the enemies is decent, but some enemies like the scientists can get stuck on walls while other scientists can jump into the abyss of death when attempting to jump from one platform to another. I did not find any other technical glitches in the game and it ran very well on my PC.

The soundtrack of the game is a good match with the atmosphere of each episode and level. However, there are not many songs in the game and that, in addition to the repetitive action, adds to the repetitiveness of this game.

The achievements in the game are quite easy to get without making you feel like it is trying to give you achievements for any little action that you take. Achievements are easy but make sense because they are earned an x number of enemies, completing certain tasks, or completing certain episodes.

This is a game that I find fun and funny. The aliens are adorable from the beginning of the story to the end. If you are a beginner in gaming, Bye-Bye, Wacky Planet may be more challenging than it would be for more experienced gamers. Rasul Mono, the indie developer, made a decent effort in making a game that is charming and simple. The level designs are not too bad. This is not an epic or classic game by any stretch of the imagination, but if you are looking for casual fun for $5 and do not mind repetitiveness, you should buy this game.

My Score: 7/10

Although technology enables improvements in games part of me misses the era where games were simple. Simple concepts with simple gameplay that were brilliantly designed. Simple never necessarily implies easy. Some of the most simply designed games offered players enormous challenge. If you were to talk to many gamers today who were raised on the classics you will likely discover that they found the games of yesteryear to be more challenging and difficult.

Some of the classics that I was raised on were 2D side-scrolling shoot 'em ups. The original Duke Nukem games come to mind. It was these games that took hours of my childhood. I lost count how many times I played through those games. Yet this isn't some cry that they don't make them like they used to. Because that isn't true. Bye-Bye, Wacky Planet is testimony to the fact that when developers sit down and consider making one of these games that they are still able to find the magic touch.


Aside from being one of the most promising 2D side-scrolling shoot 'em ups to come along in recent memory, it's a charming space adventure. You play the role of Alan, a green alien who is attempting to escape an enemy facility in order to return to his home planet. So imagine if E.T. were green instead of brown and rather than being sick he had a weapon and shot at all of the murderous enemies that attempt to take him out. It's a fun concept albeit not one that is full of originality.

It is important to note that it is episodic in nature. As of writing the game has three of its six episodes published. Each episode has a varied number of levels. Each tells a different part of the story.


Story

Given that the game is episodic and has a story a key component of the presentation is in fact the story. Eve's dialogue with Alan conveys much of the story. Eve is another alien who is in constant communication. Although the idea behind Eve is well thought out and she does work rather well as a guide - and tutorial - for Alan there are issues with the presentation. Unfortunately, there are a number of grammatical issues that bog down the game.

Checkpoints

The game is set at a medium to higher difficulty. Platform and shoot 'em up experts will probably breeze through most of the available content. However, if you're not an expert some of the game will induce rage. Therefore, I am rather thankful that a checkpoint system has been incorporated into the level design. However, you'll want to be quick on your toes as some of the checkpoints can thrust you immediately back into the action. This becomes a constant battle of the wills and you may die many times over before reaching the subsequent checkpoint.

Graphics

The color palette chosen for the game is largely a bright one. I believe that this should appeal to many. The graphics are relatively pleasing on the eyes but they are not exactly perfect.

I have one issue with the artistic design decisions of the game. Occasionally I find that the game is set too close and not enough of the playing field is visible to the player. I argue that this artificially, and not for the right reasons, increases the difficulty of the game. I'd like to see the game set back a little bit. The result, I believe, would highlight the level design much more than what is currently conveyed. The level design is one of the highlights of the game. Why not show it off?

Visual options also needs to be improved. Although others have reported that they have had FPS issues with the game I have had none whatsoever. However, I easily breeze past the minimum required specs so it would be interesting to see how someone closer to them reports.

Sound

The soundtrack, what there is of it, is easy to listen and has been well chosen for the game. With that said it needs to expand as the rest of the game is released.


Strong AI

The game has some very well designed AI... when playing the game properly (see my next point). There are an onslaught of different enemy types and they amp up in difficulty over time. They are incorporated at well designed intervals giving you just enough time to learn but not become comfortable. AI has always been one of the most important elements of a side scrolling game so it is nice to see the dev nail it this early in development.

Upgrade System

The highlight of the gameplay features is the upgrade system. There are three areas where you can choose to upgrade. These are light attack, heavy attack and a special feature. This is the most strategic element of the gameplay.

However, the upgrade system can be gamed. At the moment when you die and you go back to your checkpoint you can constantly get enemies to respawn from their respawn device. Enemies do not stop spawning nor do they stop dropping coins. If you keep your space from a respawn point there is nothing stopping you from killing over and over again until you have banked enough coins to visit the game shop (generally near a checkpoint) and purchase an upgrade. I hope that this is patched before release.

Intuitive

Perhaps most importantly is that gameplay - certainly with a controller - is very intuitive. I prefer to play with a controller but there are keyboard and mouse controls established. I would argue that the game would play better with a controller but that may just be personal preference. Everything plays and feels as it should control wise.


Yes. Bye-Bye, Wacky Planet has a set of Steam trading cards and has achievements for the hunters out there. There are eight trading cards and currently fifteen achievements.


Bye-Bye, Wacky Planet is in Steam Early Access. Half of the game's six episodes have already been released. The game is certainly playable and the average amount of gameplay is estimated to be about 6 to 8 hours at this point. With a further three episodes to be developed and subsequently released you are looking at ten hours or more of content. The game is currently at a price point that would, in my opinion, reflect a bargain price (estimated $1 per hour of quality gaming). If you're the type to provide feedback then the developer will certainly take it on board. I recommend the game to people interested in the genre. I think we've unearthed a true beauty here.

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*Just let me go home!
*Oh, man! They're stealing my lives!
*Evil laboratory assistants respawn behind this door.
*Well, its't just jedi-scientist.
* How, the ♥♥♥♥, should I pass this level???

Good, exciting game. But 7 level in 4 episod is impassable :-( (waitng for developers)

I am writing this review after playing through all the levels and earning all achievements (which you basically get after finishing the game).

Pros:
+ easy to learn
+ simple and beautiful graphic

Cons:
- linear level design (most of the time you have to just go right)
- repetitive, boring (there are some new game mechanics throughout the game but way too few, most levels in a chapter are basically the same, last chapter is just the first one backwards)
- controller not usable in first and last chapter because there is not "fall through the plattform" button
- laggy when played for a long time (just restart the game once in a while)
- not challenging
- sound gets annoying after time (just pew pew pew pew pew....)

Quick, easy and fun. Can never go wrong with something simple and enjoyable. Even for $5 it's a decent purchase, however it can wait for a sale.

I like the game, very nice and casual.
As advertised it is colorful and has good music, though not memorable in my opinion.

I also feel as though its a bit repetitive but I think its still fun.

To be honest I wouldn't play this unless I was bored but that's just me.

6.5/10


Spoiler-ish stuff about game mechanics

I like the inclusion of "dash" as it feels somewhat unique compared to other games.

I also like how you can have variety of weapons with the merchant which does take away some repetitive-ness.

I also like the inclusion of gamepad because I'm not fond of platformers with keyboard.

I wanted to like this. I like actiony platformers, I like games that are a bit easy so that I can just burn through them and say I've seen one more indie game. I figured this would be right up my alley.

It was the fourth flat level with nothing but a monotonous series of enemies recycled over and over that broke my will.

There's a lot of casual action adventure games out there these days that evoke sort of a nostalgia for the second/third generation of Xbox Live Arcade games (think the first two years of 360 downloadable games). This one is in that mix, but it also rises above, like the sort of thing that Ninja Bee would come up with if they wanted to do "Alien Hominid but way more polished" then plugged in more platformer variety (varied enemy mechanics you had to watch out for/multiple environments/confined spaces/a shop system/survival levels).

It's the sort of thing that deserves a spotlight on consoles as a successor to all those games from 10-12 years ago that showed that you could still pack a lot into a low cost action title. Lucky you, getting in on the ground floor on Steam.

Fun little side scrolling shoot em up. Easy achievments, basically just beat the game and you unlock them all. I honestly figured I would beat the game in an hour or so but there are a lot more levels then I thought there would be. Overall I'm happy with my purchase.