Akimbot Is Bringing Back The PS2-Platformer Style, And I Love It - Summer Game Fest 2024

If you haven't yet, follow us on X (Twitter) or Mastodon to know when we post new articles, and join our Reddit or Subscribe to us on YouTube to check out our content and interact with our awesome community. Thank you for supporting us!

There are tons of games that are released every week, and so many of them are great at creating brand-new experiences that feel wholly unique, but there are times that I miss the classics. I have fond memories of playing some games growing up, like Super Mario Sunshine on the GameCube, but not a lot of games have captured that same essence I loved back then. The same goes for some of the classic PS2 titles that stand tall as some of my favorites. Ratchet and Clank tops that list, and while other 3D platformers have come out, none have captivated me or felt much like the Ratchet and Clank games until I played Akimbot.

Akimbot was my last appointment at Summer Game Fest, and I had no idea that I was saving one of the best games for last, but that's how it ended up! Akimbot is an action-adventure platformer in which you play as a robot and must save the universe from impending doom. From that description and looking at pictures of the game, it's clear that Ratchet and Clank were massive inspirations. After playing the game, I am not only sold on the concept but fell head over heels for it.

My demo started off by showing me our titular hero being transported to prison, where we are introduced to our soon-to-be partner, Chipset, who has planned a prison break. As you successfully escape, they land on a beach where I have to attack a bunch of robots. Well, that's not necessarily true. There were a lot of civilian robots enjoying the sand as well, but I attacked them anyway. This led us to a big boss battle that required us to take down a giant helicopter trying to kill us.

The first thing I want to note that completely stunned me was that world. If the rest of the game's environments are as glorious and vibrant as the beach that I got to experience, then this is going to be one of the most visually pleasing games to play. The world was not extremely detailed, but just enough to make out everything, and it looked fleshed out and appealing.

Then we have Akimbot's gameplay, which feels just like Ratchet and Clank. It's a 3D platformer, so you can run around and jump up and down platforms while zooming to the far-away ones. The real-time combat utilizes both melee and ranged attacks. Melee will use the sword that you swing around you, while guns can be shot via the hip or in third-person aiming modes. As you play, you will also be able to buy new weapons and upgrade your own, making them more powerful or giving them new effects.

All of this feels extremely fluid and solid overall. From movement to combat, everything just feels tuned perfectly and coated with vibrant, popping effects that make the game look so cool. While I only played a snippet, the full game looks to have way more locations, funds, and even vehicles, and it's just all so nostalgic. While the overall gameplay and even some of the character designs look similar to Ratchet and Clank, and I know I have mentioned them multiple times in this article, I really do feel this adventure can stand alone and be a great, addicting, glorious feast for the eyes. I will watch this one closely because it would be perfect on the Steam Deck!

Akimbot will be released on August 29th, and you can wishlist it now on Steam. I think it will be great on the Steam Deck, and I highly recommend adding it to your wishlist!

If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the content on SteamDeckHQ! We have a wide variety of game reviews and news that will help your gaming experience. Whether you're looking for news, tips and tutorials, game settings and reviews, or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, we've got you covered!