Smelter Switch Review – On the Eve of Take Over

Have you ever wondered what an action platformer like Mega Man combined with a strategy like Starcraft would look like? No? Why not? Those are two great genres, so why would you not think of them together? Sure, it may be a bit unconventional, but if you can successfully combine two very different genres together and do it well, you might have yourselves a magical gaming experience. Well, that is what we have with Smelter from X PLUS and DANGEN Entertainment.

This is some sweet hybrid gameplay for our sweet hybrid console, but I am going to warn you right at the front: Smelter is quite the challenging game. So is this challenging double-ish game worth your hard-earned coin? Or are these two genres better separately?

Right from the get-go, starting up Smelter is an eye-opening experience. The anime-inspired introduction is stunning, and the fluid combat happening within it is jaw-dropping. This is also the first sign of how excellent the soundtrack is. X PLUS and DANGEN, we need a Smelter anime now, please!

Now that the dust has settled from our wild ride of an intro, we are told the story of Adam and Eve hanging out in the Garden of Eden, but this time Adam is the one who eats the forbidden fruit and the two are cast out of the garden as they begin their plummet to an unknown world below. You take control of Eve, but there is no Adam in sight. Instead, you eventually hear an unfamiliar voice, and that is when Eve and Smelter, a strong and green bat-like being that has immense power and control, connect for the first time. The two agree to help each other, and so begins our wonderful adventure with this lovely odd couple.

Smelter actually flootipooes with Eve (Yes, the actual word they use in the game), which means he unites with her as an armor set, gaining her immense power and ability. From this point, the game officially begins, and we get a wonderful showing of the action platformer side of things. Once the two make their way out of the caved area, we are introduced to the overworld where we meet Smelter’s army of minions known as Zirms. This is where we learn about the real-time strategy side of the game, and now we are fully immersed in the Smelter universe.

The story is just plain hilarious. The characters all have colorful personalities and depth, and seeing how each of them interact with each other reveals relational history that will genuinely make you laugh and bring intrigue.

Smelter is the highlight of the game. The character is so complex, and the way he teeters on the line between good and bad makes so many of the interactions even more interesting. Each main area of the game has a handful of unique characters that Smelter banters with, and we learn so much more about him thanks to these magnificent and hysterical conversations.

As far as gameplay goes, the game is split into two very different styles. We are initially introduced to the action platformer side once we take control of Eve and then Flootipoo with Smelter, so we learn quickly the Mega Man-like controls and combat at the start. However, after clearing that initial intro stage, Smelter is disconnected from Eve and begins talking to one of his minions in an overworld map very similar to something like Starcraft. Usually mixing genres like this can be a bit overwhelming, but X PLUS did a fantastic job separating the two styles enough and helping players to understand the gameplay for both.

The strategy side of the game is pretty straight-forward, although it would have been beneficial to get a bit more direction at the beginning of the game. However, once you get the hang of it, expanding your empire and controlling your Zirms as you take out enemies and open up new stages becomes easier and more comfortable as you progress in the game.

The same cannot be said about the Eve sections. The platforming gets harder and harder as you move deeper into any of the three major areas, like a normal game does, so the major difference between the two styles is that one gets easier over time while the other increases difficulty sharply.

And that’s a point we need to talk about, because Smelter is a tough-as-nails game. The best game series to compare it to is Mega Man (The originals, not X), because the action platforming stages can be quite grueling and demand a lot from the player. This is not a complaint by any measure, but it may be a deterrent for casual gamers.

Each Eve stage has multiple checkpoints, which does make the experience a bit less taxing. However, these action platformer stages are a wonderfully mixed bag, because there are standard Point-A to Point-B levels, task oriented levels, platform-heavy levels, and levels with intense elements, like rising water and strong winds. Some levels even have bosses at the end, which are loads of fun, but once again, some of these baddies are quite punishing, especially the last few bosses in the game. This is another area that I would compare heavily to an old Mega Man game, because each boss has a particular rhythm but they still demand precise platforming and execution of pinpoint attacks.

There are also 9 secrets hidden around each of these stages: Apple Cores, Moxie Deposits, and Trials which grant a lovely coin. Some secrets are a bit more devious than others, like being hidden behind walls you can walk through, but the game does do a good job indicating when a collectible is nearby, like a subtle cue or a shimmering sound, for example.

Trials test your skills and earn you coins that you can spend on upgrades in the overworld. The Trials seem rather tame at first, but the deeper you go into an area, the difficulty rises tremendously. The Trials are a solid challenge, though, and they never feel cheap or unfair. Every time I found one, I got so excited, because these are fantastically designed and great platforming sections for veteran fans.

A very interesting mechanic the game uses is through its elemental Doma Ruins, which give Smelter differing abilities based on the selected element. Similar to rock paper scissors, these elements are strong against one and weak to the other. The three main branches from the center of the overworld will feature an element each, and you will learn over time which ones have the advantage.

These elements apply all around, too. While playing as Eve, her outfit changes color, and her abilities differ depending on the selected element. For example: The rock element is able to double jump and high jump, giving it much more vertical strength than the others; the electric element allows Eve to teleport short distances and it has a wider range of attack; the water ability gives Eve incredible range and the ability to float long distances. The variety can be a bit to handle, but this is an excellent system that has a ton of depth.

In the overworld, the elements are two-fold. As Smelter, you have twin-stick controls where the right stick shoots energy blasts based on the element selected, and Zirms can also be customized with one of the three elements as well, giving them greater range and power over the hordes of enemies attempting to destroy your little buildings.

Speaking of the Zirms, they are awesome little creatures that cater to Smelter’s every command. They are essentially lemmings that you can change jobs on a whim. Zirms can be ground fighters, ranged shooters, and apple “farmers”(?), and the apple guys are essential to feed the Zirms so that more will spawn when you build more houses. Building your empire and over-populating the world with Zirms is a super-fun break from the Eve stages that creates a wonderful balance for the overall gameplay.

Smelter is one of the most unique indie games I have ever played. The fusion of action platformer and RTS was a bit strange at first, but it really grew on me. While in the Eve stages, I was looking forward to the upcoming RTS gameplay, and while in the overworld, I was looking forward to the next platforming section and Trials.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this is a grand package with a whole lot going for it. The story is simple, but the character development is awesome and the comedy is top notch. The anime-inspired intro is pure eye candy, the soundtrack throughout the entire game is BANGING, the SNES-inspired pixel graphics are stunning, and the game is genuinely a fun combination of two very different genres.

Smelter is pure magic, but it is a kind of magic similar to pineapple pizza. Pineapple alone is amazing, and pizza alone is also amazing. Combine them together? Well, this is what divides us, and that is likely to be the outcome for this game. You are either going to love it or hate it, but you will not know until you at least try.

I have tasted the pineapple pizza of video games, and I absolutely love it. I think you will, too.

Smelter Review provided by Nintendo Link
Developer: X PLUS
Publisher: DANGEN Entertainment
Release Date: April 22, 2021
Price: $19.99, £15.09, €16,79
Game Size: 386MB