Time Loader Switch Review – An Intelligent Toy Back in Time

Many of us have wondered what it would be like to go back in time and change something. Time Loader covers this topic incredibly, and even though it is a puzzle platformer by nature, its story and the themes within carry most of the weight.

So does Time Loader succeed in its time traveling efforts? Or does this artificially intelligent robot fail to do its job? Well, let’s find out, shall we?

Time Loader begins with a heartbreaking story of a man named Adam Wright telling about his tragic accident as a child that has left him paralyzed. Always with a scientific mind and heart, he pressed forward and dedicated his life to the study of quantum physics as he discovered a way to go back in time… through an intelligent robot that he has built.

Ultimately, the robot’s goal is to eliminate the means by which the boy’s injury is initiated. It is a bit confusing and carries with it some Back to the Future-level changing-the-past philosophies, but it does make for a compelling story as the end-goal is to see if the robot can change the course of the boy’s life by preventing the paralyzing injury.

Each phase of the robot’s adventure is fascinating, too, as you are teleported back to 1995 and see lots of fun details and reminders of a decade where computer science really began to sky-rocket, and it shows as the robot moves through the boy’s room and house (e.g. Old VHS tapes, a Game Boy, an SNES, etc). This is such an interesting story that kept me hooked the whole way through, and I cannot even begin to understand the pain and suffering of the man. However, I do completely understand his motives in going back in time to ultimately change his course.

Time Loader is a relatively simple puzzle platformer. Although it is three dimensional in its presentation, with very detailed objects and designs in the foreground and background, Time Loader‘s entire gameplay is set on a 2D plain. It is amusing at points, because you have to solve puzzles in order for the robot to get past an obstacle, but in reality, the robot could easily just go around it if the game was played in three dimensions.

Despite that, this is a great puzzle platformer that makes itself accessible to everyone. The platforming is very forgivable, and the puzzles are the right kind of challenge: not too easy, yet not too hard. As you progress in Time Loader, the robot will find items to upgrade itself, making new areas available, like a screw driver to unscrew platforms and such to create new ramps and better springs for your wheels to jump higher. It is a lovely progressive system that gradually introduces new concepts and puzzles throughout.

The controls can be a bit wonky at times, especially the jumping. This seems to be because the hydraulics are attached to one side, so when moving and adjusting, some times the robot does not seem like it wants to jump or it just jumps poorly. Learning to get around this takes a while, but it is rather annoying in the early go. Thankfully after some upgrades are applied, this gets less problematic and is easy to look past.

Even though it is set on a 2D plain, Time Loader and its 3D visuals look incredible! I was fascinated by the design choices and the subtle indications of the time period that the game takes place in. The insane attention to detail is beyond commendable, and the nostalgia overload that it gave me is worth noting, especially all of the little things like the Dynamicron T-750 cassette case and 1990’s style plaid wallpaper.

Sound-wise, Time Loader does a brilliant job. The music fits perfectly with the tone of its story, as it is calm, which works well with a puzzle-focused game. The attention to detail here is insane, too, as driving over a keyboard and hearing the mechanical clicks of the keys sounds too authentic. There are so many moments throughout the adventure that almost go unnoticed because the sounds fit so fantastically with the 1995 era on display.

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Unfortunately, it is time to mention a couple problems. As compelling as the story is, connecting with Adam after the intro is nonexistent. That is because all of the focus falls on the robot for the majority of the gaming experience, so even though hints of the story are shared throughout, it was difficult for me to invest in Adam. On top of that, Time Loader only runs you about 2.5 hours, and that can be cleared even quicker, as I tend to explore a lot (It was hard not to explore in this one, especially just enjoying the environments!).

Time Loader is a tough cookie to sell, because what it does well, it excels at incredibly. However, the story definitely takes a small hit in that Adam is just not there for the mass majority of it. Although the robot is adorable, it is still an AI serving the purpose of Adam Wright. At $14.99 USD, it is also difficult to recommend because of the short nature of the game and the lack of replay value.

Those negatives still do not knock away the interesting story, the beautiful and nostalgic graphics, and the absolutely brilliant sound design. It is obvious that a ton of love and work was put into Time Loader, and it is definitely a special game in so many ways. It may just be an easier pill to swallow on sale, though.

In my opinion, I still think it is worth the asking price for all the reasons I already shared. This is fun and memorable game that I will carry with me for years to come, and I hope Flazm has some more ideas in store to continue this series into the future.

Time Loader Switch Review provided by Nintendo Link
Review also found on OpenCritic
Publisher: Postmeta Games
Developers: META Publishing, Flazm
Release Date: March 10th, 2022
Price: $14.99, £13.49, €14,99
Game Size: 3.3 GB