Exception, by developer Traxmaster Software, is platformer with twists, turns, and flashy lights. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it lately, and it has been refreshing to see a new title go against the grain. There is a combination of parkour and combat to effectively clear each level. I didn’t care too much for the story, however. If you’re looking for an arcade type of game to pass the time, or if you are looking for a competitive platformer on Xbox live, then this might be a game to add to your cart.
Exception takes place on an elderly woman’s computer hard drive, which they refer to as the System. It’s not quite my favorite 3D animated series Reboot, especially because all the individuals (or threads) live in collective monotony, doing repetitive tasks for untold cycles. But on one fateful day, the old lady accepts an email from a Nigerian prince and installs malware onto her computer. This causes a major disruption, in which the virus spreads across the system like locusts upon the crops.
Our protagonist is a thread unlike the others. He is respected among his peers, but seeks to break away from the mundane life of servitude that would otherwise occupy his life until his eventual recycling. He laments this, longing for an exceptional life. One of significance, freedom, and satisfaction. As the virus outbreak starts, he is suddenly abducted by a force of light. He awakens in an unknown location and encounters three threads from beyond the System. Destiny seems to make an exception of them all as the virus spreads… The story is a little cliché, but I like how it is presented to us through a comic book narration. The animation is limited to comic strands or frames, proceeded by pressing the jump button.
There are 15 chapters to complete the story, otherwise we are platforming on preset stages that range from child’s play to intermediate to brutal. We get to encounter a boss fight every now and then. I enjoy that, though. Stages have their challenges, and you can strategize how you can optimize your time for the fastest win. You can unlock bonuses for trying to beat your own records. There are also different enemy types, all of which you would expect to get in your way in a platformer. Our character can use a combination of attacks to dispatch these virus threads or even use special attacks.
The feature that stuck out to me was the constant stage transformation. The stage changes when you jump into a green or blue clump of energy/data. It can be a variety of things. The map can flip from horizontal to vertical, the walls can fold/realign, and seemingly harmless obstacles can become nightmarish. It keeps you on your toes that’s for sure. I absolutely love how things can come together, though. By that I mean situations where you propel yourself forward from an enemy hurting you to wall climbing and sliding. Sometimes the gameplay is that natural and fluid, all the while being fast paced.
The level design is pretty good. Like I had mentioned, some stages are harder than others. Some stages can be very similar, but maybe there’s a different stage transformation. Maybe there’s going to be boss, or maybe the floor is (electrical) lava. Other than that, the soundtrack is really good. I was never not in the mood for the action this game has to offer. The electric score reminded me something of Tron, or a classic 80s synth sound. It was distinct for sure.
All in all, I don’t have many negative things to say about this game. Its story, while not exactly the focus of this game, may fall short of glory. I appreciated the medium they used, and it isn’t bad. I would maybe like to see more of that in a similar project with more attention to story, character, and place. I’d like to bridge the gap between who I’m playing as versus who’s story I’m watching. The game functionality is great. Controls are easy, muscle memorable, and effective. I did get frustrated when going for long jumps, because once you’re off the surface there is no jump. Only a plummet down into the electrical ether. I think a fair score for this title is a 9 out of 10. Exception’s not one of those games that you can get too much replayability out of, but it’s entertaining for those days when you crash on the couch and want to chill with an arcade game.
Check Out the Exception Trailer:
For more information, visit: http://exceptiongame.com
Xbox One Review
I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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