The basic gameplay of 30XX is the same as 20XX, fight through Mega Man-esque stages in a roguelike, but there are some notable changes. For starters, there is the Mega Mode which turns the game into a more traditional Mega Man style game, where dying once doesn’t end your run. Instead, you will be sent back to pick a stage again and try once more, but any upgrades and changes you get along the way are kept. You can become much more powerful this way, but can also take on more handicaps as well, in addition to weapon changes.
The main mode also makes some changes to how you manage weapons and cores as well as weapons fusions, and there is now a chance to pick a challenge at the start of a stage for a chance for a big reward at the end. New ways to gain permanent powerups are added as well, and this can result in some strategic thinking on your part. You will need all the help you can get as you make your way through the world of 30XX so use it well.
This time around, the stages are much bigger and have new forms of obstacles to be found. Many of these are creative such as having unique takes on disappearing platforms, but also some stages that can get overly frustrating, such as managing water levels. In the Early Access version, the bosses had an issue, as their boss areas came off as too bland and small compared to the first game, and this has been improved for the final release to some extent. While some are still small and a bit bland, others are large areas and extremely creative, making for a fun experience.
Two modes were mentioned before, the main roguelite mode and the Mega Mode, but there is also the community mode. This is a level creator, filled with a lot of possibilities that gamers have been taking full advantage of. You can make a level out of pre-made parts and put them into rotation for everyone, and this has led to everything from short stages to full-blown Metroidvanias. Some creations are obviously better than others, but the result is a game that has endless replay value and some of the most creative gameplay possible outside of the Super Mario Maker series.
It should be noted that there were a lot of bugs with this mode back in Early Access, so to see it be polished and refined so well is a truly welcome sight. 30XX feels extremely polished overall, with the 16-bit pixel art style looking great, and some improvements have this looking better than 20XX ever did. 30XX certainly goes out of its way to be more creative with its levels and concepts and what we get is the purest form of platform action roguelite fun.
Online gameplay works great here, and co-op has been vastly improved since Early Access as well. The developers listened to all criticisms and managed to create a game that has improved on what came before in every way and provides a much deeper and more involved story while doing so. 30XX is a game that many will keep coming back to for years to come because it has that essential IT factor that a game needs in order to succeed.
30XX is a game where the developers’ passion shows and shines through in the gameplay quality. Everything from the music to the character interactions stands out well, making this a game that is very easy to recommend to gamers. If you like the previous game 20XX, or games like Mega Man and other classic action platformers, or are a fan of roguelites, this is a game you absolutely must try at some point.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
