Flea!
- October 29, 2020
- Alastair Low
Get on SteamFlea is a challenging platformer with an intriguing back story. Play as Henry the Hyperactive Flea who just can’t stop jumping! Navigate the beast and collect blood to get the the heart of the problems.
PC
Web Browser
Windows
Dreamcast
Reviews
- The game features a nostalgic NES aesthetic with great visuals and chiptune music, reminiscent of classic titles like TMNT and Kirby's Adventure.
- Flea! offers a challenging yet fair gameplay experience, with a unique jumping mechanic that adds depth to the platforming.
- The game has high replay value due to its engaging level design and the tension of managing lives while navigating through its 80 levels.
- The game suffers from technical issues, such as poor fullscreen performance and awkward auto-scrolling boss fights that hinder control.
- There is a lack of a save mechanic, forcing players to restart from the beginning after quitting, which can be frustrating.
- The controls can feel unintuitive at times, particularly with the 'small jump' mechanic that requires precise timing.
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a nostalgic chiptune soundtrack reminiscent of classic titles like Kirby's Adventure and Bubble Bobble, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience without becoming repetitive. Reviewers appreciate the decent pixel art and vibrant color palette, which complement the overall aesthetic.
“Great visuals, music, and a very unique premise.”
“I can definitely see the TMNT style platforming, Kirby's Adventure style music, and the color palette of early NES games.”
“The pixel art and music is decent.”
“Accompanied by a chiptune soundtrack that had the same effect on me as the classic Bubble Bobble theme – in that, it’s heavily repeated but never feels repetitive.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a unique "small jump" mechanic that requires precise timing with a single button press, while controls are straightforward, allowing for easy navigation in the pixel art 2D platformer. However, the lack of a save feature can be frustrating, as players must restart from the beginning after quitting.
“The controls in this pixel art, 2D platformer are immediately accessible, with left and right controlling the direction of your jumping and a hammering of the A button required to lower the leap height (a surprisingly satisfying mechanic).”
“There is a 'small jump' mechanic which requires a very bizarre single button press just before you land.”
“There is no save mechanic that I could find, so when I quit the game around stage 35 and relaunched it, it made me start all the way back at the beginning.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their great visuals and authentic design, reminiscent of classic NES games, with a unique premise that enhances the overall experience. The level design is particularly noted for its creativity, drawing comparisons to titles like Super Meat Boy.
“Great visuals, music, and a very unique premise.”
“Great tunes, authentic visuals, and some really nice level design - think Super Meat Boy, if you weren't around during the NES era.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability, particularly for fans of single-screen puzzle platformers, due to its challenging gameplay. Players are eager to revisit it, especially in multiplayer settings, to tackle difficult levels and bosses together.
“If you are a fan of single-screen puzzle platformers, then I highly recommend this. It’s a game with really high replay value due to the challenge it presents. I’m clearly going to give it a spin at my next gaming night to see if my friends and I can finally save the flea kingdom and get past the boss of level fifty, which ended my current run. This is a flea bite I’m happy to have!”
“The variety of levels and challenges keeps me coming back for more. Each playthrough feels fresh, and I love discovering new strategies to tackle the puzzles.”
“With multiple paths and hidden secrets, every run feels unique. I find myself wanting to replay levels just to see what I missed the first time around.”
