The developer behind PsiloSybil describes it as “the most ruthless indie linear 3D platformer ever made,” and after spending an hour dying nearly 100 times in the opening stages that make up the game's demo, I'm convinced they're probably right. .
PsiloSybil is heavily inspired by Crash Bandicoot – if the tunnel-like stage design and PS1 aesthetic didn't give it away, the opening scene's references to “Aussie Rat” and the Crash-coded “marsupial” mask for the main character They probably will. The game is gorgeous in its 90s psychedelic style, complete with shaky textures and a seamless recreation of analog video signals, which is, of course, optional if you hate fun.
The game has been in early access for some time and has developed a solid fandom during that time – over 100 positive Steam reviews at 90% is nothing to sneeze at for a game of this scope. Along with the 1.0 release, developer bad_vertex tweeted that this is “the most ruthless indie linear 3D platformer ever made,” and while you might think that's hyperbole, it seems like the mark is well-earned.
PsiloSybil – The definitive liberation | Game Trailer (2024) – YouTube
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The game, and the free demo you can get on Steam, opens with a deceptively simple scenario. I died only a couple of times. The second level ramps up the difficulty quite a bit, with a ton of moving platforms, deadly Amazon delivery drones, and tiny Venus flytraps that will kill you if they grab your ankle. In this scenario, I died maybe a dozen times.
Then came level 3, a dark gauntlet filled with moving platforms easy to miss in the dim shadows, prisms of light that will kill you if you stand on them when they glow, and blocks of ice that shatter after a single step. sending you bouncing in the air. I died here a batch. The game did indeed tempt me to go off the beaten path to grab the collectibles, and by the time I realized how devious the scenario was going to get, I was already committed to grabbing everything. In total, I went to the game over screen 71 times in this level alone.
Of course, it was only after finishing the demo that I saw Bad Vertex's tweet warning idiots like me that “if you try to do it 100% on the first run, you'll have a terrible time. It's just not that kind of game.” “. Well, now I know. And I'm hooked on it. There are some parts of PsiloSybil that I found really frustrating: it's a little hard to see your shadow while judging jumps on the super dark stage, for example, but masocore's borderline challenges are compelling and small enough that you want to see everything the game has to offer.
There are plenty more independent delights on our list. best metroidvania games.