Mini Video Game Review: Pronty

Developer: 18Light

Publisher: Happinet Corporation

Genre: Twin Stick Metroidvania

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

The sea is full of mystery, colors, and danger! Those ingredients are ripe for a video game, and in Pronty‘s case, a metroidvania.

In Pronty, players take on the role of the protector of an underwater city. They get a little swordfish friend that does all the combat for them too! The gameplay features free movement since players will be navigating the seas, and they use twin-stick controls to direct their friend in the direction to stab and slash. The open map is a change of pace in the genre since players aren’t at all restricted to the floor. Think of Pronty as a metroidvania shooter in which players can float freely throughout the world in a way similar to the recently released NeverAwake.

The free aim and movement are neat, but they aren’t without flaws. The controls are responsive enough, but the aim doesn’t feel as smooth as the best twin-stick shooters do. Movement is also clunky, which is disappointing since the game encourages free movement. Pronty doesn’t always turn on a dime and it’s easy to get stuck on a wall sometimes.

Even with multiple difficulties, Pronty isn’t particularly difficult. The combat can get repetitive rather quickly, and even the short story mode outlives the gameplay. There are various upgrades and different types of enemies, but they don’t do enough to keep the game feeling fresh throughout. Still, despite the mundane action, the boss battles shine throughout. They actually required a fair bit of strategy and skill. They are easily the most satisfying element of Pronty.

The art of Pronty is lovely. The environments are as pretty as one would expect from a game that is set in the ocean. The animations aren’t exceptionally impressive though. The game also doesn’t look as great on handheld mode due to a downgrade in resolution, but the frame rate holds up throughout. The music is fine but doesn’t have any earworms and the sound effects get the job done.