LifeisXbox’s Chameneon Review | An endless skateboarding, rail-grinding dream that can be brutally challenging and addictively fun all in one. Let me introduce you to this vibrant new platformer, Chameneon where you need to stop a potentially deadly virus from infecting all of cyberspace by using this special protocol. Your objective is to navigate the neon waves safely while avoiding danger lurking along your path. The idea? Fairly straightforward to follow. The execution? Relatively difficult to contend with. There are also floppy disks and battery charges you can collect on every level to give you a secondary objective while being situationally aware of what may be approaching. Developed by Burning Goat Studios and published by QUByte Interactive, this innovative platformer tests your precision and reflexes while showcasing its positively intense colours and upbeat audio.
ℹ️ Reviewed on Xbox Series S | Review code provided by PR/publisher, this review is the personal opinion of the writer.
What we Liked!
- Smooth gameplay | Jumping, somersaulting, and sliding my way along the levels was an incredibly satisfying experience that had me in a relatively relaxed mood, despite the difficulty. No matter what I was doing, the game felt exceptionally fluid at every curve and motion made which was beyond gratifying to play. I don’t believe I experienced a single issue with the performance which was incredible. If you like platformers which give you a unique challenge, Chameneon might just be the game you’ve been looking for.
- Eye-catching visuals | One of the first factors I noticed when just loading up Chameneon was the bright neon blue and pink colouring mixed with the pixelated art style which continued into the gameplay. The mixture of differing dark-coloured cosmic backgrounds with minor details and the neon detailing makes the trails stand out despite being only a small portion of what is seen on screen. The combination is a fantastic match but perhaps will be a little bright for some. I think it’s the perfect balance to not be overwhelming but instead compelling to play.
- Optional objectives | Among every level are numerous battery charges and one floppy disk which act as the collectables for Chameneon. There are two achievements related to these so I tried my best to charge the battery to 100% and get the floppy disk before moving one. I think the battery charge is fairly linear to achieve but sometimes you do have to go out of your way and take different routes in order to obtain the floppy disk. This encourages thorough exploration of every level so you don’t pass them by too quickly.
- Plenty of level variety | Chameneon provides us with four worlds which all come with 20 levels each to contend with. As you progress through the game, you will be tested in numerous ways with different elements that get slowly introduced to break up the gameplay, stopping many repetitive tendencies. These include pesky enemies, deadly gaps, and different routes that needed to be taken to succeed. Due to this, I always found myself looking forward to the new level design being implemented that kept everything feeling fresh. The idea may be similar throughout but I found myself enjoying every second of my gaming experience which is all I could have asked for.
- Difficulty curve | As with most games, difficulty increase can be either naturally included or chosen. With Chameneon, it is implemented gradually over the course of the game, with different obstacles and paths to take in order to successfully complete each level. I welcomed the change in difficulty and expected this to be the case due to the game genre. The basis of Chameneon is somewhat challenging in itself, therefore, some people may find this a handful to contend with but I didn’t mind the extra challenge – so long as I didn’t stay on the game for extended periods of time.
- Easy to jump into | Chameneon is a great game to jump in and out of when the mood takes you; just select a level and you’re on your way. It’s good because the controls are straightforward forward so there isn’t much to remember or get used to and everything loads up quickly, meaning there is very little waiting around to get back to where you were. Simple convenience in video games makes them more appealing to me sometimes when I just want to relax with something that isn’t as story-intensive.
- Music and sound effects | Exciting and upbeat, Chameneon will have you bopping your head to the background beat while sitting on the edge of your seat, making sure you don’t lose concentration while gliding along to the finish line. I wouldn’t expect anything less considering the colouring used; they complement each other astonishingly well. The sound effects are simple but suit the actions they’re bound to. Whether you’re jumping, getting collectables, or tumbling around the screen to your death, there is a sound to accompany them all.
Mixed Feelings
- Accessibility options | Unfortunately, there are not enough accessibility options available in Chameneon, especially considering its bright graphical appearance. Although I had no issues with this personally, however, I’m thinking more about people who have issues with colour blindness or encounter headaches from such colourful visuals. There were no options to change anything relating to visuals – only audio, key bindings, and languages (only English and Portuguese) which I think has been overlooked and should be assessed in any future updates perhaps.
- Death counter | Now, I don’t know about you but I can’t stand dying in any video game – it’s not something you congratulate or feel good for. I actually don’t know a single game where dying is a good occurrence. Now, a new feature some games like to include these days is a death counter. Why? I have no idea. I really don’t want or need to know how many times I’ve failed. Some people I guess will find it interesting or a challenge but I would like the option to turn it off as it serves no purpose other than to get me down.
What we Disliked
- Achievement distribution | I did raise an eyebrow when I looked at the achievement list for Chameneon. Eighty out of eighty-two achievements are level related, requiring you to complete each of the levels under a set amount of time every time. The other two are collectable-related which is completely normal. I just didn’t think there is any variation in the achievements which makes the accomplishment feel a little deflating. Yes, it means you have essentially done a speed run of the level but I don’t tend to get much joy out of these types of objectives.
How long to beat the story | Approximately 10-15 Hours
How long to achieve 1000G | Approximately 15-20 Hours
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Hello, I’m Victoria. I’m from the UK and have been playing video games for as long as I can remember; back on DreamCast. I’ve pretty much fallen for Xbox since I was around eight years old and remember BioShock being my first game on the Xbox360. Although I find it thoroughly enjoyable to not only experience gameplay, I also find comfort in getting lost and engrossed in the online worlds that sometimes differ greatly from what we know. Another side of my Xbox passion would be achievement hunting and gamerscore. I thrive when I hear the little sound of one popping up on the screen and I’m always finding ways to work on my backlog when possible. Horror is my favourite genre so if you have any recommendations, don’t be afraid to send them my way!