Leap Year

Leap Year is a puzzle-platformer metroidbrainia built around precarious leaping. At first it looks like a platformer in which you can’t even jump without dying, but if you carefully move around and follow the path set in front of you, you may yet survive. Progressing requires a few platforming skills, but most of all it relies on knowledge and discoveries.

Your objective is to collect the 29 days of February scattered all over a 2D world, each one represented as a calendar page you can grab. However, jumping can be deadly if you just jump and fall back down, which is really frustrating given that day 29 is right above your head when you begin the game. Throughout Leap Year you will not gain any new powers, no special boots that let you jump freely nor double jump ability—you will only acquire knowledge about the world layout, and how to jump safely.

The game sounds simple, all you do is move left or right and jump, but exploring the world and daring to leap is a really fun experience within its relatively short duration. The whole design actually revolves about the height of each fall, with different heights triggering distinct abilities. Any jump fail will quickly bring you back to one of the numerous checkpoints with no additional penalty, so the platforming is as forgiving as it gets.

The world layout is well done, with excellent gradual learning opportunities, and enough teases to keep you going. There are plenty of secrets and shortcuts, so if you're an avid explorer, you can easily find yourself off course, collecting the days out of order, and finding easter eggs. Many screens will appear in a different light after you’ve gone through the delightful twists of leap learning.

This description was written by Sergiu Dumitriu.