There’s no question that Nintendo’s release of Mario 64, and then subsequent games like Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie, heralded in a new age of action adventure games. For the next generation or two we got loads of looks at varying takes on how to do 3D exploration and action across pretty well every platform, with some getting it right and many falling pretty short of the mark. While we still see them popping up now and again, the task of keeping this subgenre alive really feels like it has fallen more to indie developers, who in this generation have also made a variety of attempts at not just keeping it from diving but sometimes even thriving. 

Girl Genius is one such game, with a sassy main character and general story coming from a comic book (which you can find and read in-game even), mixed with a pretty satisfying mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and generally light action. The story, I’ll admit, is a bit convoluted, with much of the early dialogue feeling a bit like word salad being thrown at me, but once the action kicked in I was on board. Initially armed with a trusty wrench, and then slowly accumulating new gear like a grapple and more, one thing I like about the title is how it feels like an amalgamation of multiple classic franchises instead of being dialed in to one clear inspiration. The result is gameplay that can feel familiar yet pretty fresh at the same time, opening the door to pleasant surprises like running around with your little gear companion, and then switching between both characters to solve certain puzzles.

All the same, that isn’t to say it doesn’t have any weaknesses. I suppose that combat that feels uninspired is better than feeling bad, but your limited moves and technique, not to mention the lack of a lock-on ability, do make that side of the experience feel underwhelming. I’d also note the pretty odd and conspicuous absence of an ability to jump, which I suppose is a daring choice in some regards, but can make some areas frustrating in terms of level design, knowing with a simple hop life could be so much simpler. Not every decision is a positive, but most of the time you can still respect how everything turns out regardless, it just possibly could have been better.

That makes the whole combined package a bit of an odd bird, possessing elements and moments that work well and can be exciting, but then periodic reminders that you’ve seen aspects of play and level design better implemented elsewhere. Despite some of the decisions behind it, there’s still plenty to enjoy here if you like discovery, puzzle solving, and would prefer both of those aspects of play focused on far more than getting wrapped up in combat. If you’ve been itching for something that deviates from the subgenre norm, this may be just the thing for you.