Spelunker World

 PlayStation 4
User Score
4.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 16
  3. Negative: 7 out of 16

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  1. g4orc3
    Jan 2, 2016
    9
    Spelunker World will challenge you at every turn, since so many obstacles are deadly. If you persist, you'll find a rewarding experience. I've played the previous PS3 version (Spelunker HD, including the Championship difficulty DLC) a ton, and this is a worthy successor with a few flaws. If you don't know already, the point of Spelunker is that it is punishingly difficult (maybe like SuperSpelunker World will challenge you at every turn, since so many obstacles are deadly. If you persist, you'll find a rewarding experience. I've played the previous PS3 version (Spelunker HD, including the Championship difficulty DLC) a ton, and this is a worthy successor with a few flaws. If you don't know already, the point of Spelunker is that it is punishingly difficult (maybe like Super Meat Boy), so you will die a lot. You only get 2 spare lives to complete a level, but you can always quit and retry a level. Or, play cooperatively online and be rescued to get a new life. The free-to-play aspect kicks in if you choose to get a new set of lives within a level, but this is never required. You can collect equipment to make the game easier by collecting treasures. If you keep collecting the same equipment, it can be upgraded. Upgraded equipment is never required to beat an area, but is required to collect at least one treasure in most areas.

    Compared to the PS3 versions, Spelunker World lacks offline split-screen co-op but online gameplay seems more stable. Areas are broken into smaller sets of levels so that people can rejoin easier. Since you cannot join an online lobby when the game is in progress, I wish it had an option to spectate or wait until a game is joinable. The treasure unlocking at the end of an area could stand to be sped up. The gameplay feels a bit stiff compared to the PS3 version, but this appears to be due to a slight pause when your character changes directions, which is fine once you get used to it. "Rope Assist" is now on by default which feels strange. This makes the game easier by preventing you from slipping left or right off of vines, but it would be nice if there was an option to turn this off.

    Difficulty wise, I would say it's slightly easier than the PS3 version both due to the automatic "Rope Assist" and a few situations which would have resulted in death but are now safe maneuvers in Spelunker World. But on the flip side there is at least one situation that will kill you in Spelunker World that had been safe in the previous games.

    I highly recommend playing especially for the online co-op, which is an experience like nothing else. As long as you play patiently and smartly (and prepare to be trolled by the developers), then you'll do fine.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
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No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Digital Chumps
    Dec 15, 2015
    64
    Spelunker World relies a lot on gaming nostalgia to pull it through, while trying to mask the world of microtransactions. It works to an extent, but not completely. There is still too much simple, not enough modern and far too much room for frustration from failure. It’s not a horrible game by any means, but it is limited in its capacity for fun in long stints.
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  2. Atomix
    Dec 7, 2015
    65
    This brutally honest tribute to the 1983 classic will find it's way into peoples hearts through the control scheme, which won't be appreciated by people who never touched a NES or any other classic console. It is visually charming and it offers a deep customisation system, but it is better to treat it carefully and just visit in short game sessions.
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  3. We Got This Covered
    Nov 29, 2015
    60
    Spelunker World has a few free-to-play irritations, stiff controls and iffy multiplayer, but a certain audience will find its old-school charm and addictive gear system enough reason to revisit the 22-year-old franchise.
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