Beanie is a sitcom-length 2D platformer, but only 99 cents. At its budget price, you have nothing to lose by grabbing it. End of review.
Need more information? No problem, I’ll try. In Beanie, you play as the famous flightless bee who tumbles through several short levels in search of honey. But how will your Kiwi friends who are busy in the workshop secure planks for the rafts they are building? It also sets the future games.
Click on the rolling and hopping mechanism and you’ll find yourself quickly ascending vertical levels. how soon? I finished the game in about 25 minutes. Few enemies exist, but they are more of a nuisance than a real threat. It’s all about vertical platforms. There are some unlockable replay values, but these are levels that can be completed in under a minute, albeit with a lot of practice and difficulty.
What if the short length was more satisfying? What about options that make the game more challenging? There is no way to disable this. This is a useful feature, but should be optional. Level-specific collectibles also played a big role, helping the game feel more diverse, explorable, and replayable.
Beeny is so glued to the presentation, though, that I wouldn’t be surprised if you played it just for the sights and sounds. The “pre-rendered graphics of the early ’90s” (think Donkey Kong his country) are fun to watch. The highlights are the orange and purple sky peeking through the leaves, the pouring rain and snow, and the vivid colors. And being a 2D platformer, it avoids the subpar camera issues that plagued previous developers. Toray 3DSome really great music also accompanies the visuals.It can be jazzy or chill, but mostly feel-good material.
A particular level I have to touch on is “Silent Visitor”. These misty treetops are laden with skeletons and multiple severed heads, chasing you while disturbing music and sound effects play. It’s ridiculously inconsistent with the rest of the game, both in tone and mechanics. So instead of adding to Beeny, remove it from Beeny. Very jarring and weird.
Beanie knows what it is and the 99 cent price reflects that. With so little content, what you can expect is probably pretty good, but it’s fun while it lasts. The fun graphics and music certainly help, too.
