Spectrum Break uses neon rainbow boarding to mix platforming with puzzles

This article is over 6 years old and may contain outdated information

Paint the town

Recommended Videos

ā€œWhat was that? A snowboard? A skateboard?ā€ Jordan and I recapped our Spectrum Break demo from EGLX later while in the hotel room (truth be told, weā€™re still in the hotel room.) Only one way to find out: Check the Spectrum Break site.

Oh, duh ā€” itā€™s rainbow boarding. Whatever, Spectrum Break is one of the more pleasant surprises at EGLX.

Spectrum Break is a level-by-level methodical quest to paint everything. Each of the gameā€™s 55 stages is a collection of polygonal platforms, and each of them needs to be touched at some point. Jumping on it turns the shape effervescent, effectively meaning youā€™re good to move onto the next one.

Platforming is fast and slippery (as if youā€™re on a snowboard), and getting exactly where you need to be feels half skill-based and half good planning. Thatā€™s where the puzzle part comes in. Every route isnā€™t created equal. Optimal path-finding is what makes a successful run. Every way doesnā€™t necessarily feel as if itā€™ll yield positive results.

However, the physics act as both a monkey wrench and a godsend. Touching the shapes sends them floating from the force of your landing. This might very well render your next jump impossible. Itā€™s just too far now. But, if those shapes come in contact with an unlit platform, that gets lit up and youā€™re a little closer to completing the level.

Itā€™s all simple enough, but something tells me the difficulty will ramp up. Developer Jason Hein told us that later levels might take upward of a minute to complete ā€” it sounds short but thatā€™s a long time to go without botching everything. At least your failures will be plenty colorful.

Spectrum Break releases on Steam on March 29.

[This preview is based on a build from EGLX, hosted by Destructoidā€™s parent company Enthusiast Gaming.]


Destructoid is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Brett Makedonski
Brett Makedonski
While you laughing, we're passing, passing away. So y'all go rest y'all souls, 'Cause I know I'ma meet you up at the crossroads. Y'all know y'all forever got love from them Bone Thugs baby...