Developed by Purple Ray Studio and published by Untold Tales and Couchplay Interactive, Boti: Byteland Overclocked is a brand-new 3D platforming adventure game. The 3D platforming adventure genre is one of the most iconic video game genres because it has a certain level of nostalgia attached to it for a lot of gamers. We had some of the best titles in this genre and it is also one of the genres that has really evolved with the passage of time thanks to new developers and the fusion of technologies. Boti: Byteland Overclocked brings a brand-new hero called Boti to the scene who must save the world Byteland alongside his two sidekicks. This is our review of the PC Steam release of Boti: Byteland Overclocked in which we will collect some data and take on the mighty trojan horse to save a computer.
If you grew up with PS1 or PS2, you would remember different 3D platformers of the time like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Ratchet & Clank. While these games had level-based gameplay, they offered an open-world feel where you had a large enough playground of a level to move around and flex your platforming skills. Boti: Byteland Overclocked is also a reminiscence of this era as you will get similar vibes right from the first level. However, this being a modern title is a much more refined option and much more casual and suits modern players as well. We all remember how tough the games back on the PS1 and the PS2 and with little to no guidance, much was residing on the player’s own skill to advance in the game. Boti: Byteland Overclocked brings the nostalgic feel of these classic 3D platformers in a more casual way.
Boti: Byteland Overclocked kicks off after a short tutorial where you are introduced to nearly all of the in-game mechanics you use to progress in future levels. After a short intro of your own self and the tutorial level, you arrive at the Connection Zone which is the main hub of Boti: Byteland Overclocked and it is here that you will be spending your free time while you are not out exploring different parts of the computer. Here, you can buy and unlock different zones where you can practice your moves such as basic melee and more. These are attached on the sides of the area like modules and expand the Connection Zone with new activities for you to do while you are exploring here. Apart from accessing new missions and these little activities, you can also customize the visual look of Boti with different unlocked skins.
The game is set in a world called Byteland and the different levels that you explore in it are based on different components which are normally found in a PC such as a processor, and more. Each of these levels is beautifully designed they feature a mash-up of technology and the real world. Most of the levels are pretty much like any other 3D platformer as you jump between colorful landscapes and beautiful aesthetics however it also brings its own touch of technology into these levels as you will find machines performing tasks related to computers and data streams. You will see huge conveyor belts transferring boxes filled with data or smaller worker bots carrying boxes of data and moving them between different points. All of this combines together to deliver a cyber-world that is both pretty to look at and fun to explore.
As I mentioned earlier in this review, Boti: Byteland Overclocked is a collectathon which means that you will be exploring each level thoroughly and you will be rewarded for your curiosity. Each level hides a lot of different collectibles like Botcoins that you can find and collect for yourself. Each level also has tons of normal byte pickups as well which act as the primary collectible of the game. These are scattered all over the map and you will also find them inside breakable objects and many other items. You can smash around any breakable items to collect these as much as you can. Apart from easily accessible areas, you will also find them in hidden areas that you will be able to reach with the help of a little platforming. There is a lot of platforming in Boti: Byteland Overclocked and the more you progress in the game, the tougher it gets.
While the platforming required for the main story progression is not that hard however to find each and every collectible in a level, you will need some serious platforming skills. However, this is made fun due to the fact that the game features different handy moves that will help you out in your movement through these tougher sections. You can double jump, smash around, stomp, and dash around to aid in your movement. The controls also feel crisp which is one of the main ingredients of any good 3D platformer. As you are jumping around and dashing to reach different platforms, you will find the controls to be precise and crisp. Boti lands where you want him and he responds to different inputs like jumps and dashes exactly when you press the key. This gives a sense of confidence in Boti’s movements when you are platforming and really allows you to quickly move around the levels if you like to speedrun through them.
The levels in Boti: Byteland Overclocked really feel alive with activity. There are a lot of different NPCs in each level. Since you are inside a functioning computer, these NPCs are different bots that are performing different tasks so they really make the world of the game feel alive. No matter where you go, there is some sort of activity happening in the game and I was surprised to see that these bots were even present in some hidden collectible locations and they had their own little dialogues to share with you. You will love the way how the game blends nature and technology into one with its unique visual aesthetics. Another important detail about these NPCs is that each one seems to have its own little animations when you interact with them.
If you prefer, the game also features drop-in and drop-out co-op gameplay where another player can join in as another Boti. Both Botis have the same skillset however only the host gets One and Zero with them. The missions also remain the same and do not change much based on how many players are joined in the game. If there are any changes required, the game does them on the go and you will not have to restart even if the player leaves the game after some time. This is great for you to enjoy the game both solo and in co-op and one of the best ones that I have seen in any platforming 3D game. Most of the time, you have to quit and allow the other player into your game but here, the game adapts on the go without any need for a restart or exiting the level.
My main gripe with Boti: Byteland Overclocked is its optimization and how poorly the game performs even on high-end PCs. There are massive dips in frames and if there is any sort of background activity happening on the PC such as recording the game, the game will start dropping frames. This is really annoying because while platforming, you require decent frames in order to ensure that you are not failing the jumps or dashes because of timing issues. This also ruins the otherwise excellent platformer that is really enjoyable. I did not remember encountering any sort of game-breaking bugs or issues, that would make me restart the game. Boti: Byteland Overclocked can be fixed with future updates easily but it boils down to the developer now. This is a great platformer and these performance issues are only going to annoy new and seasoned platforming lovers.
Final Verdict:
Boti: Byteland Overclocked is a cute little 3D platformer that takes you back to the PS1 era of collectathons and simple platformers. It features beautiful levels, solid gameplay mechanics, and a world that really feels alive. You can play Boti: Byteland Overclocked in different ways like a speedrunner, casual platformer, collectathon, or just a normal 3D platformer to remember the simpler times of gaming. It requires much optimization on PC at this point which is a big problem because players will encounter terrible game performance if their systems are not too high-end. Once these issues are resolved, Boti: Byteland Overclocked is a great 3D platformer for a diverse group of players, and excellent for casual players looking for a great time pass. If you loved the PS1 and PS2 era of platformers, you will absolutely love Boti: Byteland Overclocked. Highly recommended for platforming fans.
Final Score: 7.5/10
