I didn’t expect to cry while playing $6 climbing platform for Playdate that cannot be compared . Screaming in frustration? Yes. Do you walk away from the game only to crawl back a few minutes later? definitely. Get up with my feelings though? Not so much. Another hour and 34 minutes – and 432 deaths – later, here we are. This is already the second .
In Summityou are a robed climber trying to reach the top of a mountain under the guidance of an unseen narrator who addresses you as “little brother”. You have ice axes to help you scale vertical surfaces, and other equipment will appear later to help you in more difficult situations. Completing the 70-ish levels definitely requires precision, and sometimes a lot, a lot annoying. Everywhere there are rows of sharp spikes clinging to each other, some falling from high perches. The icy ground in spots is slippery enough to send you flying. Strong winds will make it seem as if going forward is impossible.
But it’s certainly not impossible, and in some cases you can even use environmental conditions to your advantage. When you finally get through a particularly difficult level, it’s all the more gratifying. There are many more Summit more than just timed jumps — it uses the d-pad, buttons, and crank, and will allow you to coordinate different moves to cross large gaps and avoid obstacles. You can even ride a crow at one point.
The music is beautiful throughout and has a mood to it that sets you up perfectly when the game takes an unexpected emotional turn at the end. As we near the climax, the back story, which is hinted at, finally reveals itself, and it’s a tearjerker. My eyes were misty and not because I was so relieved that I had finally reached the top. (I or as I found while searching Reddit to see how other people behaved.)
Summit It will test your resolve as you die many times trying to progress, but it never slows down. If you liked the extreme platforming and sentimental tone Celeste, this is definitely something to check out.
