Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Wriggler’s core loop revolves around guiding a humble maggot through four distinct stages of the Maggot Marathon: a lush garden, a dense shrubbery, a shadowy underground lair, and an ornate mansion. Each stage is laid out as a sprawling maze, with 256 unique screens to explore. The overhead view gives you sight of neighboring areas, but cleverly placed obstacles force you to chart your own path and remember landmarks. Every turn can hide new hazards or helpful items.

Managing your energy bar is critical. It ticks down steadily, and taking hits from ants, spiders, or other creatures in the environment will shave off even more. Scattered throughout the maze are apples, cherries, cups of tea, and other foodstuffs that restore vitality. You can eat these immediately or stash one item in your limited inventory, but only hold a single object at a time—forcing you to plan which tool or treat you’ll need next.

Puzzle elements are woven into the journey: you’ll need keys, special objects, or specific consumables to bypass locked doors, clear blockages, or distract foes. This encourages forward-thinking and route memorization to avoid backtracking across the vast screen count. While the challenge ramps up, thoughtful placement of checkpoints prevents frustration—allowing you to learn from mistakes without losing excessive progress.

Graphics

Visually, Wriggler embraces a chunky, colorful aesthetic reminiscent of the unusual style seen in Rapscallion. Sprites are large and full of character, making each insect adversary and environmental hazard immediately recognizable. The bold palette helps you distinguish safe paths from danger zones, even in dimly lit corners of the underground lair.

The Atic Atac–inspired presentation means you can glimpse adjacent rooms within the same view, teasing hidden routes or items just out of reach. This partially revealed layout heightens the sense of exploration, as you strain to see what lies beyond walls or foliage. It also reinforces the puzzle nature of the maze—if you spot a target object, you’ll need to navigate cleverly to acquire it.

Animations are simple but effective. Wriggler’s wriggling motion is charming, and enemy movements—like ants marching in formation or spiders scuttling—add life to each area. Subtle environmental touches, such as swaying grass in the garden stage or flickering torches in the mansion, enrich the atmosphere without distracting from the gameplay.

Story

Although Wriggler doesn’t deliver an epic narrative, its premise is delightfully quirky: you are the underdog—or under-maggot—racing to complete the Maggot Marathon and prove yourself among the insect world. Each stage feels like a chapter in your journey, from the bright optimism of the garden to the ominous corridors of the mansion finale.

Interactions with other creatures, such as negotiating with beetles blocking a path or evading territorial spiders, add subtle world-building. Scattered notes and environmental flourishes—like half-eaten fruit and the occasional discarded tea cup—hint at a broader ecosystem teeming with life and rivalry. These details foster immersion without overshadowing the core maze-challenge.

While there’s no deep dialogue or cutscene drama, the game’s premise is enough to keep you engaged: you’re a small, vulnerable creature striving for glory against overwhelming odds. The simple story framework provides motivation for mastering each stage and discovering every secret nook within the sprawling 256 screens.

Overall Experience

Wriggler delivers a satisfying blend of exploration, resource management, and environmental puzzle-solving. The four distinct stages offer varied themes and escalating difficulty—keeping the experience fresh from the garden’s open greenery to the mansion’s tighter corridors. Despite its retro design, the pacing feels modern, with steady checkpoints and a fair balance between challenge and reward.

Backtracking can occasionally become tedious if you mismanage inventory or miss a key item, but this is tempered by the game’s clear visual cues and well-marked shortcuts discovered through replay. For players who relish memorizing routes and optimizing their run, Wriggler provides a compelling test of foresight and adaptability.

Overall, Wriggler is a hidden gem for fans of classic maze adventures and quirky premises. Its charming graphics, inventive puzzles, and tight energy-management mechanics combine into an engaging package. Whether you’re drawn by the novelty of playing as a maggot or the game’s retro inspirations, Wriggler offers an experience that’s equal parts nostalgic and refreshingly original.