Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

From the first level of Totally Rad, you step into the shoes of Jake, a novice magician thrust into action when his girlfriend Allison is kidnapped. The core mechanics draw on familiar side-scrolling conventions—move, jump, and shoot—yet layer in a robust magic system that keeps each stage feeling fresh. Holding down the fire button charges Jake’s energy ball, transforming it into a devastating blast at full power. This simple yet satisfying mechanic forces you to balance risk and reward: do you fire rapidly for small hits or wait for a game-changing shot?

Beyond the basic projectile, Jake’s full arsenal of spells is available from the outset. Pressing Start pauses the action and brings up a menu of magical abilities, ranging from elemental attacks (fire, water, wind, earth) to utility powers like healing and time stopping. This menu-based system allows for strategic swaps mid-stage, so you can react to airborne foes with wind magic or ground-based hazards with earth barriers. Though Jake never “levels up” in the traditional sense—his health and magic bars remain static—the breadth of options encourages experimentation and replay.

Perhaps the most memorable twist is Jake’s three metamorphoses: a winged boomerang thrower, a fish-like ninja-star swimmer, and a feline powerhouse that zaps enemies and jumps invincible. Each form introduces unique traversal and combat dynamics. Swimming through underwater caverns as the fish form demands precise platforming, while soaring sections with the boomerang shape test your aerial precision. These transformations are cleverly scattered throughout levels, ensuring you rarely feel stuck in a single playstyle.

The difficulty curve in Totally Rad remains reasonable; early stages ease you into controls, while later boss encounters demand nimble dodging and shrewd spell usage. Checkpoints are well-spaced, and the game never resorts to cheap hits. On the downside, some might find the lack of character progression limiting—without upgrades to health or mana, you rely purely on skill. Nonetheless, the variety of spells and forms keeps the action engaging from start to finish.

Graphics

Totally Rad embraces a vibrant, colorful pixel-art aesthetic that immediately evokes classic 16-bit side-scrollers. Backgrounds teem with detail—towering castle walls, mist-shrouded forests, and neon-lit caves—each stage boasting its own visual identity. The color palette is consistently bright, lending an upbeat, “rad” vibe that matches the game’s tongue-in-cheek tone. Whether you’re dashing across sunlit rooftops or diving into murky waters, the visuals never feel monotonous.

Character sprites are smoothly animated, with Jake’s movements feeling responsive and weighty. You can see the charge build in his arms before unleashing a magic ball, and each transformation sparkles with unique frames—wings flapping, fins slicing through water, or fur bristling before an electric discharge. Enemies, too, are creatively designed: from skeletal knights to elemental golems, they’re distinct enough that you learn to anticipate their behavior at a glance.

Special effects, especially during high-powered magic attacks, really shine. Fireballs roar and leave lingering embers; time-stop spells frost over surrounding terrain, and the invincibility aura crackles in sync with Jake’s heartbeat. These touches not only look great but also serve as crucial visual feedback, letting you know exactly when a power is active. Even on hardware with modest specifications, the game holds a steady frame rate, ensuring no hiccups during frantic boss battles.

Story

At its heart, Totally Rad tells a straightforward tale: Jake, the self-proclaimed magician-in-training, must rescue his girlfriend Allison from mysterious attackers. The plot kicks off with a dramatic kidnapping during what feels like a routine practice session under the tutelage of Master Magician Zebediah. From there, you chase clues through enchanted forests, volcano ruins, and futuristic strongholds, peeled back one layer at a time.

Dialogue is sparse but effective, peppered with the game’s signature slang—expect plenty of “totally,” “gnarly,” and “righteous” as you progress. This constant banter gives the story a playful, irreverent edge and ensures that narrative moments don’t slow down the action. Cutscenes are kept brief, using static character portraits with speech bubbles, but they’re timed well to build anticipation for the next level.

The overarching mystery—who attacked Jake and why Allison was targeted—unfolds gradually. While there are no massive plot twists, the steady drip of information keeps you invested. Side characters, notably Master Zebediah, offer cryptic hints that encourage backtracking and exploration. Though it won’t win awards for literary brilliance, the story does its job: it motivates your quest and injects a sense of purpose into each stage.

Overall Experience

Totally Rad is a love letter to classic side-scrollers, augmented with a robust magic system and playful personality. Its tight controls and varied abilities make each level feel like a new puzzle rather than more of the same. While the absence of character progression might deter players craving RPG-style growth, the game’s emphasis on skill and strategy keeps you on your toes.

Visually, the pixel art is both nostalgic and fresh, with lively animations and eye-catching special effects. The soundtrack—chiptune-driven with surf-rock undertones—scratches that ‘80s itch perfectly, reinforcing the game’s upbeat, “totally radical” theme. Performance remains rock-solid throughout, ensuring that you never lose a battle to frame drops or stutters.

For anyone seeking a challenging yet approachable side-scroller with a magic-centric twist, Totally Rad delivers. The story may be light, but it’s charmingly delivered, and the witty slang keeps the mood high. Whether you’re a veteran of retro platformers or a newcomer craving a dose of arcane action, this title offers a rewarding, high-energy adventure from start to finish.

Retro Replay Score

6.4/10