Volgarr the Viking is a 2D pixel-art side-scrolling platforming game heavily influenced by arcade games from the late 80's and early 90's. Its influences include such classics as Rastan (Arcade), Super Ghouls N' Ghosts (SNES), Castlevania (NES), Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES), and other games from that era. It is notable for its unique jumping mechanic and spear platform mechanic, and for its high difficulty and lack of hand-holding.
Players take the role of the titular Volgarr, risen from the dead and commanded by Odin to find and slay the greedy dragon Fafnir. The game has minimal presentation and story, having no formal title screen or opening menu and no cutscenes, dialog, or tutorial. It has a high level of challenge and a deliberate pacing, expecting the player to proceed with caution and learn the layouts of each level, playing each through multiple times until they are mastered. It also encourages speed-running, including a speed runner HUD option, as the game uses very few randomized elements and has many options for increasing the speed a player can get through a level.
Volgarr's jumping mechanic has only been used in very few other games (the most notable being Super Ghouls N' Ghosts). Once in the air players have no air control, however they have a second jump. The second jump completely changes their trajectory (as well as doubling as a spin attack), allowing a surprising amount of mobility yet overall giving the game very predictable jump arcs and making it very easy to jump in one direction while turning and attacking in the other. Volgarr can also throw spears as a ranged attack, and these spears will embed themselves in walls and can then be used as platforms to assist in navigation.
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This game also exists on:
PC
Mac
Sega Dreamcast
Nintendo Switch
Sony PS Vita
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Nintendo Wii U
Xbox One
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