ChainStaff is an action platformer from developer Mommy’s Best Games, Inc. It’s part run-and-gun, part exploration, and all kinds of odd. It’s also pretty fun. Let’s dig in.
You play the role of a hardcore soldier imbued with the powers of an alien. That’s mostly because it’s latched on to your head and can’t be removed. You might look a little like a prawn-headed human, but this strange-looking combo grants you the power of the ChainStaff. This super versatile weapon can be used in many ways: swinging from platforms, forming a temporary barrier, and even hurling it like a javelin into foes. It’s strong and effective.
Gameplay involves making your way through ten planets. Each varies aesthetically, from red, desert-like zones to blue, icy ones. Level design also varies as you make your way both across and up these sprawling areas. There are plenty of platforming perils, and spaces for collectibles to hide (more on those later). Along the way, you’ll take out various weird-looking aliens, culminating in a grotesque boss fight.
You also don a pretty handy gun. There’s no limit to your ammo, so it’s fine to blast away at everything in sight. You can literally run and gun, or you can hold the ZL button down to stand still and aim more precisely. It’s versatile moves like these that add to a more robust experience that you might initially expect.
In that spirit, there are other neat features. Several difficulty modes allow you to tailor the experience. You can choose to focus more on the exploration side or create a harder outing with tougher enemies. This isn’t the only choice you’ll have to make, though.
There are three different endings on offer. Turns out having an alien head can mess with your human mind. Part of the gameplay involves finding and rescuing other humans lost and injured among the alien environments. Discovering these is optional, though doing so grants you an upgrade point that goes towards unlocking more weapons. In the meantime, when you find humans, you’re presented with three options: eat their brain, eat their heart, or set them free. Your decision alters the rest of the game; it affects the types of upgrades available to you, as well as how other humans will react to you., and it changes the game’s ending. So, what kind of soldier do you want to be?
If you’re into ‘70s and ‘80s animation, you’ll instantly feel at home when you start playing ChainStaff. The graphics have a certain retro quality to them, using a colorful sci-fi aesthetic that looks sharp. The creepy-looking aliens coupled with the detailed background create a slightly quirky look that looks like it leapt straight out of an ‘80s TV show. It rocks.
Speaking of which, the soundtrack also rocks. The chunky guitars pump your adrenaline as you push through the alien landscape. At other moments, things briefly mellow out with a ‘70s synth vibe—there are even cowbells—creating an atmosphere that truly stands out.
Overall, ChainStaff is a slightly odd outing, but it’s also a fun one. There’s plenty of run-and-gun action on offer as you explore the universe with your weird prawn-head and chain. The quirky style might not be for everyone, but it’s clear a lot of love has been put into the design of this title. It stands out—in a good way—and is worth checking out.
