Summit is an incredible precision platformer for Playdate that’ll hit you right in the feels

I used to be not anticipating to cry whereas enjoying , a $6 mountaineering platformer for Playdate that’s unattainable to not evaluate to . Scream in frustration? Sure. Storm away from the sport solely to return crawling again minutes later? Positively. Get all up in my feels, although? Not a lot. But an hour and 34 minutes — and 432 deaths — later, right here we’re. That is now the second .

In Summit, you’re a cloaked climber attempting to succeed in the highest of a mountain beneath the steering of an unseen narrator who refers to you as “little brother.” You’ve ice axes that can assist you scale the vertical surfaces, and different tools will present up later to help you in trickier conditions. Finishing the 70-ish ranges requires absolute precision, and it’s at occasions very, very irritating. There are rows of sharp spikes protruding in all places, and a few falling from greater perches. The icy floor in spots is slick sufficient to ship you flying. Sturdy winds will make it appear as if it’s unattainable to push ahead.

However it’s not unattainable, in fact, and in some instances you possibly can even use the environmental situations to your benefit. While you do lastly make it via a very robust stage, it’s all of the extra gratifying. There’s extra to Summit than well-timed jumps — it makes use of the d-pad, buttons and the crank, and may have you coordinating totally different actions to cross big gaps and keep away from obstacles. At one level, you even get to journey a crow.

The music all through is gorgeous and has a reflective temper to it, which units you up completely for when the sport takes an surprising emotional flip on the finish. As you strategy the summit, the backstory that’s been hinted at in bits and items lastly reveals itself, and it’s a tear-jerker. I acquired misty-eyed, and never as a result of I used to be so relieved to have lastly made it to the highest. (I’m , both, as I discovered whereas looking out Reddit to see how different folks fared.)

Summit will check your dedication as you die time and again attempting to progress, however it’s by no means a slog. In the event you appreciated the acute platforming and mawkish tone of Celeste, that is positively one to take a look at.