While roaming around the show floor of a game developers’ conference, I came across four Super Nintendo controllers on a table. Flummoxed by what I was seeing due to the majority of the games on the show floor being developed for the future as opposed to showing retro games, I found that the controllers were actually being used for a new game in progress called Little Hellions. This game is one you will want to keep an eye out for!
Little Hellions is a 4-player 2D platforming and fighting game hybrid that has each player try to take each other out with as many KO’s as possible. The twist is, however, that each player intentionally tries to kill themselves before body swapping with another person’s character. The end result: hilarity.
Each color of the Super Nintendo input buttons corresponded to each character, and when using the body swapping move, the game stops for a slight second and gives the other person a chance to counter back with another button press. Usually, you end up dying in a bottomless pit or spikes or a bomb…I admit it, I died a lot. Besides how much I failed at the game, Little Hellions is skill based and each button press has to be precise to really fulfill the right timing of the body swap. Plus, you don’t have to use a Super Nintendo controller despite that probably being the best way to play Little Hellions.
While playing the game, I, along with two others playing alongside me, were laughing at how we were leading each other into certain doom, and for the first time in quite a while with a multiplayer video game, I had a big smile on my face. This enjoyment of the game was not my own either as a crowd later on in the day surrounded the booth.
In this early build, there are two stages available, and one of these allow players to alter their surroundings. For example, jumping on a pedestal allows a pillar of spikes to move faster across the map, and bombs are available on the ground to pick up and throw. This is an aspect of the game I hope grows during development.
For a prototype, Little Hellions is exceptionally responsive. I didn’t feel like I lost so many lives due to a lag of movement or a button press. It felt like it was my fault, and I commented towards the developer that I was impressed by the controls. Another aspect of the game I was impressed by are the character designs. Each character has a hellish design and offer plenty of personality. The engine used for Little Hellions, Gamemaker, is the same as Hotline Miami, and the 2D aesthetic of the engine makes the art style unique among the bright landscape of most indie platformers.
After releasing on PC, the developer of Little Hellions plans to release the game on PS4 as well. With the PS4, they are not opposed to cross-play so players will most likely be able to have a local experience such as this with their online friends. Little Hellions will offer a co-op challenge mode in addition to the standard battles between players. Jace Boechler has also teased that there will be unlockable characters.
Right now, there aren’t that many details on Little Hellions, but the game’s definitely one to watch with its interesting traptastic gameplay, great character design, and the possibility of having a hilarious interplay between players.