Bionic Bay (Puzzle, Precision and Physics Platforming)

I love precision platformers and puzzle platformers, but rarely do the two ever meet. When it comes to platformers, very few can provide atmospheric worlds full of intrigue to complement the gameplay. Think Limbo, Inside, Little Nightmares and Planet of Lana. The reason that there are such few comparable is because there a very few experiences on this level. Bionic Bay not only features puzzles and precision, but also blends it with an intellectual physics system and a captivating world.

I have also criticized platformers in the past for being devoid of plot, but with rich world design, the environment can tell you story. All of these heavyweights waste no time as you are playing within seconds and Bionic Bay follows suit.

You play as a scientist who was in the lab during a catastrophic experiment gone wrong. You now find yourself in a strange mechanical world that somehow feels ancient and futuristic at the same time. This is the catalyst for the story and from there your imagination and the environment do the majority of the heavy lifting.

Where Bionic Bay really sets itself apart from its peers is how much more of a precision platformer it is. It takes the best of both worlds as it blends precision with puzzles, physics and mystery. The precision aspect requires tight controls and gameplay and while it can initially feel floaty, you learn it’s less about precision and more about fluidity, which has a predictive nature to it that are combined with the reactive physics system. Crucial to the genre is steady performance and Bionic Bay maintains a steady 60 on Steam Deck where it feels at home.

The atmosphere is on par with some of the best as the visuals are stunning with gritty high density pixel art and the score is eerie and ominous. The environment is full of danger and you will often find yourself audibly shocked when you brutally discover how harsh this world can be.

It also hasn’t even been mentioned that Bionic Bay, a game that competes with those incredible titles was only created by 3 people. One artist, which explains why the world has such cohesive vision and two programmers

It’s not my style, but the game also features a completely separate online mode that features speed-running the levels, and customizing your character. It’s easy to see how this could become quite addictive for the those leaderboard fiends who are addicted to shaving off a few seconds every time.

The preview that I had the opportunity to play the first ten levels from the single player campaign, but I didn’t finish them because I didn’t want to spoil the compete experience and what I was able to try gave me enough of a indication of what Bionic Bay has to offer, which is a platformer that challenges my skills and my intellect. What remains to be seen is if the mystery will be rewarding, if the mechanics will constantly remain fresh with new ideas and if the overall experience will overstay its welcome. However, all indications point to a very satisfying package for people that enjoy this type of game. Bionic Bay releases on April 17