This charming new adventure game evokes the essence of a forgotten PS1 classic.

I appreciate video games that evoke the feeling of a lost classic from another era. I'm not referring to those that try to emulate a retro style for nostalgia's sake, but rather to those that feel naturally shaped by history, reflecting the influences of childhood. This is the case with Slime Heroes, a friendly adventure starring colorful cartoon characters. If someone told me it was a remake of a forgotten PS1 game, I could believe it if it weren't for some modern clues.

Developed by the independent studio Pancake Games, Slime Heroes is an open-world adventure game in which an adorable blob of slime embarks on a mission to save its home from corrupt monsters. Its cheerful visuals, fun music, and somewhat clumsy interface make it feel like a platformer from the pet-focused era. However, don’t let its shiny surface fool you: Slime Heroes turns out to be a surprisingly challenging game with notably deep combat mechanics.

At the beginning of my adventure, everything seems quite simple. I receive an enigmatic backstory that sets up my journey, and then the jungle exploration begins with a sword in hand (or whatever a slime holds). I defeat the monsters I encounter and move toward the checkpoints. Easy! However, modern influences soon become evident. Upon reaching my first save station, I realize that Slime Heroes is inspired by the Dark Souls philosophy. I can upgrade my stats, such as attack power and speed, at a checkpoint using the resources I've collected. If I die, I lose everything I'm carrying and must either recover my items or lose them forever. With some imperfect platforming and somewhat clumsy physics, I find myself dying frequently. This can be frustrating and sounds like a tonal discrepancy compared to what is, at first, an adorable game aimed at children.

However, that frustration begins to fade as I better understand the big picture. Slime Heroes is an open-world game, similar to Nobody Saves the World. I can go wherever I want, facing bosses and challenge shrines in whatever order I choose. That freedom helps me reorganize my thoughts as I look for checkpoints and collect as many upgrades as I can along the way. If I find a battle arena too difficult, I can simply explore more and return when I feel stronger.

Progression is not just about leveling up; that's where the real advantage of Slime Heroes comes into play. As I explore, I randomly acquire special abilities. I gain simple equippable powers such as projectile blasts and whirlwind attacks that I can assign to three different buttons. In an interesting twist, each ability can be combined with another to create a new power, even adding an additional effect like fire or poison damage. This system rewards experimentation, encouraging players to find combinations that can mitigate challenges. And I must say, there are some surprisingly powerful combinations.

One of my proudest creations was combining an attack-boosting circle with a whirlwind and a lifesteal perk, creating an effect that drew in nearby enemies while enhancing my power. These types of combat encounters that seemed impossible at first became easy thanks to my creativity. And this is just one example; there are a vast array of combinations to explore. Although its light combat and somewhat clumsy movement mechanics might diminish the fun, I find myself drawn to casually continue playing Slime Heroes on my Steam Deck. I always discover something new every time I boot it up, whether it's an uncharted area or an overpowered ability combination. I haven’t yet tried its cooperative mode, which seems like the ideal way to play for parents who want to share the experience with their children.

What truly captivates me is the warm feeling of enjoying a beloved game from my childhood, one that could have been in my PlayStation collection. It may be called nostalgia, but what really enchants me is the simple joy of being immersed in a cartoon world filled with bubbles. I enjoy just rolling around as a little ball and soaking up its charm.