PAX West - ChainStaff

An alien world. A parasite for a head. And a staff that acts as both a tool and weapon. Throw that in with a visual style that looks like a 70s rock and roll album cover and you have ChainStaff. At the Bull Games booth at PAX West, I had a special opportunity to look at the game for myself. 

ChainStaff is an action platformer whose illustration first caught my eye. As a fan of 70s and 80s rocks and roll, I couldn't help but be reminded of some of the artwork featured on old album covers, as well as the platformers I grew up on. 

Hooked on a Feeling

The demo took place on a barren desert wasteland that felt reminiscent of the Flash Gordon movie. Strange structures, a solid blue sky, and golden desert hills. Between me and the boss were grotesque monsters, each more horrendous than the next. One monster had a bulbous tale and was something of a cross between a salamander and a scorpion. 

Due to unfortunate circumstances, a parasite has attached itself to our hero. The bug-like parasite doesn't take complete control but has merged with the human. Our poor have special skills and senses but also have unearthly cravings. There's an alien artifact, a staff, that is both a weapon and a tool. 

Rock and roll at the edge of space

ChainStaff gives players two tools of the trade. First is an organic rifle. It blasts energy rounds and can be upgradeable. The other is a staff. The staff has multiple uses. The staff can be thrown as a spear to pierce enemies but can also be used as a crank to pass pulverizing obstacles or a rope to swing. 

The demo took me through the desert wasteland. After a few untimely deaths, I got the hang of the gameplay that ChainStaff offers. Soon, the experience felt sublime. Shooting felt pulpy and exciting, as monsters were perforated into a gut soup. With the staff, I was swinging around the stages like Bionic Commando. On a foundational level, the game mechanics are done right and feel incredibly strong. This is all accompanied by a rock and roll soundtrack that kept me and all attendees bobbing their heads. 

Contra Time

At one point, there was a soldier in need. I had options. One was to rescue the soldier but the others involved eating their brain or their heart. I chose to eat the poor man's brains, which upgraded the rifle with a more powerful shot. In addition to being humorous, I discovered that many such decisions will be featured in ChainStaff. Most importantly, such decisions will affect the ending of the game. Hero, menace, or something in between. It's entirely up to you. Then there was the boss. 

As if things couldn't get more metal, a giant dragon-line head fills the screen. The target is a beating heart in the back of the throat, a small nod to Contra. The catch is the teeth blocking the heart. While the teeth themselves were easy, they instantly grew back. The skull actually showed the teeth grow through the gums and out into the mouth. Shooting took time and patience. Then the heart started shooting purple energy shots. It was tricky, but eventually, the boss was defeated. 

Embrace the ChainStaff

ChainStaff still has a long way to completion, but I couldn't help but want more. Its 70s-inspired aesthetic greatly bolsters a foundation of very strong gameplay. What mysteries await we will have to see, but I can tell that I am already hooked on a feeling, and that feeling is ChainStaff.

ChainStaff is in active development.