Sunblaze bills itself as a brain-twisting precision platformer with hundreds of handcrafted levels. I approached it with cautious optimism. After all, trailers promise thrills—but actually playing can sometimes bring frustration instead.
Overall Impressions
Sunblaze works best in small doses. Each level feels like a puzzle you get to solve one screen at a time. I liked how smoothly each screen flows into the next. The transitions have a cinematic feel as platforms slide, shift, and reform. That said, the single-screen style starts to feel repetitive after a while. Games like Celeste or Super Meat Boy offer bigger areas and more chances to explore. In comparison, Sunblaze’s smaller challenges can feel a bit samey. It sticks closely to its formula—which helps define its style, but also limits how far it can go.
When stacked against other precision platformers, Sunblaze feels solid but not top-tier. It doesn’t carry the emotional punch of Celeste or the intense pace of Super Meat Boy. Still, fans of the genre will appreciate its clean design. If you’re new to this type of game, though, you might wonder why it plays things so safe.
Gameplay Mechanics
Let’s be honest—I died more times than I’d like to admit while reviewing this. Sunblaze demands perfect timing and careful movement. You leap, dash, and wall-jump with precise control. The developer clearly put thought into every level. Every tough moment feels planned. But because the game sticks to tight, single-screen areas, it sometimes kills the feeling of momentum. Others have noticed this too. One reviewer praised the flow between screens but said they missed having larger spaces to explore. I agree with that. I loved the feel of each jump, but the game’s sameness wore me down after a while.
Thankfully, the controls are tight and responsive. I never felt lag or weird physics. When I failed, it was my fault—usually from rushing into spikes. I did find one strange review that slammed the controls and added a random story about a made-up character. That seemed more like internet noise than anything real.
Story and Characters
There’s not much story here. You play as a glowing sprite trying to bring a dying sun back to life. The plot stays vague and rarely gets in the way of gameplay. You’ll collect light fragments and see short bits of text hinting at some old lore. The world feels a little mysterious, but not deeply built. You won’t remember any characters after you’re done. But if you’re looking for a strong story, Sunblaze won’t let you down—because it barely tries to tell one.
Visuals and Graphics
Visually, Sunblaze really stands out. The pixel art is full of glowing, warm colors. Backgrounds shift from cave reds to bright neon blues, giving each level its own mood. The animations stay smooth, even when things get hectic. I liked how polished everything felt, especially the way the camera pans between screens—it’s a unique touch. Clearly, the team at Games From Earth put a lot of effort into these visual moments, and it pays off.
Sound and Music
The music here leans into calm, ambient tones. Soft synths and steady beats back up each screen without getting in the way. The sound effects are sharp and satisfying—each bounce, jump, and dash has a little audio reward. You’ll notice the chime when you land a perfect combo. There’s no voice acting, which helps keep your focus on the gameplay. All in all, the audio supports the game without stealing attention.
Difficulty and Replayability
Sunblaze doesn’t hide its love for challenge. Early levels ease you in gently, but soon you’ll find yourself in tight spots with barely any time to react. One wrong move and you’re toast. But restarts are instant, so failure never feels punishing. I found myself wanting to nail each move just right.
There’s some replay value too—like hidden items and timed runs. You can race against ghost versions of top players for bragging rights. Still, the lack of big, open levels means you won’t come back to explore. You’ll return to master what’s already there—not to find something new.
Player Experience
Players seem to feel the same. One called it “a lot of fun” despite its small stages. Another just said it was “nice.” Those comments might seem plain, but they capture the charm and the limits of the game pretty well.
Developer Trivia and Behind the Scenes
Sunblaze is the first big title from Games From Earth, published by Bonus Stage Publishing. The Finnish dev team spent more than two years perfecting it. They chose not to use random level generation—every screen was made by hand. In early testing, players loved how the screens flowed into each other. So the devs doubled down on that design. The music team also built tracks that matched the game’s sun theme, adding layers to the mood. The result is a game that feels thoughtfully made from the first jump to the last.
Final Thoughts
Sunblaze is a treat for fans of tight, challenging platformers. Its hand-built puzzles and smooth transitions make for a satisfying experience. But its small-screen format keeps it from reaching grander heights. If you’re after big adventures or deep stories, this won’t be your jam. But if you love focused gameplay and precise moves, Sunblaze is ready to impress.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I admire how polished and focused Sunblaze is. It nails the basics of platforming and adds its own flair. Just don’t expect big worlds or sweeping plots. For fast jumps and sharp timing, Sunblaze brings the heat.
