The Ghost In The Machine Loves Jumping!
HIGH The exploding floor level!
LOW The level that demands too many dashes in a row.
WTF Apparently the game is now a SHMUP?
Bzzzt seems almost embarrassed by the expectation that it should have a story, and it’s breathtaking how perfunctorily the premise is introduced — good scientists have built an AI, and they pop it into a robot to test its running and jumping abilities. Then an evil scientist turns up. Why is he evil? He put on a helmet that turned him evil. The good scientists are then kidnapped, and it’s up to the player to brave 52 levels of platforming to get them back.
Bzzzt offers 2D puzzle-platforming at its purest and most direct. The goal of each level is simple — get through a gauntlet to the exit. That’s it. Accomplishing that task is complicated by hopping over deathbots, laser fields, sawblades, moving floors, and every other obstacle that the genre traditionally offers. That’s not an exaggeration, either — Bzzzt is nothing less than a best-of collection of every mechanic and threat that devotees of the genre have come to expect.
The result of this design philosophy is a game that moves at such a breakneck pace that one never has a chance to get bored. One level might involve vents that shoot the robot high into the air, with the next being built around a series of ladders that the player has to zip between, avoiding robots that slide up and down them.
There are so many different gimmicks on offer that Bzzzt almost never repeats them more than once. While every level will offer some manner of deadly wall and/or difficult jump, the more in-depth mechanics like a moving gun platform that the player has to control using buttons, or a masterpiece level built around an exploding floor, are featured just a single time before disappearing forever. It shows a real belief in their own design skills that the developers were willing to toss away so many great mechanics rather than riding them into the ground.
I could easily see Bzzzt being three or four times as long, with the developers milking each new gimmick over a whole series of levels, Super Meat Boy-style. They don’t, however, which is both a disappointment because I adore the level design, but also a an impressive statement of purpose. These are developers who know they’ve done a great job, and aren’t interested in resting on their laurels.
None of this would work at all if Bzzzt’s controls weren’t absolutely flawless, and I’m happy to report that it plays exactly as well as it needs to. The robot is a breeze to guide through levels, with jump physics that have just enough gravity to feel satisfying, while never slowing the pace. Then, soon enough it will be air-dashing and double-jumping through increasingly convoluted energy mazes. In a twist I wasn’t expecting, the dash can be used an infinite number of times with only a spit-second cooldown, which at first seems like it’s going to be overpowered, but the level design ensures that the ability can’t be abused. In fact, the developers rely on the player having an endless dash in later levels, forcing them to perform some truly impressive acrobatics.
The only real flaw I encountered in Bzzzt was a lack of bells and whistles beyond the main game. In addition to being given a par time to hit, there are an assortment of golden bolts to find. I collected all of them — because why not? — but I was disappointed to discover that my reward for having done so was… an achievement? Where were the alternate skins for the robot, visual effects to place over the gameplay, or even something as simple as concept art? Bzzzt is nice enough to let the player keep their upgrades after they’ve been unlocked, so it’s a simple matter to go back to earlier levels and use the double-jump and dash to easily collect everything and beat the par times, but what motivation does the player have for doing so? For developers who so thoroughly understand the appeal of challenging platforming, it’s strange to see them completely whiff on an aspect that serves as strong motivation for many players.
Despite the lack of prizes for going above and beyond, I found Bzzzt to be a delight. This is a platforming masterpiece crafted by people who know the genre inside and out. Anyone who loves super-intense platforming is all but guaranteed to adore it, as it’s a truly exceptional game that’s as rewarding to play as any of the top titles in the genre.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Disclosures: This game is developed by KO DLL and published by Cinemax Games. It is currently available on PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the PC. Approximately 2 hours of play was devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed.
Parents: This game was not rated by the ESRB, but it is effectively E10 grade content with Cartoon Violence. Yes, there are lots of exploding robots, but no blood and no real tension. The robot is super-cute, as are most of the enemies, so this should be safe for almost any player. There’s even an easy mode where the player can take three hits before dying!
Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: I played the majority of the game without audio and encountered zero difficulties. All dialogue is subtitled and all vital information is provided visually. Subtitles cannot be resized. This game is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: No, the game’s controls are not remappable.
- Little Nightmares 3 Review - November 17, 2025
- PIGFACE Preview - November 16, 2025
- Robots At Midnight Review - October 16, 2025