1000 Deaths Review: Nutty and Challening N64 Inspired Goodness

 

If you are longing for the days of quirky and oddball 3D platformers, then 1000 Deaths might be worth a look. The 3-D adventures of Tee Vee, a TV with legs and sunglasses, will be your guide in this weird as heck physics-based game where TV helps you through an existential crisis.

The bulk of the action involves Tee Vee collecting CDs and compact discs as you progress up, down, and under its 3-D obstacle courses. Tee Vee’s character design is blocky and intentionally surreal, and it all comes together in some fun, if oddball N-64-inspired glory. You’ll begin the game able to do just basic movements like running nd jumping. Very early on in the 4-hour-ish campaign, Tee Vee will unlock a jet pack, allowing him to do a dash. Other upgrades will follow.

In between each short platforming stage, you’ll help your protagonist, Vayu, through a midlife crisis of sorts as he ponders his decisions working in the town of No Wheres Ville. Vayu, his best friend Maxie, along with the other wacky cast of characters, are straight out of the 90s-era Nicktoon. Vatu will also be presenting a series of decisions that you can choose to be good or bad.

Your decisions will affect the branching path of choices and will determine the difficulty and skill for each of its ever-changing courses. Make Good choices. Or Don’t. As the story unfolds, a truly dark tale will unfold, one that seems directly opposed to its admittedly cartoonish character designs and world. The constant shift in tones makes the darker elements of its story really stand out.

While the courses start simply enough, the mid-game requires some pretty precise platforming skill that will test your thumbs — and your patience. Each course is also graded. Your score will be factored into time and collectibles. And each area has plenty of optional collectibles to find. The bite-sized nature of the levels makes it a joy for competitionists and trophy hunters. It’s also a perfect game to play on a Steam Deck or a ROG Ally. The majority of my playthrough was experienced on my couch. 1000 Deaths pushes your move forward, also thanks in part to its excellent soundtrack. It features a selection of synth and foot-tapping techno that is just energetic enough without overpowering its addictive gameplay loop.

1000 Deaths is a callback to short but well-designed 3D platformers that were all the rage on the N64. It features an easy-to-play yet challenging-to-master gameplay loop. Its story dares to be weird with a bright and even jarring color palette, all wrapped in a story that tackles some dark themes and leaves you pondering your own life choices. 1000 Deaths is currently available for PC, and a PlayStation 5 version is in development.