Lifted Review: Time-Hopping Hijinks | The Gamerheads Podcast

Platform reviewed: Steam

Price: $19.99

Someone needs to explain to me why the inter-generational friendship trope proves to be successful time and time again. Aside from the obvious Doc Brown & Marty McFly combo from Back to the Future, similar friendships that spring to mind can be found in The Karate Kid, Wreck it Ralph, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. There's just something endearing about a team-up between the older figure and a scrappy kid; it's a tried-and-true storytelling device, and it works.

Video games can also demonstrate this friendship well; games like Telltale's The Walking Dead and The Last of Us put a more serious spin on the trope, but very few take a more lighthearted approach. Lifted is an example of just that; a fun and exciting adventure starring a quirky old genius and a high school slacker. It's a romp through time full of action, heart, and perhaps a little romance.

Lifted kicks things off with high-school student Ari arriving at the office of Professor Raventhorpe, his physics professor. Ari is looking to complete some extra credit for his class, but Professor Raventhorpe has other plans: use his recently-built time elevator to travel into the past to steal the Tiara of Nefertari, a priceless crown that the professor is desperate to get his hands on. Why, you ask? Why, for love, of course! He's trying to win the heart of fellow teacher Miss Barton by gifting her the antique, and he can't do it without Ari's help. Plus, Ari will earn some extra credit. So, win-win I guess...

And so, our story begins. Ari and the professor travel back to Egypt in the 1800's, as that was the last-documented location of the invaluable heirloom. The story takes them across multiple eras and locations, looking for their prize. Along the way, they'll make friends, escape dangers, and be relentlessly pursued by a villain who has different plans for Nefertari's tiara – plans more nefarious than those of our protagonists.

Lifted is a straightforward 2.5D adventure puzzle platformer. As I played, the game drew immediate comparisons to Rayman Legends, minus any attacks. There's no fighting enemies in this: you'll traverse environments, strategically move levers and boxes to make your way through levels, and outrun dangers. Each level follows that same process, but it never gets boring or tired, thanks to the story pacing and voice acting. You'll also swing from platform to platform with a grappling hook, perform wall jumps with special shoes, and get involved with some mini quick time events to dodge incoming attacks. Controls here are solid; just as they should be with any kind of platformer. I played with an XBOX controller and noticed no lag whatsoever. I never accidentally fell off a ledge or missed a landing (unless it was my own fault). But if you do fall off, you'll start right back up at the last checkpoint. Thankfully they aren't spaced too far apart, so you'll be right back where you started in no time. This is due to the design of the game being accessible to everyone, from youngsters to oldsters. A generational game, so to speak.

This game puts the story at the forefront, and the writing is truly engaging. Throughout the three-to-five hour campaign, Ari and Professor Raventhorpe constantly talk to each other, trading ideas, historical information, and jokes aplenty. The voice actors for our two protagonists, Joe Gaudet (Ari) and Ray O'Hare (Raventhorpe) do a phenomenal job with their characters. It feels like they were pulled directly from an animated movie from the 1980s. O'Hare's Raventhorpe sounds exactly like an old, eager adventurer, and Gaudet's Ari is a spot-on doppelganger of Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly. There's also very exciting cinematic cutscenes which helps the story along, at no time did the game feel like it dragged. Lifted looks beautiful, too. The graphics pop, levels are varied and the characters' facial animations portray a lot of emotion. The music strongly added to the adventure, with each action setpiece, humorous lull, and “all is lost” moment perfectly complemented by a score that evokes emotion. One other aspect about Lifted's story that I learned is that a lot of the dialogue (and even some characters) actually exist. It was fun researching some of these names as they popped up, and makes for great jumping-off point for aspiring history buffs.

I did have some concerns as I played through the game though. The most prevalent was that there were some (about four or five) times where I couldn't figure out exactly where I was supposed to land or jump or get through a section. Grapple areas are highlighted when you get close enough, but some were tough to see, especially during a setpiece. In the jungle level, there were also some parts of the background that I thought were tree branch platforms – I was wrong. I had to go through some of these sections a few times using trial-and-error before I recognized what I needed to do. Also, some areas require pinpoint accuracy with your movements. There's one wall-jumping section in particular that I started getting pretty frustrated with, and the final setpiece in the game had to be replayed quite a few times. It's not game-breaking, but some of the younger gamers (who Lifted is designed for) may get upset and be tempted to give up (or ask an adult to help).

The game is also fairly short. It took me about 3 ½ hours to get through the campaign, and that was with nabbing half of the hidden collectibles. A full, 100% playthrough would take up to about five hours total, and since it's all about the story, there's not much need for multiple playthroughs after you 100% it (for some).

Final Grade: B+

Lifted is designed for all players, not just seasoned vets. It's welcoming to even the youngest of gamers, but the settings can be tinkered to make it more of a challenge. The game is created by Jeff Ashbrook, a former Disney Imagineer. With that experience, his goal to make a game that appeals to everyone and tells a riveting interactive story is fully realized. It's a solid choice for any gamer who loves a good adventure, is ideal for families, fans of story-driven platformers, or anyone craving a lighthearted adventure. It's not perfect – it's a little on the short side, has its share of camera glitches, and may be too easy for some, but it's still a fun experience. The game has heart, a lot of feel-good moments, and will keep you smiling from beginning to end.

Review code provided by Adventure Works and Stride PR