Developed by Mommy's Best Games, an indie development studio formed by former Insomniac Games developer Nathan Fouts, ChainStaff is a new retro-styled run-and-gun shoot 'em up created for modern hardware. Featuring a unique art style similar to the studio's previous titles, such as Serious Sam Double D XXL and Explosionade DX, the game introduces new gameplay mechanics to the tried-and-true formula while also putting a much larger focus on taking on giant bosses. It is a chaotic title filled with grotesque imagery, but at the same time, it manages to be a beautiful work of art.
The Story:
The story of ChainStaff is remarkably simple yet completely bizarre. In this version of our world, alien spores have invaded Earth and begun mutating everything they touch. The end result is a twisted version of our reality where animals have become monstrosities, the laws of physics no longer apply as chunks of the ground float through the sky, and humanity is on the brink of extinction while losing the war against the invasion.
Following an explanation of the current world state, the story introduces us to our protagonist, Sergeant Varlette, a soldier who unfortunately did not survive the assault. However, this ultimately works to Earth's advantage. After death, Varlette is unexpectedly revived by an alien parasite that has attached itself to his head. After studying his body, doctors realize they cannot remove it, but they discover it has increased Varlette's strength and allowed him to make use of alien technology—more specifically, the ChainStaff. With these newfound abilities, Varlette once again goes out into the field to fight off the spores and hopefully bring order back to mankind.
Moving past the initial premise, ChainStaff features a branching story path with cutscenes between stages to provide further context on the state of the world. From here, players can choose to retain Varlette's humanity and save his fallen fellow soldiers, or they can embrace the urges that come from the bug on his head and devour other humans instead. This choice pushes him further down the path of becoming a monster himself, resulting in multiple possible endings.
Gameplay:
Featuring an '80s-inspired, hand-drawn world, ChainStaff is an artistic representation of the games that rocked that era, updated for modern standards. As a 2D shoot-'em-up action game, it draws clear inspiration from titles like Contra while incorporating open-ended exploration and ability locked areas similar to a Metroidvania. The game is broken into multiple areas, each containing groups of enemies, environmental hazards, and menacing bosses. Although the experience provides plenty of room to breathe between encounters, the fights can quickly lead to death if you let your guard down. This is where the game's unique mechanics first rear their grotesque heads, setting players on a path of carnage as they use the appropriately named ChainStaff to their advantage.
Similar to other protagonists in the genre, Varlette is outfitted with a standard gun to blast through levels, but the ChainStaff truly gives him the edge. This weapon can be used in several unique ways and is ultimately the key to his survival. It can be thrown at enemies—an attack that becomes vital for taking on bosses—but it truly shines through its vast array of movement options. Not only can it connect to ceilings and walls to allow Varlette to climb or swing across gaps, but it can also be placed within the world to assist him in various ways. A thrown ChainStaff can act as a shield to block enemy advancement and stop bullets, hold objects up to prevent them from crushing you, or serve as a pole to reach higher ground. With stages designed with verticality in mind, players will spend a lot of time swinging and flying through the air, and this is what will eventually lead to the discovery of the game's many secrets and upgrades.
While each of these abilities seems basic on its own, the way the game expects players to utilize them is what stands out. Failing to realize that an enemy's mouth can be held open while you shoot its weak point only makes the game harder, and failing to use the ChainStaff to pull yourself out of harm's way will bring about a game over rather quickly. What initially seems like a set of secondary abilities is actually the core of the experience—which is appropriate, given it is the title of the game.
In addition to the standard gun and ChainStaff, there are multiple upgrades and abilities to unlock, though some difficult decisions must be made. When encountering humans within the stages, Varlette can either save them and return them to base or allow the alien attached to his body to take over and devour them. Choosing the latter results in instant upgrades, a welcome bonus that makes stages easier to clear in the long run; however, repeatedly choosing this path carries consequences. Eventually, every human will want you dead. The mini-bases where humans were once found will no longer be safe spaces, and there is no going back once you commit to this path. On the other hand, saving humans allows you to purchase upgrades back at the base. It isn't immediately obvious which path is "better," as it ultimately comes down to your personal playstyle. Since ChainStaff features a New Game+ mode, it encourages players to experiment with different choices. This trial-and-error approach also impacts how you tackle each challenging boss.
The final set of upgrades is for the weapon itself, hidden throughout the world. These improvements impact the staff's length and overall effectiveness. With faster charging times and a greater reach, the weapon can be thrown sooner and help Varlette reach even greater heights.
As for the bosses, each one is a treat to fight. These monstrosities are vibrantly colored yet disturbing in design, serving as the highlights of each stage. With limbs that must be chipped away, key points to swing from, and mechanics unique to each encounter, they are consistently engaging. Your chosen build will dictate the best strategy for taking them down, but players can still get creative with the ChainStaff to find new solutions. The game encourages experimentation, though it is possible to simply rely on your firearm. While shooting is often the harder option, the game never stops you from trying. As expected, the difficulty ramps up significantly; by the end, players must be masters of the ChainStaff if they wish to come out on top.
Stepping Into a Rock Album
Putting aside its unique gameplay mechanics, the one thing that truly makes ChainStaff stand out among the sea of similar titles is its unique art style and rocking soundtrack.
Featuring a hand-painted world, every background, platform, and enemy you encounter is a work of art. As someone who has spent countless hours watching the legendary Bob Ross, it wasn't hard for me to spot the different techniques on display; because of that, I couldn't help but stop and marvel at the world—despite its constant attempts to kill me. Even the spurts of blood and carnage left behind paint a pretty picture in crimson, with some monsters even transforming into visually stunning, grotesque abominations. Though technically disturbing and perhaps nightmare-inducing for some, it is hard not to love these designs, which make even the most basic enemies extremely memorable. Even the platforms Varlette jumps on are something else, to say the least.
Along with the great artwork, ChainStaff features a rock 'n' roll soundtrack ripped straight out of the '70s and '80s. This is mainly due to the game's primary inspirations: the backgrounds of Shadow of the Beast and the work of Roger Dean, who was responsible for many progressive rock album covers in the 1970s. The visuals match the style of those albums, while the soundtrack complements them perfectly. The developers seem to be going for a "playable rock album," so to speak, and they managed to nail it.
Should you play it?
Players looking for the thrill provided by classic run-and-gun shooters such as Contra should look no further than ChainStaff. With large open areas, unique monsters, and exhilarating movement options thanks to the ChainStaff itself, the game provides nearly everything one could hope for and more. While the initial stages are a bit slower and feel generic despite their outstanding art direction, the game quickly picks up the pace and offers creative stages with challenging, puzzle-like boss battles. It is a game where screenshots and images do not do it justice; one needs to experience it firsthand to truly understand how exciting it is. However, that does not mean the game is perfect.
Despite the solid presentation and great gameplay, there is no denying that the map can initially be confusing. With progression locked behind routes you may not have access to the first time through, players need to use quite a bit of trial and error just to see if they can progress down the "second path." Although there are checkpoints to warp to, these return visits often require replaying large sections of stages and refighting minibosses along the way, which can be frustrating while still trying to learn the game. Given how challenging the title can be at times, there will be plenty of additional deaths due to these stage revisits, so players should expect to struggle. Of course, that can be part of the fun, but it will not be for everyone.
The other issues stem from minor glitches that can randomly occur, though they rarely halt progress. At one point, I had the ChainStaff swing from invisible spots in the air, which effectively allowed me to fly through an area. This was a one-time occurrence and eventually caused me to die because I could not lock onto the platform I needed. Additionally, one boss fight is against a blob where players must pull out its organs to reach the spore inside, but the organ got stuck and refused to be pulled out. Thankfully, spawn points are generous, so restarting the fight is not a major issue, but it was still a setback and a minor annoyance that hopefully gets patched in the future. Fortunately, none of this ruins the game.
Overall, ChainStaff is a fun yet challenging tribute to the golden age of the run-and-gun genre. Its hand-painted, grotesque aesthetic and pulse-pounding soundtrack feel like stepping into a living '80s rock album, while the titular ChainStaff offers a unique twist as you navigate each stage and face off against massive bosses. With sprawling areas to explore and various upgrade paths to master, ChainStaff encourages multiple playthroughs—an easy feat given how addictive the experience truly is.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Review Copy was Provided
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