MainFrames Review

I’ve been spending most of my time sitting on a computer since I was 10, living through multiple OS updates, technological advancements, and even the dark time before the Internet. As such, I sometimes get blindsided with nostalgia by anything that reminds me of the simpler times when CRT monitors buzzed and a floppy wasn’t just the Save button. You can imagine how excited I was, then, to see the charmingly retro world of Assoupi’s 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer, MainFrames.

The game starts off with a floppy disk (that’s the Save icon) being inserted into the computer. What should be a simple booting up of a program doesn’t go as planned, however, and our adorable protagonist, Floppy, has to set out into the computer and the local network in order to find out what his function is and also to help keep everything intact.

At its core, MainFrames is a puzzle platformer: Floppy can jump, spin in the air to gain a second leap, stick to walls for a short while, and use the environment to get around. This may seem like pretty boilerplate platforming, which it is, but thankfully: MainFrames is only getting started. Nested in the different screens (literally), you may find desktop icons, such as a gear executable or a BUMP script, each with its own unique functions. By activating them via a spin, they will do whatever they are designed to, ranging from booping you in a certain direction to altering something on the stage, which makes for some fun and tricky platforming challenges!

Before you say that this all still sounds like a pretty normal platformer, we’ve yet to discuss the unique selling point — or at least, what I consider it to be — Frames. As is evident from the screenshots, MainFrames takes place inside a computer at the software level, so Floppy is literally jumping from one open window to the next. Most screens, as such, consist of multiple windows that contain the many programs and hazards we platform around. Here’s the thing: some of those windows, or Frames, are interactable!

By using the right thumbstick on certain screens, you will be able to interact with the windows, moving them about or switching which one is active. While this is fun in itself, it becomes a fascinating part of the gameplay when you need to both move the windows and Floppy to continue onwards — it made my head hurt a bit the first time I tried.

In some screens, you can’t actually interact with the Frames directly, but they may respond to Floppy’s movement. One view may scroll to the left as you run in said direction, whereas another may expand every time you jump. The variety of puzzles the game manages to create with these seemingly simple tools is honestly impressive.

Unique mechanics aside, the platforming itself is great and responsive, allowing you to manoeuvre a fair bit in the air while you panic and search for the next safe platform. Luckily, if you do end up hitting a hazard, you spawn back at the last platform you stood on, so it’s hard to get too frustrated… most of the time. MainFrames has a few sections where the difficulty spikes and you are expected to perform a lengthy obstacle course in one go without checkpoints in between. While this may not seem like a big deal, with some exemplars of the genre being built around pixel perfect precision, these sections don’t fit the general vibe of the game and are a bit jarring.

The game itself is divided into seven levels connected by a hub of sorts, each representing a device in the larger network and containing ever-increasing challenges. While you can rush straight on to complete the game, there is a bit of exploration and side content to do while you ponder your role in the network. First off, the levels are inhabited by two creatures, Daemons and Processes, which you can rescue and return to their home. The Processes are usually found wandering in the many screens of the game, just doing their own thing, and often only require you to do a little spin next to them. They will then transport themselves into the upper corner wherein they judge your platforming expertise. I swear, they keep frowning at me, and it makes me sad.

Daemons, on the other hand, are a bit rarer and more complex: these larger friends are typically found in separate screens all to themselves and require your help to find their way to a nearby elevator. While some will simply follow behind you and mimic your moves, others will require some tactical thinking. For example, one may float higher every time you jump, requiring you to navigate it through a maze of danger to get it home. Rescuing the processes was possibly my favourite activity, as the puzzles seldom failed in being both challenging and unique. The Processes also have great designs!

One side note I wanted to mention is that this game has a delightful sense of humour. As you explore, either progressing deeper into the network or saving the many inhabitants, you’ll often come across screens where one computer process or another is being performed, like the weather app or your email systems. In these sections, MainFrames is similar to games like Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, portraying the complex mechanics with little workers, gears, vacuums, and so on. They are all adorable and well worth seeking out.

Speaking of presentation, it has to be said that the subtle little details the game has are pretty great. For example, the CRT monitor you are viewing has some smudged fingerprints in the corner, and you can even make out the reflection of the room the machine is in if you look closely! Additionally, all of the menus are made to resemble old interfaces, and the characters themselves are usually either references to old pop culture or old icons used by the systems of the time; what's not to love?

However, I did have some issues with the way hazards are portrayed in the game. As you explore, you will come across corrupted data, visualised as blocks of red and white code that give off something almost like radiation. If you touch it, Floppy is reduced to pixels. Now, this is fine most of the time and the dark red pops nicely with the more desaturated background, but there are sections where you need to avoid a moving block of corruption on the ground; in these parts, making out where exactly the hitbox is can be finicky and a bit frustrating.

The sound design is also pretty stellar, keeping to the retro vibe. You’ll find all of the boings and twirls one would expect of a retro game, complete with a bopping chiptune-esque soundtrack. Thinking back on it now, as I write, I do have trouble recalling any specific track outside of the generic death sound (which is now burned into my brain), but that's more indicative of it being great background music!

MainFrames is an absolutely charming puzzle platformer with great energy and humour. It offers enough challenge that it’s not a breeze while also having the brain-twisting addition of Frame movement and related mechanics. The retro-inspired world always has a fun surprise or two in store, whereas the puzzles and challenges keep you thinking. This is a definite recommend to any fans of puzzle platformers!