RFM talks: Aban Hawkins & The 1,000 Spikes

It’s no secret that independent game development is at an all time high right now because lets face it it’s difficult for big developers to take risks on games nowadays.

Triple A games you see in stores require budgets that go into the millions of dollars so it’s completely understandable why the developers end up playing it safe or appealing to the broader market in order to take a profit (And theres nothing wrong with that).
It all sounds a bit grim doesn't it, but fear not! Fortunately, technology has come such a long way that were able to create our own games and potentially even your nanna could have a go, lovely.

In the past seven or eight years we’ve seen a significant influx of independent video games, games that are new, fresh, edgy and are pushing the medium in numerous different directions for better or worse. What is unfortunate though is that I’m not quite sure the market is ready for it, Yes it is easier than ever to create and release your own games but how do you plan on getting it noticed or turning the profit? This is the obstacle we are yet to pass.

Today I want to talk about a game called Aban Hawkins and the 1,000 spikes, (Doesn’t really roll off the tongue does it?) a game that I have recently fell in love with and feel that it is my duty to tell the world about.
My first point I want to bring up is that you’ve probably never heard of this game and that’s understandable as I only found out about it two years after its release through word of mouth listening to a podcast.
The problem was that the game was released on Xbox Live Indie Marketplace, an outlet where anybody can put a game up for sale but there’s absolutely no quality control, so your little game ends up lost among the shitey clones of existing games and the dross that hopes to grab cheap attention with poorly rendered, big breasted anime girls in it.
Unfortunately I’m not intelligent enough to bring a solution to this problem and neither is the industry at this point in time but I will say that I would recommend that you should take the time to wade through the shite in order to find the diamonds in the rough. (Please Support XBLIG and Steam Greenlight!)



Right, now thats out of the way lets talk gameplay. Aban Hawkins and the 1,000 spikes is one of the most difficult games I’ve ever played and I’ve beat Dark Souls.
‘1,000 Spikes is a 2D platformer with beautiful 8-bit graphics that demands your time and patience, I will say here it’s not for everyone but I’m also sure that it has the ingredients that would provide anyone with even the shortest burst of entertainment and at 80MSP (about £1/$1)
it’s an absolute steal!.
I don't think there has been another video game that I have cursed, at the top of my voice but have also been so engrossed that I carry on playing. To give you the rundown, ‘1,000 spikes has you playing as an adventurer, similar to Indiana Jones you go through numerous levels or tombs filled with ridiculous traps that test your memory and reflexes. Intercepting darts flying at you timing jumps and remembering intense sequences are all required to progress. The aim of the game is to make it to each level’s exit after grabbing a key (usually at the other end of the screen). The premise is simple but you will die constantly and without respite. The player is given 1,000 lives at the beginning and you will burn through them very quickly and soon the idea of 1,000 being a generous number will be crumpled by a particular level requiring hundreds of attempts (Honestly).
Smart players will quit and reload after several unsuccessful tries in order to keep as many lives as possible but its crazy how ever depleting life-counter alone can add to the daunting nature of the game.



Going into the mechanics of ‘1,000 spikes you have two jumps one long and one short, it sounds trivial but knowing how to use the right jump at the right moment is often crucial to progressing in the complicated and unforgiving obstacle courses, your other action is to throw knives, used to kill a scorpion, flick a switch or intercept a fatal dart. These three actions combined make each successful level feel rhythmic and incredibly satisfying when completed, the controls are also so tight that you know that you dying was your fault and not the games a la Super Meat Boy.
The increasing difficulty is baffling at times and you will be thinking things like “If I’m struggling with this level what’s the next one going to be like?” and “This has to be Impossible!” but trust me it can be done, you just need to figure it out!

The last few things I’d like to praise are the art and sound, as morbid as this game might be I have to say 1,000 spikes is very pretty to look at. Lovingly created 8-bit graphics help set the tone and the levels themselves look equal parts daunting and intriguing. The player character (Aban Hawkins I assume) looks adorable with his little hat and it feels upsetting seeing him die for the hundredth time. I especially love the pallet of colours used in creating this game, Aban’s fedora and jacket give a strong contrast to the surroundings and the magenta flames/lava look beautiful.
As for sound 1,000 spikes does a pretty good job although there are probably only three different songs you’ll hear throughout so I would say it does get a bit repetitive at times but I’ll make allowances for it fitting in with the style of old 8-bit games on the NES.
Music does a good job of having a walking rhythm to it and once the player grabs the key in each level turns into a tense/nerve racking sprint theme to the exit often sadistically off putting as well after a particularly difficult level. Lastly every time you die (Which I remind you, will do a lot!) you are presented with a black screen with big white letters saying “YOU ARE DEAD!” along with ominous “DUH DUH DUUUH!” sound which my girlfriend jokingly chimes in with “Kris is shiit!” feels incredibly appropriate.      



Ideally I wanted to have completed the game before posting my feature, at the time of writing this I am four stages away from completion but because of the time required to do a stage (It took me a few weeks before I figured out how to beat one level) and having a job/social life in between it’s hard to find time to invest needless to say I will be seeing this one to the end and completing it will be a grand personal achievement.

Please check out Aban Hawkins and the 1,000 spikes it’s only a pound to download on XBLIG now and it’s also worth mentioning that it’s being remade with extra levels for Wii U and 3DS and is getting renamed 1,001 Spikes, Look out for that one in the future.

Thanks for reading,
Kris