Ari Buktu and the Anytime Elevator. Remember that name, it’s not that hard to forget, as it’s one of the first 3D platformers you should download during this month’s Steam Next Fest.
It seems quite apparent now that the founder of Adventure Works, Jeffrey Ashbrook was a ride designer at Disney Imagineering. If they had a background in creating Saturday morning cartoons or filmmaking, that would be obvious, too. Oh, they studied at USC? Case closed.
As for the links to Ari Buktu and the Anytime Elevator, it plays out as an 80s adventure film; drawing out all the best ones, of course. Indy Jones, Back to the Future, and just about every wise-cracking underachieving kid and his professor show that ever existed are a clear influence, and if you look at that nostalgia dial, it’s already on 11.
What brings our duo together for this demo is a time machine that takes them back to ancient Egypt. In the 20+ minutes of playtime, it manages to set up some exposition, the dynamics between the two’s relationship (think brawn and brains), and introduces some fluid platforming action.
Our hero, Ari, presents himself as a McFly type, modelled on Rayman with his lack of appendages. It works great as the animation is cartoon-like, and the banter between the pair pretty amusing. Ari an run and jump with the best of them, and in the case of Ari Buktu and the Anytime Elevator, he goes the archaeologist route and pulls out a whip to latch on to hooks to swing and ascend/descend. Throw in a couple of pressure pad puzzles and a wicked mining cart chase sequence, and we have ourselves a full-on time-travelling adventure.
Enough of the spiel – download Ari Buktu and the Anytime Elevator demo now while it’s available.
