I recently got a chance to play Wake Up, Lia! on the PlayStation 5 Pro, thanks to a review copy provided by eastasiasoft.
You can find my gameplay video below:
You can also check out my first impressions of Wake Up, Lia! below:
Pros:
- Rotating stages.
- Poignant story.
- Local multiplayer.
Cons:
- Distracting music tracks.
- Lack of checkpoints.
Overall:
Wake Up Lia is a 2D precision platformer where you play as a girl who suffered from bullying. As you make your way through the game’s 20 stages, you will learn more and more about her story between each level.
While the number of stages may seem small, Wake Up Lia is an extremely difficult platformer that requires you to be very precise when jumping and dodging obstacles.
To add to the difficulty, levels later on will rotate, messing with your perspective. It is very easy to get crossed up with directional inputs easily when the stages shift, which is quite unique for a 2D platformer.
Even when playing in the easiest difficulty setting, you will end up dying countless times. This is mainly due to the lack of checkpoints, which force you to repeat the same deadly run each time you respawn.
Another drawback is the soundtrack, which does not suit the game with its overly dramatic tunes. Fortunately, you can mute the background music if you find it too distracting.
If enjoy the high difficulty of precision platformers, then Wake Up Lia should be right up your alley. Otherwise, the game may be a little too unforgiving for those hoping for an easier platforming experience.