Once Upon A Life

Link: Once Upon A Life
Developed by FlashChaz
Sponsored by Miniclip
Genre: Platformer/Action

It has been a long time since I've played a platformer game that I thought was totally unique and well worth the play. Most platforming flash games lately are fairly generic, episodic and rely too much on one or so gimmicks.Once Upon A Life changes all that and makes a good looking and fresh take on what has become a boring genre.

The story behind Once Upon A Life is part of its charm although it is a little weird. It starts with a cutscene showing Harry, a retired man, in a nursing home looking through a photo album when a gust of wind blows all the pictures out the window. He then chases after them with his rocket powered walking sticks. From here every level challenges you to gather three pictures in cute little platforming challenges. What makes Once Upon A Life interesting, however, is that after each level you get to hear part of Harry's life. From his birth all the way to current times. It really gives some depth to what is just a flash game character but you want to keep playing to hear how his life ends up.

Levels in Once Upon A Life are also pretty well done. I won't say any levels are particularly difficult but they are varied and interesting. Level designs take you from typical outside neighborhood to space, pirate ships, the jungle to fight dragons and more. These levels are also interesting and may require unique ways to gather the photos. Such as slamming down on a beaver dam to reveal one, solving a quick button puzzle in a space station, fighting off hordes of penguins and more. Some levels even go beyond simple platforming and have you piloting a pirate ship in naval battle, riding a chibara in an endless runner and more. Once Upon A Life is one heck of a journey through Harry's life, old and new, as well as through many different flash gaming facets and is a blast to play.