The Lost Joystick
Description
The Lost Joystick begins with an insult you cannot ignore: someone stole your joystick, and whoever did it clearly has no idea who they are dealing with. So begins a psychedelic, pixel-art-flavored platformer where the mission is pure and personal. Run and jump through strange, colorful levels, hunt down what was taken from you, and make a mess of everything that stands in the way.
The moment-to-moment play is classic platforming. You move through each level with simple directional controls and a jump button, collecting coins, finding keys, smashing monsters, and dodging the traps scattered in your path. Keys matter most, since they unlock the way forward, while coins feed your score and tempt you into riskier corners of the map.
Each level is built like a small treasure hunt. The exit rarely sits at the end of a straight line, so you explore, backtrack, and poke at suspicious platforms looking for the key you missed. Enemies and traps grow meaner as you progress, and the psychedelic art style, while charming, sometimes camouflages hazards, which keeps your eyes busy.
A few tips from experience. Clear enemies before exploring a new area, because a stray hit while you are hunting for a key is the most common way to lose progress. Check dead ends before assuming they are pointless; coins and keys love hiding there. And take traps slowly on a first run, learning their timing, instead of trying to speed through a level you do not know yet.
The Lost Joystick is a treat for fans of retro platformers with a mischievous streak. It is free and plays straight in the browser, so reclaiming your dignity is only a click away.