Kaze and the Wild Masks touts itself as a call back to the great era of '90s platforming games, and it won't take long for players to realize exactly why this is. In nearly every way, this game imitates classics like Donkey Kong Country, Sonic the Hedgehog, and even Mario to an extent, and it does so flawlessly. Despite this emulation, it never feels like a cheap copy or unoriginal, providing its own layers of charm though the uniqueness of Kaze's masks. Kaze and the Wild Masks may not do much in the way of innovation, but it does everything else incredibly well.

Created by PixelHive and Soedesco, Kaze and the Wild Masks sees players take the role of Kaze, an agile rabbit on a mission. In the opening cutscene, Kaze loses her friend Hogo to an evil curse that then spread across the island and causes chaos, and it's up to her to get to the bottom of things. Throughout the course of the game, players will progress through over 30 unique levels in an attempt to dispel the curse, save Hogo, and bring peace back to the Crystal Islands. The story is fairly straightforward, but that's part of the point.

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To put it plainly, Kaze and the Wild Masks is wholly unremarkable. There isn't a single facet of the game that will shock, stun, or awe players, and the whole thing will feel very familiar or nostalgic. While that may seem like a negative comment, it is in fact Kaze and the Wild Masks' greatest strength. PixelHive and Soedesco knew exactly what they were doing with this game. Rather than investing time and money into making a groundbreaking title full of innovations that likely would have fallen short, they instead invested everything into making one of the most polished and clean games imaginable.

Players get exactly what they expect from Kaze and the Wild Masks, with the singular exception that it seems to run flawlessly. Don't expect to encounter any game breaking glitches, unexpected crashes, or bugs, as those have all been thoroughly ironed out of the game. Likewise, the visuals are all extremely clear, so players will never be confused about what is in the foreground and what is in the background. The sound design is similarly simple, conveying the feel of a '90s platformer in a way that is easy to understand. Everything in this game works towards that one goal of creating a smooth and reliable platforming experience.

If there was anything that set Kaze and the Wild Masks apart from its inspirations, it would have to be the titular wild masks, and even these draw inspiration from other titles. Throughout the various levels players will traverse, there are wild masks placed around that alter what Kaze is capable of doing. In total there are four different masks, an eagle, tiger, shark, and lizard mask. When players first find the eagle mask, they'll gain the power of flight, as well as a projectile weapon to help clear the path. The level then seamlessly shifts to accommodate this new power, and the game seems to change altogether.

When acquiring the shark mask, Kaze can now move freely as she swims underwater. These underwater portions of the game make full use of the two dimensional space better than flight does, allowing players to explore caves and grottos in search of hidden rewards. The tiger mask lets Kaze grasp onto walls and climb around, while the lizard mask lets her double jump and run faster. When this mask is picked up, the game shifts into an auto scroller, and players are forced to hone their reaction time and use all their abilities to get through without colliding into any obstacles.

The masks shake up the gameplay loop a bit, providing a nice change of pace from what fans had come to expect. They also are a testament to Kaze and the Wild Masks' brilliant level design, which seems to serve the same goal of being enjoyable yet simple to understand. Each level tends to have only one or two gimmicks, whether that be ziplines, moving platforms, bouncing jelly, or something else. What's more, if a level has a mask in it, it's very clear that the entire level is designed around that fact. Players will always feel they have the tools they need to succeed.

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The story progression and world map are purely linear, and players will progress through its 30+ levels one at a time. Though it may seem rather short at first, there are a ton of optional objectives that dedicated players can attempt to complete should they choose to. The final boss can be reached simply by completing every level, but get certain collectibles along the way and bonus levels will appear, a gallery will provide a more in depth backstory, and there's even a secret or two to unlock at the end for the most skilled and committed players.

In every level, there are five optional objectives for players to tackle outside of just reaching the end. First, players can attempt to get over 100 purple crystals in every level. There are usually a few more than a hundred, so it isn't the end of the world if some are missed. Next, there are four letters to be found in each level as well, usually a little ways off the beaten path. Collecting all of these reveals new images in the gallery that flesh out the game's backstory.  There are also two bonus levels hidden within each level, and these are even more well-hidden. Finally, although it seems to be only for bragging rights, players can attempt to clear each level without taking damage and in a time trial format.

Clearing these bonus levels rewards players with green crystals. Collect enough of these and entirely new levels on the world map will open up. Finding these bonus levels are one of the highlights of the gameplay. They are never hidden in unfair ways, and players are taught early on where to look for them. After unlocking the secret level in each world, players are treated to a whole new type of challenge and one of the ways that Kaze and the Wild Masks does innovate with great success.

In principle, these secret levels are just like any other, but they add unique twists that are sure to throw players for a loop. In an effort to remain spoiler-free, these won't be discussed any further, but suffice it to say that they are well worth the time required to unlock them. Even gamers with experience in platformer games may find themselves challenged by secret levels, and some of the levels in the final world are also rather difficult.

Overall, there isn't much to gripe at when it comes to Kaze and the Wild Masks. If forced to say something negative about the game, it is a shame that the wild masks don't come into play more often. They are only usable at specific times in specific levels, so players aren't really permitted to experiment with them much. Likewise, the boss fights can sometimes feel a bit unbalanced, either being too easy or too hard. Even so, these things are minor grievances that don't affect the overall experience of playing the game. Kaze and the Wild Masks is exceptionally average in every way, and never fails to impress. It excels at its goal to create a clean, enjoyable, and nostalgic '90s platforming experience, while simultaneously providing just enough of a fresh take to keep things exciting.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.

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