God bless the indie developer otherwise known as Nifflas. Not only does he create awesome quasi-Metroid likes for everybody to enjoy, but he also releases them for free. Some of you may remember when we highlighted one of his more popular games — Knytt Stories — on our “Weekend Freeplay” a while ago. Well today, we are highlighting one of his earlier games; a game about a bouncy ball…

Those of you who have played Knytt Stories will immediately recognize some familiar settings. Within a Deep Forest shares a lot in common with it’s younger sibling in that sense. The world is expansive, yet basic. It’s full of platforming goodness with varying degrees of monsters that all act in a similar manner. In fact, one would easily be able to assume that the world in Knytt Stories was designed after the world in Within a Deep Forest. While you won’t find any exact duplicates between the two games, it’s fairly obvious that the two shared the same level design.

Of course, it’s not the setting that really makes a game. It’s the way it plays. I would classify both Knytt Stories and Within a Deep Forest as quasi-Metroid-likes. But, while that definition may hold true for both games, Within a Deep Forest is surprisingly different in terms of actual gameplay.

In Within a Deep Forest you play as a ball, a ball which was created by accident from a bomb that was designed to freeze the world and destroy all life. Unfortunately, the evil Dr. Cliche’ (hur hur!) wasn’t done after his first unsuccessful attempt and soon he was attempting to create a second bomb that would freeze the world. As a newly formed lifeform, the ball, you have to stop him before it’s too late.

Playing as a ball in a platforming game is a unique proposition. Unlike with Knytt Stories, the paltforming in this game is unwieldy and chaotic… in a good way. Everything is about timing and control. You bounce around the carefully plotted out landscapes acquiring new abilities (substances) that will allow you to get through different obstacles. It’s really a lot of fun and it’s what makes Within a Deep Forest such a great game.

With Within a Deep Forest you are getting a great platforming Metroid-like and one that will last you a few hours, if not longer. It’s difficult, but not unreasonably so. And, if nothing else, it’s a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon without wasting a dime.

[download via Nifflas]