One look at Struggling's disgusting character designs and grotesque environments may make players put down their controllers and pull out a barf bag. Every inch of Struggling is designed to be visually repulsive from NPC's vomiting and plunging into vats of acid to the pulsating orifices and flesh-covered walls. While Struggling is sickening to look at, the gameplay, puzzles, and wonderful soundtrack will keep players coming back, dragging their friends along with them.
Struggling is a comedic puzzle platformer that follows the story of a hideous monster named Troy who was once prophesied to be the savior of all freak-kind. Sadly, Troy is brought into the world too late and in quite a disappointing state. Troy is actually two heroes, Hector and Achilles, who were horribly conjoined leaving them as two arms attached to a disfigured head. The arms act independently of one another, and players must use the appendages to navigate narrow corridors, climb steep cliffs, and dodge hazardous waste.
The game plays similarly to Octodad with the steep learning curve and difficulty of 2017's Getting Over It. Players must learn how to control each limb and what the best ways are to maneuver throughout levels. At first, controlling Troy can seem incredibly difficult, but it gradually becomes easier to understand which joystick moves which arm. However, controlling Troy's arms never gets to a point where it feels like second nature. While this may frustrate some players, part of Struggling's beauty is within its innate difficulty. Just as Getting Over It would not have been a hit if it were easily mastered, Struggling strikes that same perfect balance of frustration and enjoyment.
Struggling's puzzles and level designs are as brilliant as its gameplay. Players may think there isn't much that can be done with two arms and a head, but they would be wrong. Struggling uses Troy's appendages in all manner of ways from crawling through tight spaces, operating heavy machinery, and even riding a motorcycle. And as the player progresses through the story they unlock new mutations that unlock Troy's true potential and give players new ways to use his arms. These new abilities don't make the game any easier, but instead, add layers of depth to an already challenging experience.
To top off Struggling's fantastic gameplay, the game is brought together with a phenomenal soundtrack. Like any other puzzle platformer, the developers could have slapped a number of any quirky musical pieces over each different level and called it a day. But the music that is played and the choices made for when it does and doesn't accompany an action makes Struggling an even more enjoyable experience. Struggling is all about getting somewhere, and the game uses music to pique players' interest and guide them to their destination. A slight operatic hum leads to a crescendo-esque boss battle. A tune hummed by a scientist turns into a boisterous melody. Tension builds as violin strings are strummed to a fast-growing pile of rats. Struggling is great, but its music makes it amazing.
Struggling then takes all of these elements and allows for co-op gameplay where each player takes control of one of Troy's arms. Playing with a friend definitely relieves some of the tension built while playing solo, but it also makes the game a lot more difficult. That's not a bad thing, but it can be frustrating for those who are wanting to take the game seriously. Those players need to stick to playing solo while those who want a good laugh should definitely hop into a game with their friends. Sure, they probably won't get very far, but there will be a ton of laughs shared along the way.
Struggling's difficulty and intense nature will have players on the edge of their seats gripping their controller as they helplessly attempt to flop Troy's arms away from danger. Or, if they bring a friend, it will incite some hilarious gaming memories. Struggling is easily an instant classic from Chasing Rats studio, and anyone who is up for a challenging and memorable experience should give this game a whirl.
Struggling is available on PC and Nintendo Switch. Screen Rant was provided a digital Steam code for the purpose of this review.