When the going gets tough, double jump
By Paul Hunter
The first game from Monster Theatre, Atomic Owl drops you into a neon-lit world packed with fast combat, tricky platforming, and roguelike twists. You take on the role of Hidalgo Bladewing, navigating shifting stages and fighting foes while upgrading your gear to push further every run. The loops are quick but demand precision—learning enemy moves, nailing jumps, and juggling four distinct weapons, each with its own feel and use. The thrill lies in experimenting with combos and watching progress stack up, even when you fall.
Visuals lean into pixel art with bright cityscapes and glowing signs lighting the way. Change things up with CRT or Samurai filters that give the game fresh flair. The soundtrack pulls you along with a synth-heavy beat that shifts as you move through different zones—sometimes eerie, sometimes driving, always keeping pace with the action. Atomic Owl’s look and sound make it feel like a pulse-pounding late-night arcade session.
But Atomic Owl is more than just style. It’s a loop of fight, adapt, improve, repeat. Each run reshuffles enemy placements and platforms, keeping you on your toes. You’ll learn when to swing a hammer, slash with a blade, or chain enemies into submission. Temporary power-ups spice things up with new ways to approach battles and obstacles, and bosses test your ability to stay sharp through multiple phases. Even when a jump feels impossible or a platform drops you unexpectedly, the sense of progress with every upgrade keeps frustration in check.
At its core, Atomic Owl challenges you to master its rhythms and come back stronger. Sure, the camera zooms out wide at times, making tiny enemies a tough target. But this quirk doesn’t stop the adrenaline rush or the satisfaction of a well-earned victory.
Atomic Owl nails the kind of quick, hard-hitting platformer that’s perfect for brief, intense sessions. It mixes tough challenges with just enough upgrades and variety to keep you hooked. The story adds flavour without slowing the pace, while the neon visuals and synth soundtrack create a cool, electric atmosphere. If you like your action sharp and your runs fast, this one’s worth your time. Does it keep you flying high or crash you back to the perch? Let’s find out!
The world of Judasnest pulses with tension after centuries of war between the Crows and Bladewings. You step into the boots of Hidalgo Bladewing, a veteran warrior caught in a deadly ambush after a mission that was supposed to end with a quiet ramen dinner. Instead, a twisted Crow Sorcerer named Omega Wing unleashes a dark energy called Meza, corrupting Hidalgo’s friends and trapping him in an eternal tree.
Two years later, a talking sword named Mezamet, forged in that same dark energy, frees Hidalgo—but not without leaving him with “main character amnesia.” His friends have been brainwashed and turned against their own. To set things right, Hidalgo must journey across Judasnest, fighting Tengu creatures invading his home and collecting Meza energy from fallen enemies. This energy powers permanent upgrades at Twilight Perch, his base between attempts, as well as temporary boosts from mysterious Wing Revenant items that grant new abilities or movement tricks. It’s a race to reclaim his past and break the curse gripping his world.
Atomic Owl builds its challenge around a cycle of exploration, combat, and steady growth. Starting from Twilight Perch, you enter a stage knowing it won’t be the same as last time. Platforms shift, hazards relocate, and enemies appear in different patterns.
Your arsenal defines your approach. A heavy hammer might crush through groups at close range, while a quicker blade lets you react faster to aerial threats. Carrying multiple weapons means you can adapt mid-battle, swapping instantly to fit the situation. The Meza gathered in battle comes back with you, ready to be spent on permanent upgrades.
Temporary boosts, found as Revenant Wing abilities, add another layer to your decision-making. Do you use an attack speed increase to tear through a tricky section, or a movement boost to clear a dangerous gap? Bosses push these skills further, forcing you to adapt across multiple phases.
Platforming keeps you alert, with precise jumps and hidden traps scattered through each area. In one run, I found myself cornered when a collapsing bridge cut off my route. Luck was on my side—a newly found movement boost gave me just enough distance to leap to safety.
Every return to Twilight Perch feels like progress. Even a failed run can unlock more health, stronger attacks, or faster movement for next time. It’s a loop built on experimentation and learning from each attempt.
Atomic Owl goes for crisp pixel art, keeping its action easy to follow. If you want to mix it up, you can apply filters: a CRT look or a Samurai mode that swaps colours for black-and-white.
The game doesn’t stick to one backdrop. You might run across rooftops, dodge through forest paths, or work your way inside a retro-tech lab. Each stage feels different, and that variety holds up through the game’s short run time.
Lighting changes how you read a level. In some darker areas, spotting the next platform takes more focus, and it’s easy to mistime a jump.
Sound design stays tight. The music matches the game’s pace, with one later track leaning into stranger timing. Whether you like it might depend on your taste, but it’s memorable. The effects—hits, jumps, item pickups—give quick, satisfying feedback.
One run had me moving from a dark alley into an open rooftop stretch, and the music shifted with it. The change in tone made it feel like the run had hit a new gear, even though the challenges stayed relatively the same.
Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Developer: Monster Theater
Publisher: Eastasiasoft Limited
Genre: Side-Scrolling Roguelike
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
The first game from Monster Theatre, Atomic Owl drops you into a neon-lit world packed with fast combat, tricky platforming, and roguelike twists. You take on the role of Hidalgo Bladewing, navigating shifting stages and fighting foes while upgrading your gear to push further every run. The loops are quick but demand precision—learning enemy moves, nailing jumps, and juggling four distinct weapons, each with its own feel and use. The thrill lies in experimenting with combos and watching progress stack up, even when you fall.
Visuals lean into pixel art with bright cityscapes and glowing signs lighting the way. Change things up with CRT or Samurai filters that give the game fresh flair. The soundtrack pulls you along with a synth-heavy beat that shifts as you move through different zones—sometimes eerie, sometimes driving, always keeping pace with the action. Atomic Owl’s look and sound make it feel like a pulse-pounding late-night arcade session.
But Atomic Owl is more than just style. It’s a loop of fight, adapt, improve, repeat. Each run reshuffles enemy placements and platforms, keeping you on your toes. You’ll learn when to swing a hammer, slash with a blade, or chain enemies into submission. Temporary power-ups spice things up with new ways to approach battles and obstacles, and bosses test your ability to stay sharp through multiple phases. Even when a jump feels impossible or a platform drops you unexpectedly, the sense of progress with every upgrade keeps frustration in check.
At its core, Atomic Owl challenges you to master its rhythms and come back stronger. Sure, the camera zooms out wide at times, making tiny enemies a tough target. But this quirk doesn’t stop the adrenaline rush or the satisfaction of a well-earned victory.
Atomic Owl nails the kind of quick, hard-hitting platformer that’s perfect for brief, intense sessions. It mixes tough challenges with just enough upgrades and variety to keep you hooked. The story adds flavour without slowing the pace, while the neon visuals and synth soundtrack create a cool, electric atmosphere. If you like your action sharp and your runs fast, this one’s worth your time. Does it keep you flying high or crash you back to the perch? Let’s find out!
The world of Judasnest pulses with tension after centuries of war between the Crows and Bladewings. You step into the boots of Hidalgo Bladewing, a veteran warrior caught in a deadly ambush after a mission that was supposed to end with a quiet ramen dinner. Instead, a twisted Crow Sorcerer named Omega Wing unleashes a dark energy called Meza, corrupting Hidalgo’s friends and trapping him in an eternal tree.
Two years later, a talking sword named Mezamet, forged in that same dark energy, frees Hidalgo—but not without leaving him with “main character amnesia.” His friends have been brainwashed and turned against their own. To set things right, Hidalgo must journey across Judasnest, fighting Tengu creatures invading his home and collecting Meza energy from fallen enemies. This energy powers permanent upgrades at Twilight Perch, his base between attempts, as well as temporary boosts from mysterious Wing Revenant items that grant new abilities or movement tricks. It’s a race to reclaim his past and break the curse gripping his world.
Atomic Owl builds its challenge around a cycle of exploration, combat, and steady growth. Starting from Twilight Perch, you enter a stage knowing it won’t be the same as last time. Platforms shift, hazards relocate, and enemies appear in different patterns.
Your arsenal defines your approach. A heavy hammer might crush through groups at close range, while a quicker blade lets you react faster to aerial threats. Carrying multiple weapons means you can adapt mid-battle, swapping instantly to fit the situation. The Meza gathered in battle comes back with you, ready to be spent on permanent upgrades.
Temporary boosts, found as Revenant Wing abilities, add another layer to your decision-making. Do you use an attack speed increase to tear through a tricky section, or a movement boost to clear a dangerous gap? Bosses push these skills further, forcing you to adapt across multiple phases.
Platforming keeps you alert, with precise jumps and hidden traps scattered through each area. In one run, I found myself cornered when a collapsing bridge cut off my route. Luck was on my side—a newly found movement boost gave me just enough distance to leap to safety.
Every return to Twilight Perch feels like progress. Even a failed run can unlock more health, stronger attacks, or faster movement for next time. It’s a loop built on experimentation and learning from each attempt.
Atomic Owl goes for crisp pixel art, keeping its action easy to follow. If you want to mix it up, you can apply filters: a CRT look or a Samurai mode that swaps colours for black-and-white.
The game doesn’t stick to one backdrop. You might run across rooftops, dodge through forest paths, or work your way inside a retro-tech lab. Each stage feels different, and that variety holds up through the game’s short run time.
Lighting changes how you read a level. In some darker areas, spotting the next platform takes more focus, and it’s easy to mistime a jump.
Sound design stays tight. The music matches the game’s pace, with one later track leaning into stranger timing. Whether you like it might depend on your taste, but it’s memorable. The effects—hits, jumps, item pickups—give quick, satisfying feedback.
One run had me moving from a dark alley into an open rooftop stretch, and the music shifted with it. The change in tone made it feel like the run had hit a new gear, even though the challenges stayed relatively the same.
The Verdict
Atomic Owl keeps its focus sharp—fast gameplay, varied environments, and visuals that pop. The light story gives flavour without slowing you down, and the soundtrack matches every shift in tone. A few moments in dark areas or an oddly timed track won’t slow its momentum. With tight controls, short stages that each feel distinct, and style options like CRT and Samurai filters, it’s built for quick bursts of fun. This is platforming that’s quick to start, easy to enjoy, and worth finishing in a single sitting.Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Atomic Owl details
Platform: PCDeveloper: Monster Theater
Publisher: Eastasiasoft Limited
Genre: Side-Scrolling Roguelike
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.