A platformer worth making time for
By Paul Hunter
LIFTED is a game for those who love '80s buddy movies. This colourful cinematic action-platformer from Adventure Works, led by former Disney Imagineer Jeffrey Ashbrook, throws you into a lighthearted trip through time that has the comedic energy of Back to the Future mixed with the goofy historical chaos of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. As a big fan of both movies, I found that combination irresistible.
What piqued my interest the most is how its silly humour and family-friendly tone give the adventure an infectious sense of fun over its roughly four-hour runtime. The recurring time travel lets you visit colourful historical settings with absurd situations, goofy characters, and escalating jokes that kept me laughing throughout the journey.
During development, LIFTED was originally called Ari Buktu and the Anytime Elevator, which I still think is the more eye-catching title. It's a mouthful, sure, but it also tells you a little more about the wonderful adventure you are about to join. More importantly, it captures the game’s playful personality far better than the LIFTED name does.
Want to know more? Let's jump into the elevator and see if this time-travelling ride is worth taking!
Ari has his own deadline because he needs to return to the present day in time for a date. I loved how simple and personal their goals initially are, especially because the trip quickly spirals out of control once Raventhorpe starts treating every catastrophe like another part of his plan.
Their silly back-and-forth banter carries much of the comedy throughout this time-hopping adventure. Raventhorpe responds to bizarre situations with total seriousness, while Ari reacts like a frustrated student who realizes his request for extra credit has become far more work than expected.
The supporting cast is just as funny, most prominently Julius, the professor's chinchilla who has little patience for the humans that can't solve puzzles and often gives the duo grumpy stares. The pair also meet helpers along the way, including a frazzled Italian pastry chef whose goods were stolen, leaving him with nothing but stale baklava.
All in all, I loved the lighthearted story in LIFTED and enjoyed how likeable each character is. If a silly trip through history sounds appealing, you'll surely enjoy this game.
Ari’s grappling hook quickly became a favourite traversal tool as it attaches to anchor points so you can swing across gaps, and it can also pull certain trees down to create log bridges. Channelling my inner Indiana Jones felt appropriate for this nostalgic '80s throwback. There are also plenty of rock-climbing segments with Ari hopping between handholds Nathan Drake-style.
Missions include hidden collectibles and optional challenges, so make sure to check beyond the main route. Finding a full set of collectibles can unlock a suit, typically themed to your location, like a pirate, Mayan warrior, or crystal mage skin.
A few times during the adventure new gameplay elements are introduced, like thrilling minecart rides or epic escape sequences that are cinematic and require precise timing. A direct playthrough takes around four hours, while extra searching and puzzle solving can bring that closer to five or six.
I also loved how much the scenery changes as the adventure moves through different periods. Desert settings, snowy routes, tropical pirate locations, and a huge skull-shaped cave beside the beach all give the journey its own visual surprises. Each stop is loaded with enough charm that I was always curious to see where the elevator would take me next.
The soundtrack was another part of the presentation I really enjoyed. A full orchestra gives the adventure plenty of energy, while a wordless choir pushes the music closer to the family films that clearly inspired the game. The score works especially well when a relaxed stretch suddenly turns into a faster escape moment accompanied by a suitably energetic music track.
Joe Gaudet and Ray O’Hare also do a great job voicing Ari and Raventhorpe. Their performances naturally bounce between quirky conversation and exaggerated comedy, which helps the constant banter stay funny throughout the whole trip.
From an accessibility standpoint, Easy Timing adds a short grace window to quick-time events (QTEs), while visual outlines can help make puzzle solutions easier to spot. Another option widens platforms to give you more room for landings.
All considered, I loved how LIFTED’s cartoon art, changing locations, orchestral soundtrack, and lively performances all support this upbeat time-travel adventure.
Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
Developer: Adventure Works
Publisher: Adventure Works
Genre: Action, Adventure
Modes: Single-player
By Paul Hunter
LIFTED is a game for those who love '80s buddy movies. This colourful cinematic action-platformer from Adventure Works, led by former Disney Imagineer Jeffrey Ashbrook, throws you into a lighthearted trip through time that has the comedic energy of Back to the Future mixed with the goofy historical chaos of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. As a big fan of both movies, I found that combination irresistible.
What piqued my interest the most is how its silly humour and family-friendly tone give the adventure an infectious sense of fun over its roughly four-hour runtime. The recurring time travel lets you visit colourful historical settings with absurd situations, goofy characters, and escalating jokes that kept me laughing throughout the journey.
During development, LIFTED was originally called Ari Buktu and the Anytime Elevator, which I still think is the more eye-catching title. It's a mouthful, sure, but it also tells you a little more about the wonderful adventure you are about to join. More importantly, it captures the game’s playful personality far better than the LIFTED name does.
Want to know more? Let's jump into the elevator and see if this time-travelling ride is worth taking!
Story and Narrative
The game kicks off with Ari Buktu, a struggling student, trying to bump up his grade by earning some extra credit from Professor Raventhorpe. Instead of getting another assignment, Ari ends up pulled into the professor’s time-travelling experiment, where Raventhorpe has a much bigger plan waiting: find a treasured artefact and use it to prove his love for Dolores, a history professor back home. That simple love problem explodes into a ridiculous trip through history.Ari has his own deadline because he needs to return to the present day in time for a date. I loved how simple and personal their goals initially are, especially because the trip quickly spirals out of control once Raventhorpe starts treating every catastrophe like another part of his plan.
Their silly back-and-forth banter carries much of the comedy throughout this time-hopping adventure. Raventhorpe responds to bizarre situations with total seriousness, while Ari reacts like a frustrated student who realizes his request for extra credit has become far more work than expected.
The supporting cast is just as funny, most prominently Julius, the professor's chinchilla who has little patience for the humans that can't solve puzzles and often gives the duo grumpy stares. The pair also meet helpers along the way, including a frazzled Italian pastry chef whose goods were stolen, leaving him with nothing but stale baklava.
All in all, I loved the lighthearted story in LIFTED and enjoyed how likeable each character is. If a silly trip through history sounds appealing, you'll surely enjoy this game.
Gameplay and Mechanics
LIFTED is a traditional 2.5D platformer, with Ari moving along a two-dimensional path while the 3D camera changes angle around him. On PC, I preferred using a controller because there's a lot of platforming with shifting perspectives, and the analogue sticks gave me the finer control I needed.Ari’s grappling hook quickly became a favourite traversal tool as it attaches to anchor points so you can swing across gaps, and it can also pull certain trees down to create log bridges. Channelling my inner Indiana Jones felt appropriate for this nostalgic '80s throwback. There are also plenty of rock-climbing segments with Ari hopping between handholds Nathan Drake-style.
Missions include hidden collectibles and optional challenges, so make sure to check beyond the main route. Finding a full set of collectibles can unlock a suit, typically themed to your location, like a pirate, Mayan warrior, or crystal mage skin.
A few times during the adventure new gameplay elements are introduced, like thrilling minecart rides or epic escape sequences that are cinematic and require precise timing. A direct playthrough takes around four hours, while extra searching and puzzle solving can bring that closer to five or six.
Presentation and Audio
LIFTED’s stylized 3D cartoon art is gorgeous, and I loved how much personality the cast gets from such cartoonish character designs. Similar to Rayman, their hands and feet float separately from their bodies, which gives everyone a playful look that suits the game’s humour.I also loved how much the scenery changes as the adventure moves through different periods. Desert settings, snowy routes, tropical pirate locations, and a huge skull-shaped cave beside the beach all give the journey its own visual surprises. Each stop is loaded with enough charm that I was always curious to see where the elevator would take me next.
The soundtrack was another part of the presentation I really enjoyed. A full orchestra gives the adventure plenty of energy, while a wordless choir pushes the music closer to the family films that clearly inspired the game. The score works especially well when a relaxed stretch suddenly turns into a faster escape moment accompanied by a suitably energetic music track.
Joe Gaudet and Ray O’Hare also do a great job voicing Ari and Raventhorpe. Their performances naturally bounce between quirky conversation and exaggerated comedy, which helps the constant banter stay funny throughout the whole trip.
From an accessibility standpoint, Easy Timing adds a short grace window to quick-time events (QTEs), while visual outlines can help make puzzle solutions easier to spot. Another option widens platforms to give you more room for landings.
All considered, I loved how LIFTED’s cartoon art, changing locations, orchestral soundtrack, and lively performances all support this upbeat time-travel adventure.
The Verdict
LIFTED is a fantastic PC adventure filled with endearing characters, responsive platforming, a colourful presentation, and lighthearted humour, all at a snappy pace that suits its smaller scale. The game gives you a memorable trip without stretching its ideas too far, and its upbeat, nostalgic tone makes it easy to recommend. As a whole, LIFTED is an excellent choice for adventure platformer fans looking for something cheerful that's sure to make you smile.Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
LIFTED details
Platform: PCDeveloper: Adventure Works
Publisher: Adventure Works
Genre: Action, Adventure
Modes: Single-player