Jump, slide and roll through the dangerous and whimsical world of Miles & Kilo. Imminent death is awaiting you in every level… But not to worry: you’ve got infinite lives, unlimited tries, and all the time in the world! Oh, and did I mention you can throw fruit? These are the basic concepts of Miles & Kilo, a sequel to Kid Tripp. It’s a short, but challenging, 2D platformer with some nice pixel art to boot. Just don’t go in expecting complex storylines or gameplay and you’ll be in for a treat!

Publisher: Four Horses

Developer: Four Horses

4 Hours played // Review Copy // $7.99

Story & Setting

Miles and his dog Kilo go on a trip in their airplane. They find themselves off course due to unforeseen weather and fly over a haunted island. A nefarious character forces them to crash-land there and steals parts of their plane. You’ll control Miles and Kilo through 36 different levels, across 5 different areas. Your goal: take the plane parts back so that you can escape the island!

I felt a bit disappointed in not knowing the intent of their original trip. Though I understand the story is not the focus, a basic idea of why they’re travelling and who they are would help create a connection with the characters. Not much else is explained either. Who are the enemies that you fight in each level? Why do you throw fruit at them? Nevertheless, I had a fun time playing Miles & Kilo.

Action packed level design

As Miles, you can jump, slide, punch, and throw fruit. Depending on the environment, Miles will be able to surf, swing on vines, and even race in a minecart. At times, Kilo will ‘help’ by running like the wind, taking Miles for an even wilder ride! Unlike Miles, Kilo automatically runs through the level, which makes for some challenging platforming sections. This is balanced out by his more powerful abilities, namely rolling and targeting enemies with a quick, Sonic-like homing attack.

The levels felt purposefully designed around these mechanics. As you progress, Miles & Kilo will introduce more of them or increase the difficulty of the level. When combined with the unique bosses located at the end of each world, Miles & Kilo makes for a well-varied platforming experience

Two button controls

Excluding directional input, the game is controlled with the use of just two, mappable buttons. One button jumps and the other is for all remaining actions. You’ll slide when close to a gap, punch when close to a wall, etc. This works intuitively in most cases. There were some boss fights where I wondered why I couldn’t use a certain move, but the proper strategy was never hard to find. So, my focus was always on learning patterns, persevering, and ultimately beating each stage.

High scores & Achievements

At the end of each level, I got a rank and a high score based on a variety of factors. These were how fast I completed the stage, how many coins I collected, and if I was in possession of five pieces of fruit. The game also grants points for defeating enemies. On the top left of the screen, I could see my total game high score, but it seems this is only important for trying to complete some of the in-game achievements.

To help with the high-scores and achievements, Miles & Kilo has the option to turn on “autorun”. This feature allowed me to focus solely on jumping and the other actions, which is helpful in some of the more choreographed segments. But in most other cases, it makes the game harder, as you never get to take a breather in between the difficult platforming sections. This option is perfect for those seeking a challenge and looking to fully complete the game.

Sounds & Graphics

Miles & Kilo is rocking some nice pixel-art. I like its vibrant level and character designs, which vary from world to world. However, most themes are the same as in its predecessor, Kid Tripp. Some extra variety on top of the upgraded sprite resolutions would have been nice to see.

I feel similar about the audio. I enjoyed listening to the songs while playing, and I ended up humming some of the tunes, but nothing left a lasting impression. And on the more challenging levels, the songs would at times end up being a bit repetitive.

Final Thoughts on Miles & Kilo

Miles & Kilo is a fun game for the experienced platformer fan. It’s pleasant looking and it has some fun tunes to listen to while you jump & slide your way through the various levels. If you don’t mind its simplistic story, you’ll surely enjoy it.

I did run into a minor glitch that caused the game to get stuck on a death screen. However, this was easily solved by closing and re-opening the game, with no progress lost. And I was told they will look into it, so a future patch may fix this small nuisance.

If you’re considering buying the game, it may be worthwhile to know that I was able to get Kid Tripp for free on the eShop after getting Miles & Kilo. This deal is available until the 12th of July. Alternatively, if you already own Kid Tripp, you can purchase Miles & Kilo at a 50% discount. Or you can check out Rob’s review on Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse in case you are looking for a longer platformer.