The Company Man

The Company Man is a simple action sidescroller. Yes, you’ve probably played better games like this one, but the gorgeous art style and the whole corporate satire, make it somewhat stand out.

The Company Man mixes satire with the most classic of action platformers. Forust looks with almost Dante-like allegory at the reality of large corporate offices and their working conditions, bringing to market a narratively interesting and layered title. Unfortunately, overly conservative choices on the game design side prevent the title from aiming for prestigious positions. But salaryman Jim doesn't know this and does it anyway.

The Company Man takes advantage of a very well thought out charm, coming from its charisma. It can be completed in under two hours, but exploring each reference makes us want to stay a little longer. Don't be surprised if, even after you've finished your journey, you feel like working a few extra hours.

The Company Man is truly an interesting take on an Action Platformer game. It provides brilliant mechanics to traverse around the entire game design, which is complemented by a mind-blowing art style which truly sets the plot at any level. However, certain enemy type breaks the flow of the games, which forces you to spend more time with a level. And the storyline which starts well slowly breaks apart as it develops towards the climax.

At a time when trading sweat pants for slacks in a bid to return to the office is a dreaded drag, The Company Man reminds us exactly of what we hoped to leave back in the “before times.” With that being said, it’s handled in such a clever and fun way that brawling with colleagues becomes almost cathartic. If you’re tired of being a cog in the corporate machine and want to stick it to the man, The Company Man offers that pick-up-and-platforming-play that’ll surely bring joy to your lunch hour.

The Company Man is a short lived rage against the machine that is funnier than it is fun, if that makes any sense. I did absolutely enjoy my time with the game, and Forust’s beautiful cartoon styling that has made an accurate mockery out of big corporations is incredibly well thought out. But while hacking through familiar lackeys and poking fun at business tropes is uproariously enjoyable, beneath a veneer of well crafted jokes is only some pretty easy platforming and combat, and when coupled with a run time that’s shorter than some appraisal meetings, the gameplay ultimately keeps the overall experience from breaking the glass ceiling.

The Company Man is an action-platformer that takes boss fights to a more literal standpoint. Instead of fighting terrifying monsters or evil enemies, I fought my way through the corporate ladder. Was this game a refreshing break from the typical escapades of an adventurer? Or was it just another day in the nine to five? Find out in this Rapid Review.

The Company Man is a banal platformer, without the slightest pretension.

I did not expect to like The Company Man as much as I did. Sure, it has some gameplay limitations stemming from some design choices, but not only did I enjoy the fluidity of its controls, and especially its inventive boss battles, but I couldn’t stop laughing and relating to the unhealthy amount of postmodern corporate satire included in here.

In The Company Man, you risk it all to climb the corporate ladder… or get fired trying. At least, in theory. It's a 2D Action Platformer that looks absolutely fantastic... but underperforms when it comes to the actual gameplay.