Spark The Electric Jester

''Spark the Electric Jester'' is a 2017 platform game created by Brazilian indie developer Felipe Daneluz. The player controls Spark on his journey to stop a mobilizing army of robots from taking over the world. Gameplay involves a mix of fast-paced platforming and melee combat over a series of differently themed levels. A variety of power-ups are distributed throughout, each characterized by a unique set of abilities for use in battle and traversal.

Daneluz previously created several fangames based on the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series. ''Spark the Electric Jester'' was conceived from combining elements of the ''Sonic'' and ''Kirby'' series in one of his fangames, ''Sonic After the Sequel''. Aside from sound and programming, development was handled primarily by Daneluz while in college. He also drew inspiration from the ''Mega Man X'', ''Bayonetta'', and ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. After a successful 2015 Kickstarter campaign, ''Spark the Electric Jester'' was released for Windows on April 10, 2017, as his first commercial title. Critics felt the game was successful at iterating on its 16-bit-era inspirations and directed praise towards its gameplay, soundtrack, and unlockable content. A sequel, '' Spark the Electric Jester 2'', was released in May 2019, followed by ''Spark the Electric Jester 3'' in August 2022.

Gameplay

''Spark the Electric Jester'' is a side-scrolling platform game. The player must guide Spark through a series of differently themed levels containing an assortment of obstacles, robotic enemies, and boss fights. Spark's momentum is reactive to level terrain, gaining and losing speed accordingly from inclines and vertical loops. The player's base traversal abilities consist of a jump, wall jump, and a dash to both accelerate forward and parry enemies. They are fought with melee attacks, of which three can be chained together into a combo. Additionally, the player is capable of releasing charged shots horizontally and vertically. Dealing attacks will prompt a blue meter, referred to as the "Static Bar", to rise. Once full, it can be expended by releasing a charged shot, enhanced with power. A variety of power-ups are distributed across the levels, each characterized by a unique move set and cosmetic change to Spark. They endow the player with different attacks, traversal abilities, or both. Some powers give the player a different special attack when the Static Bar is full.

Completing the game will unlock Fark, Spark's doppelgänger, as a playable character. Differences in his campaign include less health, altered level design, new boss fights, and a unique move set. As Fark, the player is able to double jump and walk on walls and ceilings. Chaining together at least three regular attacks beforehand will strengthen his next upward or lower attack. The Static Bar is built up through a similar method by attacking enemies as well as through successfully executing parries. Depending on the timing, a parry may either increase or decrease the Static Bar. Perfectly timed parries will net additional increment. If the bar reaches a certain threshold, it can be expended for invincibility