Indie roundup: TETRA’s Escape 2, Klaus Lee – Thunderballs & Prehistoric Gal

In today’s roundup of new indie releases, we check out TETRA’s Escape 2, Klaus Lee – Thunderballs and Prehistoric Gal – read our review of these multi-platform titles below.

TETRA’s Escape 2 review (PS5)

TETRA’s Escape 2 builds confidently on the block-based puzzles of the original, offering a fresh batch of challenges where transforming characters into tetromino shapes helps create paths through cleverly designed stages. It retains the same core mechanic, but introduces new twists like teleporters, ghost blocks, and gravity inversion, ensuring a more layered puzzle experience for returning players.

The addition of a move rewind function makes experimentation much more forgiving, and the structure of collecting stars and unlocking trophies adds meaningful replay value. However, despite the new mechanics, the gameplay loop starts to feel repetitive over time, with many levels offering variations of the same core puzzle ideas.

Visually, the game remains functional rather than flashy, prioritizing clean visuals over flair. Sound design is similarly unobtrusive. Performance-wise, it’s a mixed bag – we had a bit of lag in later (more complex) levels, which can undermine the otherwise well-balanced puzzle design.

While not without its small flaws, TETRA’s Escape 2 delivers an enjoyable and accessible puzzle experience with plenty of Tetris-inspired content for its low asking price. It’s best enjoyed by those with a taste for deliberate, logic-based gameplay, and an easy purchase for those who enjoyed the first game.

Klaus Lee – Thunderballs review (PS5)

Klaus Lee – Thunderballs brings its absurd ‘80s action hero parody to the PlayStation 5 with a side-scrolling platformer that mixes tight level design with tons of personality. Its over-the-top premise leans hard into nostalgia and satire, making Klaus feel like the B-movie hero you never knew you needed – complete with jetpacks, traps, and exaggerated machismo.

Gameplay-wise, it’s a precision-driven affair with 100+ levels filled with timing challenges, hazards, and puzzles that require thoughtful jetpack use. While the platforming is generally responsive and satisfying, occasional frustrations arise from how quickly things can go wrong during trickier sequences – but a restart is always quick.

The visuals embrace a pixel art aesthetic with bold colors and a clear presentation style, though repetition sets in over time. The synth-heavy soundtrack adds flair but can wear thin with extended play. Still, the inclusion of a powerful level editor and cross-platform sharing is a great bonus, adding long-term value for creative players.

Not all the jokes hit and some may find the humor a bit forced, but Klaus Lee – Thunderballs ultimately succeeds thanks to its focused mechanics and eccentric charm. It’s a fun throwback experience with enough polish and content to justify the ride.

Prehistoric Gal review (PS5)

Prehistoric Gal is a lighthearted follow-up to Prehistoric Dude, swapping out the titular caveman for Gal, who sets out to rescue her ham-loving partner from aliens. The setup is silly but charming, and the game sticks to a familiar 2D platforming structure with a few minor upgrades like dino mounts and throwable weapons. While the plot isn’t much more than a cute excuse to bounce through themed environments, the pixel visuals and chip-tune vibes complement the retro vibe well.

The level structure here is more exploratory than stage-based, with interconnected areas that occasionally feel a bit too maze-like for their own good – especially since there’s no map to guide you. Combat and platforming are responsive but basic and fairly generic, never quite pushing the player or innovating on the formula. Some elements like boss fights and dino powers inject some welcome variation, but repetition creeps in before long.

Prehistoric Gal includes light RPG-style leveling and a shop system, which help with progression and item upgrades. Still, these features don’t evolve the gameplay much beyond the expected. It’s the kind of budget platformer that feels like a relic of a different time -easygoing, inoffensive, and passable for a short diversion, but not one that will leave a lasting impression.

For fans of Prehistoric Dude, this sequel delivers more of the same with only marginal changes. Its simplicity makes it accessible and relaxing, but also prevents it from standing out in a crowded genre. At its low price point, it’s a decent value – just don’t expect it to surprise you.