This game is based on the idea of "what if Rugrats got a NES style platformer?". You can switch between 8 bit and modern graphics like you can do in many modern remake games. The thing is, this game is brand new and there never was a NES game.
The game features basic platforming and you can pick up objects (and some enemies) and throw them. This can be used for some navigational challenges like creating some improvised stairs. You can also butt-stomp to attack, bounce and destroy in certain situations.
I found the springs really hard to activate when jumping normally. I tried holding jump, or timing the press, but could never consistently activate it. The annoying thing is you need to start moving as it activates to make sure you land on the next platform. but I had to try and delay to see if the jump had actually activated otherwise I would just fall straight in the pit. Butt stomping was a more reliable technique, but I only realised that was a workaround late in the game.
There's 4 characters with different stats based on the Doki Doki Panic aka Super Mario Bros 2 formula. Tommy is the balanced character, Chuckie has higher jump, Phil smaller jump but picks up faster, Lil has hover jump. On default difficulty, losing all your health points switches to the next baby, and it's only game over when you fail with all of them. Milk represents your health, and cookies are an extra life.
There's a screwdriver to find to open the gate to the boss. Sometimes the levels have branching paths so on one level you can find the boss gate close to the start but need to venture to the different paths then return.
There's only 7 levels in total, with the final one locked behind a Reptar Coin requirement. It said you need 18 coins but I seemed to need 21. There's 4 coins in each level, 3 hidden throughout and one for the boss. Progress is saved after each level. So you can play levels in any order, and play them multiple times.
Some platforms are positioned at an inconvenient height where the jump has to be perfect. There's loads of sequences of small platforms with moving enemies which makes the timing really precise. You may think you can focus on defeating enemies to make things easier but some of them respawn. Enemies also respawn when you exit that particular screen.
Much of the enemy placement, movement speed, frequency of projectiles are designed to frustrate. There were some instances where I was being hit then knocked into a pit so that's 2 HP lost. Other times you get knocked back a screen and enemies respawn. You might think a game like this is for kids, but you definitely need a lot of patience to play it