Precious jewels are your lifeblood in Treasurenauts

Greed is good

I've never really clicked with the Sonic the Hedgehog series--something about running full-speed into enemies just didn't keep me hooked. But there was one aspect in particular that I've always liked: the way your coin stash directly correlates to your survivability. Renegade Kid, makers of the much-ballyhooed Mutant Mudds, have put that mechanic to wonderfully good use in Treasurenauts, the eShop platformer headed to 3DS this May.

You're marooned on a tropical island, and the only way off is to bribe a pirate with $1,000,000 worth of rare gems. All that's left to do is go out and get 'em, jumping and slashing your way past colorful enemies to snag coins, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and a host of other valuables strewn about the levels. The catch is that there's no life bar; every time you get hit, your treasure stash scatters all over the place. You can pick some but not all of it back up; run out of treasure, and you're better off dead.

It's both mortifying and amusing to watch thousands of dollars in jewels cascade away from you after a careless mistake. I'll admit to repeatedly running over the same trap multiple times, blinded by avarice in a frenzy to reclaim my fortunes. The platforming itself is a hoot as well, with tight controls and charming 16-bit graphics.

Check out the following screenshots for additional info!

You've got three characters to choose from, but they're all functionally the same. Take your pick from rugged archaelogist, stealthy ninja, or Mutant Mudds' star Max.

Expect colorful boss fights in each zone, like the giant Mama Crab. She robbed me of more riches than I care to admit.

Change up your gameplay with three weapon types: a CQC knife, slow-but-powerful pistol, or devastating bombs. You can only switch up between levels, so choose carefully.

Treasurenauts also has some sweet local co-op for multiplayer looting. It's hugely beneficial in addition to being fun, since you can pair up powerful weapon types.