While the classic point-and-click adventure has been around for decades, and has also enjoyed a recent Renaissance thanks to the indie space, for the most part modern developers have seemed to remain reluctant to go messing with the formula. Sure, there have been some variations in style, and an array of interface experiments that have had varying success in streamlining play, but for the most part games have adhered to the classic LucasArts or Sierra approach in terms of narratives and gameplay. While Powerhoof’s The Drifter may not completely break that traditional mold, it has been far more daring than most, leaning heavily on the strength of its vocal performances, a more brisk overall pace than most, and an efficient twin-stick set of controls that work surprisingly well.

The foundation of what works here is actually built around the story and characterization first. Instead of rolling with something more traditional utilizing humor or some sort of fantasy, this is a story that starts out with a literal bang and then will keep you guessing quite a bit through to the end. Through a mix of science fiction and some action-oriented beats you’ll be thrown into the deep end, quite literally, and then try to work out how to survive and protect the people who matter to you. While the story alone may have been strong, what really sells the whole package is the title’s excellent voice work which gives the game a more authentic feel than your typical retro-inspired adventure.

Holding up the other end of the bargain, the controls are also smooth and easy to use. Switch 2 players who enjoy a more classic mouse-driven feel will be happy to have that as an option, but the real revelation here is the twin-stick scheme you’ll use with your controller, helping you quickly identify what options are available to you, and reducing time spent hunting the screen for hot spots. What’s also great is that the zones you’ll be working in are generally kept tight enough that you won’t lose a ton of time backtracking, and dialogue trees may not include loads of sillier options. Instead, you’ll stay focused on keeping you moving along rather than being forced to explore every possibility, hoping to find some detail or revelation you’d missed before. Put it all together, it’s a game that looks and sounds great, has a satisfying story that will keep your attention, and that actively works to keep you from being bogged down in the controls or getting lost. It’s tight, satisfying, and shows the way for this genre can better keep pace with the way gamers have evolved over the years, while it has mostly remained stagnant.